Kirby Wins Main Event as Three Records Are Set

Mike Kirby, the defending Sprint Car Racing Assn. champion, won his second main event and his second trophy dash Saturday at Ventura Raceway on a night when three track records fell.

The 29-year-old Lomita resident took more than a second off the three-lap record in the trophy dash, finishing in 36.18 seconds. He then won a decisive victory in the 30-lap feature.

Ron Shuman, who set a single-lap qualifying record of 11.803 seconds, held the previous three-lap record of 37.41. Gary Howard of Rancho Cucamonga held the qualifying mark at 12.006.

Kirby inherited the lead on the sixth lap of the main event, after hometown favorite Cory Kruseman hit the first-turn wall while being challenged by Kirby.

Rip Williams of Yorba Linda, who established a 10-lap record of 2:01.7 while winning the first heat race, finished second. Jerry Meyer of Chino was third.

Shuman dropped out on Lap 22 while running third. He finished 14 overall.