by Peter “the Pretty Good”

The Banditos head to Jim Naylor’s “the Best Little Dirt Track in America” for the finale of the BANDIT/Ventura Racing Association Grand Slam in a head to head showdown of the best non-wing sprint car drivers (therefore the best sprint car drivers period) in the western United States.  The average draw for the three previous events has been 40 cars and every expectation is for that number to increase due to the quality of competition and the great coastal venue these teams will compete.  The best of both the Banditos will battle the best of the VRA to the end in this year’s version of the annual four track championship series.

Previous Grand Slam Champions include Bandit star Peter Murphy who won the inaugural championship in 2005, while the VRA has been well represented with Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford in 2006 and Greg “Champ” Taylor last seasons Slam champ.  This season is another stellar knock down drag out affair with Murphy and Taylor in a battle to lay claim as the first two time champion for the great series.

Murphy (350) and Taylor (310) are within 40 points of each another which is well within reasonable striking distance in the series.  Young Bandit standout and recent feature winner Justyne Hamblin (296) lurks in third position while fellow youngster Jonathon Henry (290) who resides in fourth position.  Both have a reasonable chance for the title considering the quality of competition and all of the possibilities.  Crafty veteran and VRA favorite Rick Hendrix (264) is a bit further back to round out the top 5 out of the sixty-seven participating teams to date.

Parity reigns in this series of standout drivers and teams which is evidenced by a near equal representation through the top ten and the top twenty respectively in point’s event though the all of the previous wins have come from Bandit regulars this season.  It has not always been so as the top positions and finishes is a near equal blend of talent.

The series has unique point’s implications for both the VRA series and the Bandit Series along with Santa Maria and Kings Track points.  The VRA awards its members points for their respective series championship which is a tightly contested affair with cagey veteran and “whuttif king” Kevin Kierce (7th in the GS) is fiercely battling for his second Ventura sprint car Championship.  He is locked horns with a veteran crowd of racers just as tough and determined as team Kierce is.  Clark Templeman III, Rick Hendrix and Richard McCormick are all in a dog fight with Kierce’s band that will likely go to their finale in mid-November.

Similar to this scheme is the Bandit Series along with track implications as mentioned.  Peter Murphy is atop of the points of the three other Bandit Series in a dominating performance that fans have witnessed nine victories in eighteen races with six runners-up finishes and one third place and all eighteen in the top ten.  Never before has this kind of dominance been witnessed.  Chasing Murphy at a distance in the Bandit Series is “Fast Albert” Pombo, Rusty Carlile and Justyne Hamblin who are all fighting for seconds at this point.  Murphy also holds a comfortable advantage at Santa Maria with Pombo, Hamblin and Carlile slugging it out for second there too.   Kings has the same deal going but with Carlile in hand-to-hand combat with none other than Hamblin, Pombo and Jonathon Logan for second.  Murphy’s Triple Crown may be a Quadruple Crown after this week-ends Grand Slam Finale.

The great deal about the Grand Slam is the winner can come from anywhere.  It is an inclusive format with a common engine size, a common restrictor gasket and a standardized tire and muffler rule.  This makes it one of the most racer friendly series in the country.

Come join us this Saturday night on the track by the ocean in Ventura.  The pits open at high noon and the grand stands open at 3:00.  The pit meeting starts early and cars get on the track earlier than other venues so be prepared.  Fans get treated to a well run great program and will be freed to get the family home at a decent hour while those who desire can enjoy the Ventura evening with friends and family or meet and mingle with favorite drivers after the post race festivities.  Pit Admission is $30.00 for members of VRA, Bandits or any other sanctioning body competing in the event.  You will need to have your membership card available if it is asked for to get the member rate. Pit gates will open for this event at 12:00 noon on Saturday.  Non-members will pay $40.00.

On the program with the Grand Slam is the VRA Dwarf Cars who put on a great show at Santa Maria on the 9th when Hamblin won so spectacularly along with Ventura’s fantastic kids classes- the Mini Dwarf Cars and Junior Midgets.

The front gates will open at 3:00pm with the best valued admission for a quality show of this kind very  family friendly at  $14.00 for adults, $11.00 for seniors, juniors 13 and older or military and a mere $5.00 for kids 7-12 while kids 6 and under are always free.  For more information call Ventura Raceway at (805) 985-5433.