Gayhart Leads From Start to Finish for First Victory

Malibu’s Adail Gayhart went wire-to-wire in winning the 20-lap Street Stock feature Friday night at Ventura Raceway.

It was the first victory of the season for Gayhart, who came into the race seventh in the points standings.

Defending champion Paul Moore of Oak View, the series leader, spent most of the race running 10 lengths behind Gayhart in second place, before mounting a late challenge on lap 18.

But Moore’s challenge fell short, as Ventura’s Randy McGraw, a two-time winner, slipped around Moore in Turn 2 on the last lap and held on for second.

Bill Bartels of Marina del Rey, who ran second for the first five laps and helped Moore pressure Gayhart for most of the race, finished fourth.

Santa Maria’s Ryan Cole added to his points lead in the IMCA Modified class by winning his fourth 15-lap Main event victory.

Ventura’s Doug Thornton finished second despite a first-lap collision with Santa Maria’s Bill Lauer that spun Thornton in turn one, bringing on a caution flag and forcing Thornton to start from the back of the pack.

Ventura’s Gary Howard won the 15-lap IMCA Sprint Main.

Bruce Dunson of Ventura won his fourth 15-lap Mini Stock Main Event.