VENTURA RACEWAY : Woodward Claims Crash-Marred Mini Stock Feature

Although Ventura Raceway’s annual Demolition Derby is not scheduled for another three weeks, the racers in Friday night’s stock car program gave the fans a preview of things to come with eight spectacular crashes in the first four main events.

None of the drivers involved were injured, however, and some racing actually did take place between crashes.

Ventura’s Fred Woodward went wire-to-wire in the 15-lap Mini Stock feature, defeating defending champion Gary Hubert of Somis, while Camarillo’s father-son team of Cliff and Jim Tietz both flipped their cars during the contest.

Jim Tietz was forced into the backstretch wall on Lap 5 by Camarillo’s Gary Curtis, and the car flipped back out on the track, landing on its roof and stopping the competition.

Tietz’ father, Cliff, flipped on the eighth lap, stopping the race a second time.

In the 20-lap Street Stock feature, Malibu’s Adail Gayhart picked up his second victory in similar fashion to Woodward’s.

Ventura’s Dan Seabert flipped into the first turn wall on the first lap, stopping the race for five minutes, and there were 13 more incidents, although only four were serious enough to bring out the caution flag.

Oxnard’s Tayo Sahagun, competing for only the second time, led every lap but the 11th in winning his first 15-lap Pony Stock main event.