MOTOR RACING : Carpenter’s Story Has Finishing Touch

Bob Carpenter of Sierra Madre started racing at Ventura Raceway two years ago in order to write a series of articles for Circle Track magazine.

Carpenter will have plenty of material for his next column after beating track champion Greg Voigt of Goleta in Thursday night’s 20-lap Street Stock feature at the quarter-mile clay oval to earn his first victory.

Voigt’s teammate, Chris Tonoli of Santa Barbara, unwittingly assisted Carpenter in his victory by spinning out on the 17th lap to force a caution flag as Voigt was passing Carpenter for the lead.

The pass was nullified by the caution, then Carpenter beat Voigt on the restart and held on.

Voigt clinched the track championship by finishing second.

Cliff Tietz of Camarillo earned his second victory in the 20-lap Mini Stock main event, crossing the finish line just ahead of his son, Jim, also of Camarillo.

In the 20-lap Pony Stock main, Sophie Adams of Ventura took the lead on the eighth lap and cruised to a one-half-lap victory over Tracy Jewett of Sherman Oaks.