TOP 11 COUNTDOWN – GREG VOIGT

By Kevin Peters

Now to the top of the board for our Top 11 countdown of the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Driver Standings. Goleta, California driver Greg Voigt is accustomed to getting off to slow starts and finishing off the season strong. This year Greg and his NTS Motorsports Team are the mid-season championship leaders heading into the second half of the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series schedule. Greg holds a 30 point lead over Ryan Cansdale, but less than 80 points cover the entire top 10.

Greg began his career on dirt with 2 Street Stock Championships at Ventura Raceway in 1995 and 1996. He was the Western Dirt Late Model Rookie of the Year and Championship Runner-up in 1997. By 1998 he moved to the pavement, running a partial schedule at Mesa Marin Raceway. By the year 2000, Greg was the Super Late Model Champion at Irwindale Speedway and it’s Miller Series Champion as well. In 2001 Greg had 7 Super Late Model feature wins in only 11 starts at the same facility.

In 2002, Greg began his career in the Nascar Southwest Tour Series, running a partial schedule. In the three season he completed the full schedule, Greg finished sixth twice and eighth in the points standings. In 2007, Greg moved to the Spears Southwest Tour Series earning 5 top 10 point finishes including two third place finishes and a championship runner-up effort in 2009. He has 3 career victories including the Inaugural Colorado 100 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Greg was also the Qualifying Champion in 2008 which included a track record at Altamont Motorsports Park.

Greg’s 2015 season got underway at the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Winter Showdown at Kern County Raceway. The Open Show for Tour / Super Late Models boasted a winner’s purse of $25,000 and a total payout of over $125,000. Greg qualified 18th in the 52 car field and finished 5th in his qualifying heat to advance to the Main Event. Greg started 15th and advanced to run in the top 10 for the majority of the first 125 laps finishing 8th at the break. Greg continued to just cruise and save his tires during the second half of the event. On lap 194 Greg hit a piece of debris under caution which ruptured his radiator while running eighth, ending his day in 16th.

The point season got off to a much better start for Greg with a 4th place finish at Madera Speedway followed by a 3rd place effort at Kern County Raceway. At Stockton 99 Speedway, Greg got caught up in the big 8 car accident early in the event and eventually finished a disappointing 13th. At his home track, Irwindale Speedway, Greg rebounded to qualify 2nd and finish 2nd to 2014 Series Champion Derek Thorn an secure his position as the championship leader.

With the 8 week break between races, Greg and the NTS Motorsports Team headed to Monroe, Washington for the 2015 Summer Showdown at Evergreen Speedway. Greg and the team struggled to find speed in their “Tour” legal car while working on some new set-ups for the event. He qualified 23rd of the 46 teams present and finished their qualifying heat race in the 10th position. Unfortunately for Greg and the team, mechanical issues sidelined them after only 27 laps, resulting in a 26th place finish.

Despite Greg’s struggles at Evergreen, the first half of the points season was a big success. When asked about that success, Greg was quick to credit the team. “All the guys work so hard at NTS Motorsports”, Greg would comment. When asked what it will take to win the championship Greg responded, Winning some races will be very important to achieve that goal”. As for the upcoming schedule of events in the second half of the season Greg is looking forward to each one as it comes. “My favorite event is whichever is the next one on the schedule”, Greg explained. In that case, the next one is August 1st at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka, CA for the Spears Southwest Tour Series 125 Presented by The Bear River Hotel and Casino.

As the second half of the season prepares to get underway, Greg would like to say “Thank you to Gary, Bob an all the guys at NTS Motorsports.”