Former Pro Gas Champ Ventura opens 2006 Season with win at Fontana

By Bob Johnson
Auto Club Dragway at California Speedway Fontana, Calif. Jan 29, 2006

Greg Ventura won the 2002 Southern California Pro Gas Assoc., series championship and has taken an early lead in the 2006 series chase when he won the season-opening event at Auto Club Dragway, defeating Kevin Drew in the final round.

Eighty-six cars entered the Eagle Rods and Crankshafts-sponsored event, with Val Torres Jr., qualifying number one with a perfect 9.900 with his ’98 Pontiac Firebird. Dave Coapstick qualified second also with a 9.900. In all, 16 of the 86 qualified cars ran on the 9.90 index.

Ventura opened the fourth round of eliminations with a win over Al Aguiar Jr., Loreen Johnson defeated breaking out Gary Ross, Wayne Newman ran a 9.907 to beat too quick Glen Smith, Brad Pierce defeated Phil Miller, Jim Sowards got by Doug Spencer’s Corvette, and Kevin Drew got a bye.

In the quarterfinals, Ventura took a 9.914 to 9.910 win over Johnson, Drew beat Pierce in a double breakout race 9.894 to a 9.893, and Jim Sowards went to the semi with a 9.915 to 9.926 win over the Wayne & Dave’s Automotive Lumina of Newman.

Kevin Drew drove his ’99 Dodge Avenger to the final when he stopped ’05 Autolite Nationals Super Gas winner Jim Sowards with a 9.906 (.024 reaction time) to a too quick 9.886 (.025 r.t.), while Ventura went to the final on a bye run.

In the final, the Ventura Racing Engines-sponsored ’66 Nova of Ventura and Drew’s Dodge both recorded identical .009 reaction times, with the win light going to Ventura at 9.918, 149.31 to a losing 9.935, 138.53 for Drew.

The 2006 SoCal Pro Gas season continues on March 18 at L.A. County Raceway.

Ray's Notes