Reversal of Fortune May Be in Cars

The local Winston Cup drivers have taken it on the chin this year, but they might make up for it this weekend when they arrive at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma for NASCAR’s Save Mart/Kragen 350K.

Robby Gordon of Orange and PPI Motorsports driver Scott Pruett, both with extensive road racing experience, are hopeful of turning around their fortunes; Pruett is 38th in the standings this season and Gordon 41st.

It might be an especially big week for Gordon, who announced this month that he was going to run a partial race schedule through August so he could concentrate on testing and development. In theory, he was taking a step back in order to take a step forward.

“We did a lot of work to make the car better both on the track and at the shop between test days,” Gordon said, “and we ended testing on a high note.

“Realistically, we have a chance here to win.”

Pruett, who races for Orange County’s Cal Wells III, says he wouldn’t be surprised if his driver and Gordon, who drove a Champ Car for Wells in 1998, battled each other for victory on the 1.949-mile road course.

“It could come down to the two of [them],” Wells said. “I think we have a good shot at doing well.”

SPEEDWAY

One week after winning the Jack Milne Cup, Charlie Venegas had an odd night at the Orange County Speedway. Venegas, who has dominated the points this season, qualified for the scratch and handicap main events last Saturday but finished last in both races.

It was a good night for those on the other end of the top 10. Andy Northrup, the police officer from Alta Loma who was ninth in the rider points, was the scratch winner. Chris Manchester of Upland, who was 10th in points, was the handicap winner.

It was Northrup’s first scratch victory in about a year, and about the 10th since he began racing in 1984. He went undefeated in his heat, in the semifinals and final.

“Usually, the scratch races are really difficult, but those were three of the easiest races of my life,” Northrup said. “Everything came really easy--I got the start and took off.”

The speedway motorcycles will race at the Ventura Fairgrounds tonight and return to Orange County Saturday with a 25-lap main event. Racing begins at 7:30 each night.

Northrup and San Juan Capistrano’s Brad Oxley had a photo finish last year in the 25-lap event, but Oxley was awarded the victory.

That has Northrup looking forward to this year’s event. “It was a big disappointment [last year],” he said. “I would like to get credited with the win this time.”

NHRA

Using a new but untested Ford Mustang body, Yorba Linda’s John Force qualified 15th out of drivers, then lost in the first round in last weekend’s NHRA Funny Car event in Columbus, Ohio.

Force, the nine-time NHRA Funny Car champion, will return to the old Mustang body to defend his Sears Craftsman Nationals title this weekend in suburban St. Louis. Force set the event record last year at 310.70 mph.

Force lost in the first round in Columbus to Huntington Beach’s Jerry Toliver, who took over first place in the Funny Car standings after 10 of 23 events. Toliver has 837 points, 11 more than runner-up Force.

Kenny Bernstein of Lake Forest is fourth in Top Fuel competition, 200 points behind leader Gary Scelzi.

* Bob Wagner, vice president of sales and broadcasting for the Angels, resigned Thursday to accept a position with the NHRA. Wagner, 42, will be vice president of sales and business development.

OFF ROAD

Driver Ralph Kosmides of San Juan Capistrano and navigator Ken Cassidy of Phoenix rallied in the night stages to win the Group 5 class of the Susquehannock Trail ProRally in Wellsboro, Pa.

Kosmides piloted Kono Motorsports’ turbo-powered Toyota Supra to the finish line sixth overall, but first among two-wheel drive cars. Only 42 of 80 starters completed the race, Round 4 of the SCCA ProRally Championship.

Kosmides clocked 2 hours 22 minutes 32 seconds, and won by 20 seconds, moving into first place.

*

If you have an item or idea for the motor racing report, you can fax us at (714)966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.henderson@latimes.com

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

ON TRACK

Orange County Speedway

Through June 18

Speedway motorcycles

1. Charlie Venegas, San Bernardino: 274

2. Shawn McConnell, Brea: 200

3. Brad Oxley, San Juan Capistrano: 195

4. Randy DiFrancesco, Bakersfield: 162

5. Bobby Schwartz, Costa Mesa: 155

6. Dukie Ermolenko, Cypress: 154

7. Andy Northrup, Alta Loma: 147

8. Chris Manchester, Upland: 144

9. Eddie Castro, Ojai: 141

10. Jim Estes, Winnetka: 103

Schedule

Saturday--Championship 25-lap Classic (speedway).

July 8--Fan Appreciation Night w/Razzo (speedway, sidecars, peewee 50s, Jr. speedway); 14--Friday sidecar, quad, midget championship; 15--Fair Derby (speedway); 16--Youth Motorized Olympics (Jr. speedway series), Vintage Dirt Track races.

