Shuman Outduels Australian to Win Ventura Feature

Ron Shuman of Tempe, Ariz., had to battle Australia’s Warrene Ekins the entire race, but the veteran California Racing Assn. sprint-car driver showed his experience in all types of open-wheeled cars to win the U.S. Auto Club’s 30-lap Midget feature Saturday night before 2,786 at Ventura Raceway.

Ekins and Shuman shared the front row on the starting grid, and Ekins powered away from the pack with Shuman in hot pursuit. A yellow flag on Lap 17 helped Shuman make up ground, and on Lap 27, he pressed past Ekins in Turn 3 and went on to record his first USAC victory of the season.

Jay Drake of Val Verde made an impressive charge, coming from 10th to finish second.

Rick Atkins of Fullerton roared to a flag-to-flag victory in the 20-lap three-quarter Midget main event. Atkins withstood four yellow flag restarts and heavy pressure from Simi Valley’s Scott Hansen and Ventura’s Kenny White, who finished second and third.

Richard McCormick of Granada Hills cut inside Chris Wakim of Canoga Park on the backstretch of the final lap to win the three-quarter Midget 12-lap semi-main. Wakim then spun out, enabling Shane Scully of Encino and Jim Brusseau of Pasadena to finish ahead of him.

Three-quarter Midget 10-lap heat-race winners were Cory Kruseman of Ventura, J.J. Ercse of Palos Verdes, Darren Simas of Santa Maria and Bob Meli of Temple City.