Shuman Pushes Hewlett in Crowd Pleaser

The new IMCA Sprint Car class got a big boost Friday night at Ventura Raceway.

Defending SCRA Sprint Car champion and eight-time USAC Turkey Night Grand Prix Midget winner Ron Shuman, in town for tonight’s SCRA program at Ventura, stepped into an IMCA Sprint Car and gave the crowd a show in the 15-lap main event.

Although the Tempe, Arizona, native finished second to Ventura resident Paul Hewlett, his mere presence prevented the feature from becoming the one-man show it has been in weeks past.

Ventura’s Randy Moody led the first three laps before spinning coming out of Turn 4, with Hewlett and Shuman running second and third.

From that point, the two racers distanced themselves from the rest of the field, running bumper-to-bumper until the finish.

Santa Maria’s Ryan Cole went wire-to-wire in the 15-lap IMCA Modified feature, and James Weston of Santa Barbara passed Street Stock points leader and defending champion Paul Moore of Oak View with two laps remaining to win his second 20-lap main event.

Bruce Dunson of Santa Barbara won the 15-lap Mini Stock main, and Oak View’s Scott Boucher won the Pony Stock 15-lap main and seven-lap Figure-8 race.