Aug. 5--Demolition Derby (speedway, sidecars); 12--Kids Night (speedway, sidecars, peewee 50s, Jr. speedway); 19--Harley-Davidson Night (speedway, sidecars, Harley races and show); 26--Dan Nay Night (championship speedway, peewee 50s, Jr. speedway).

Sept. 9--Freestyle Motorcycle Jumping (speedway); 16--Skirt Night (speedway, sidecars, peewee 50s, Jr. speedway); 23--North vs. South (speedway, sidecars), 30--Sidecar State Championship (speedway, sidecars).

Oct. 7--Farewell (speedway, sidecars); 14--Coors Light U.S. National Championship (speedway).

Irwindale Speedway

Through June 18

Super Late Model

1. Greg Voigt, Goleta: 404

2. Ben Walker, North Hills: 340

3. David Brandon, Palmdale: 318

4. Tim Woods, Chino: 280

5. A.J. DiMarzo, Saugus: 260

6. Dan Holtz, Bakersfield: 256

7. Tommy Fry, Simi Valley: 254

8. Shawn Brink, Lancaster: 238

9. Brian Kelley, Arleta: 228

10. James Bruncati, Glendora: 224

Super Stock

1. Jeff Green, Long Beach: 34

2. T.K. Karvasek, North Hills: 356

3. Mike Price, San Pedro: 290

4. Yagel Berkovitz, Burbank: 286

5. Tom Siebuhr, Canyon Country: 276

6. Kevin Wood, Saugus: 264

7. Greg Benner, Whittier: 262

8. Don Rogers, Simi Valley: 254

9. John Wilkes, Northridge: 224

10. Steve Gilmore, Granada Hills: 208

Late Model

1. James Weston, Goleta: 430

2. Todd Burns, Riverside: 400

3. Tony Green, Oak Hills : 380

4. David Hessing, Canyon Country: 364

5. Steve Nickolai, Simi Valley: 348

5. Deryk Ward, Palm Springs: 348

7. Guy Goldstein, Cathedral City: 334

8. Richard Hooper, Palmdale: 318

9. Nick Conti, Palm Desert: 244

10. Dan DiGiammarino, Highland: 232

Grand American

1. Rip Michels, Mission Hills: 234

2. Dean Kuhn, Oceanside: 222

3. John Watkinson, Canyon Country: 200

4. Robert Rice, Hawthorne: 188

5. David Andrews, Frazier Park: 176

6. Henry Ford Jr., Alta Loma: 170

7. Tom Topping, Los Angeles: 167

8. Jimmy White, Covina: 140

8. Travis Thirkettle, Newhall: 140

10. Brian Tully, Redondo Beach: 138

Mini Stocks

1. Bob Reed, Riverside: 200

2. Terry Limberopoulos, Bellflower: 184

3. Lee Ladd, Thousand Oaks: 172

4. Rod Bornhop, Orange: 166

5. Gil Gillis, Simi Valley: 150

6. Randy Colling, Santa Ana: 140

7. Greg Tucker, Ojai: 104

8. Danny Rowe, Lake Elizabeth: 100

9. Pat Ackley, Huntington Beach: 94

10. Guy Tripp, Saugus: 92

Schedule

Saturday--NASCAR Home Depot Winston West 250, Super Late Models.

July 1--NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Super Stocks, Legends Cars, Figure 8s, and Fireworks Show; 8--NASCAR Super Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Spec Trucks, T.Q. Midgets, MSRA Pro 4 Modifieds; 15--NASCAR Late Models Twin 40s, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, Legends Cars, Mini Stock cars, Figure 8s; 22--NASCAR Super Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Speed Trucks, MSRA Pro 4 Modifieds; 29--NASCAR Home Depot Southwest Series, Late Models, Super Stocks.

August 5--NASCAR Super Late Models Twin 50s, Grand American Modifieds, American Race Trucks, Mini Stocks; 12--NASCAR Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, Spec Trucks, Legends Cars, Figure 8s; 19--NASCAR Home Depot Winston West 250, Late Models; 26--NASCAR Super Late Models, Super Stocks, Grand American Modifieds, T.Q. Midgets, American Race Trucks.

Sept. 2--NASCAR Super Late Models Twin 50s, Super Stocks, Speed Trucks, Mini Stocks; 9--NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Legends Cars; 16--NASCAR Late Models, Super Stocks, MSRA Pro 4 Modifieds, Mini Stock cars, Figure 8s, American Race Trucks; 23--USAC Midgets, Sprint Cars, CAM 360, T.Q. Midgets; 30--NASCAR Super Late Models 100, Grand American Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Legends Cars.

Oct. 7--NASCAR Food4Less Southwest Series, Super Stocks, Legends Cars.