MOTOR RACING : Moody Maneuvers to Sprint Car Win

Randy Moody had something to prove in front of his hometown fans Saturday night at Ventura Raceway.

When Moody won the International Motor Contest Assn. Sprint Car race two weeks ago at Ventura Raceway, Ricky Gray of Northridge was competing in a Sprint Car Racing Assn. event at Santa Maria.

But this week, the SCRA was in Washington, and Gray, who already has two IMCA victories at Ventura, was on hand to give Moody a challenge.

Moody responded well, dueling with Gray throughout the 30-lap main event and grabbing the victory in front of a crowd of 1,233.

“I did [have something to prove], and I proved it tonight,” Moody said. “[Gray] is the best in the class.”

Moody took the lead from Dale Harwood of Simi Valley on the sixth lap and Gray passed Harwood one lap later.

Moody and Gray pulled away from Harwood until a caution flag on the 17th lap bunched the field. After another caution period on the 23rd lap, the real show began.

Gray passed Moody in the second turn after the restart, but Moody regained the lead coming out of a turn.

After another caution flag and some bumping by Gray, Moody pulled away for the victory.

Mike Cass of Winchester won the 25-lap Western Legends feature race, and Rick Davis of Santa Paula earned his first victory in the 20-lap Pony Stock main event.