Ojai's Troy Rutherford put on quite a show Saturday night at the "best little dirt track in America" as he ended a long sprint car victory drought.

Longtime racing friend Cory Kruseman provided Rutherford with a couple of steering boxes and it sparked Rutherford to the winner's circle in the 30-lap, 20-car field.

Kruseman was on the sidelines again because his engine parts didn't arrive from the East Coast and he plans to be in the star-studded Lucas Oil USAC/CRA series at Ventura Raceway this Saturday along with the 45-and-older Ventura Racing Association senior sprint car drivers.

Rutherford won a USAC midget feature at Ventura Raceway on April 7. Before Saturday night in a sprint car, Rutherford last won a pair of VRA sprint car features in 2006 on May 13 and June 17.

Rutherford started in fifth place and had to chase points leader Greg Taylor, Kevin Kierce and Dennis Rodriguez in the early laps.

Guy Woodward was involved in a crash which he landed upside down and Dwayne Marcum was knocked out as well in a multiple-car involvement bringing out a red flag. Woodward was able to jump out of his racer and wave to the crowd that he was OK. Jonathon Henry and Rick Hendrix were also involved, but both racers were able to get their cars repaired and return to the track.

After 2006 champion Luis Espinoza spun out, Rutherford surged in front of Taylor with 12 laps remaining. Chris Wakim was running third behind Taylor when his car had mechanical problems and he was finished with 11 laps left.

Clark Templemann III finished third, followed by Kevin Kierce, last week's winner, and Dennis Rodriguez. John Nock was sixth, Hendrix seventh, Steve Conrad eighth, Eric Severson ninth and Henry 10th.

Rutherford was cool on a warm night at the Ventura County Fairgrounds track.

"I had my hands full," he said. "Hats off to Greg."

Taylor was excited by placing second.

"The car was great and I feel great. I got this thing back to normal," he said.

Templemann knows what Taylor can do.

"I don't think Taylor is scared. He does this every week," said Templemann.

Kierce said it's an honor to race against a bunch of guys who all want to win.

Through 17 races, Taylor has 3,670 points. Kierce is second with 3,405. Espinoza is third with 3,115.

The points championship will probably be decided on the final night —Nov. 17.

Brian Camarillo, Wakim, Brandon Thomson and Rutherford were heat winners. Hendrix won the semi-main over Marcum, Richard McCormick and Oren Prosser Jr.

Brian Saxton was victorious in the pro dwarf car feature. Eric Lopez was second and Michael Lewis was third. Saxton has only raced twice at Ventura since winning the championship a year ago.

Jim Scribellito is the points leader with 2,305 through 10 races. Brent Stevens is second with 2,225.

Ed Niedzwiecki, the Ventura County Fair champion, won the senior dwarf race. Kevin Alverson was second and Dave Hume was third. Niedzwiecki has 2,405 points and Bill Van Pragg is second at 2,040.

Robert Claborn of Santa Maria won the IMCA modified feature. Damon Redman finished second and Randy McGraw was third. John Crow and Randy Miller rounded out the top five.

Defending champion Jack Parker leads in points with 414 after 12 races. Steve Smith is second with 397. McGraw is third at 394.

Jimmy McDonald won the mini dwarf cars I feature over Ricky Lewis. Nick Velasquez was third. Chris Noe and Cole Wakim were in the top five. Lewis leads in points with 1,925 and Tommy Velasquez is second with 1,755.

Tyler Jerman won the mini dwarf cars II feature. Wyatt Shaffer was second. Devin McCree, Riley Helland and Eddie Vasquez rounded out the top five.

Helland leads with 1,790 points and Jerman is second with 1,775.

Jessica Clark won the junior midgets feature. Christian Copley was second and Luke Boles third. Drew Wright and Ramon Rivas placed in the top five. Clark leads in points with 1,995 and Green is second with 1,965.