Worst Still Means First for Ken Sapper

Stock car racer Ken Sapper has it down to the point that winning championships at Saugus Speedway are as easy as 1-2-3. Or so he hopes.

Although Sapper, of La Crescenta, came in 10th in Saturday’s Modified Grand Prix--his worst finish of the year--he still had enough points from the rest of the regular season to win the modified point standings for the second straight year.

“That was a real thrill,” Sapper said. “We’ll be going for our third next season. And as far as our procedure and rhythm, I hope nothing changes for next year.”

Sapper beat point standings runner-up Chuck Pittenger of Northridge by more than 200 points. Pittenger came in fifth behind winner Ray Hooper Jr. of Valencia in Saturday’s race. The win was Hooper’s first of the season.

Sapper won the first few races of the season at Saugus with few problems. He set season fast-speed records that stood until mid-June. Last Saturday, he set another fast-time season record during qualifying: 15.63 seconds at an average speed of 76.77 m.p.h. Except for former track champion Jim Thirkettle of Sylmar, who set a fast time of 15.57 in June, it was the quickest anyone had ever motored around the oval, which is a third of a mile long.

“The first four races of any year are really the important races,” Sapper said. “It’s a lot easier to lead than it is to catch up.”

Following hasn’t been a problem with Sapper this year. He easily won the first four races, and nobody ever came close after that. Sapper recorded seven first-place finishes out of 16 races during the regular season and had 11 top-three finishes.

Said Sapper: “It was the consistency of the crew and everybody’s hard work. Between Valley Head Service and Speedway Engineering (two of Sapper’s biggest sponsors), it was a hard combination to beat. I don’t think there was a better car built.”

Sapper, who is employed by Speedway Engineering, worked 30 to 40 hours a week with his crew on his late-model Chevrolet Camaro to take this year’s championship. Sapper said he will work that many hours next year in hopes of taking the Saugus title again.

“Saugus is our home base,” Sapper said. “I would say at this this point we’re going to race at Saugus for points next year. That track has been good to us.”