It’s Bumper to Bumper as Kirby Edges Williams

There’s one thing to be said for Ventura Raceway’s Sprint Car Racing Assn. events.

They’re never boring.

Saturday night’s 30-lap feature was no exception as 1993 California Racing Assn. champion Mike Kirby of Lomita held off Rip Williams of Yorba Linda by less than a yard to earn his first main-event victory of the year.

“I’ve lost two heat races on the last lap,” Kirby told the crowd of 2,538 after the race. “I was either going to wreck the car or win. When you’re racing up front and Rip’s behind you, every lap is tight.”

Kirby started from second position and grabbed the lead from pole-sitter Leland McSpadden of Tempe, Ariz., the 1995 points leader.

Williams inherited second place on the second lap when McSpadden spun in a corner after making contact with a car driven by Troy Newsome of Visalia.

Rod Anderson of Riverside made a clean sweep in Western Legends competition with victories in the 20-lap main event, the five-lap trophy dash and the pro division eight-lap heat race.

Anderson took the lead from Brian Stewart of Murrietta on the 14th lap when Stewart lost traction coming off of a turn and slid through the infield.

Stewart regained control and held on to second place until the final lap, when his car stalled 15 feet from the finish line with a cloud of smoke coming from the engine compartment.

Mike Cass of Winchester finished second, and Mike Furlong of Northridge was third.

In the 20-lap Dwarf Car feature, Justin Power of Costa Mesa won after passing Mike Sweeney of Whittier on the final lap.

Power started second but led much of the race.