Boat Proves He’s Ready for Prime-Time Racing

Billy Boat of Glendale, Ariz., scored another prime-time victory in Wednesday night’s 30-lap midget main event at Ventura Raceway.

Boat, who set a U.S. Auto Club record last year by winning 11 consecutive midget races, passed Western States points leader Rick Hendrix of Simi Valley with four laps remaining in the nationally televised race.

Boat also won a nationally televised race last year at Ventura.

With Hendrix and Boat running 1-2 after 16 laps, the drivers pulled steadily away from the pack with Boat gaining on Hendrix when a caution flag came out on the 26th lap because of a three-car pileup.

After the restart, Boat needed just one lap to take control, passing Hendrix in front of the grandstand.

Eric Edenholm of Los Angeles went wire to wire in the 20-lap TQ Midget main event.

Ricky Shelton of Huntington Beach was second, followed by Brian Stanfill of Bakersfield.

Alex Harris of Simi Valley qualified fastest at 13.029 seconds, but flipped his car on the fourth lap and finished 18th.

The eight-lap heat races were won by Edenholm and Shawn Lee of Simi Valley, who finished 10th in the main event.