Press Wins Main Event at Saugus

The Giant Smashup Derby is the customary closing event on the last racing date of the month at Saugus Speedway, a tradition that was continued Saturday night. What wasn’t customary, however, was that the 3,755 fans who braved the brutal wind saw smash-up after fender bender throughout the evening.

The 25-lap hobby stock oval main event, for example, was stopped five times because of minor accidents and spin-outs.

The delays proved to be a worthwhile wait for Frazier Park’s Dan Press, who won the 40-lap modified feature race just ahead of Rod Johnson of Canyon Country. It was the first top finish of the year for Press, who is sixth in the overall point standings.

Jim Vermillion of San Bernardino, Charlie Saied of North Hollywood and Glen Cummings of Highland rounded out the top five finishers in the race.

In the crash-marred preliminary races, the biggest bangs came during the 15-lap hobby stock figure-8, which was stopped with almost every screech of the tires. With clouds of exhaust making visibility on the field near zero, Brian Kelley of Arcadia managed to avoid collision and win.

“It was just like a wall out there,” said Kelley, standing beside his battered red 1970 Camaro. “I just closed my eyes and hoped I didn’t hit anybody. Luckily, I was able to thread the needle.

“Figure eight’s fun.”

In the 25-lap hobby stock oval main event, Pete Deluise of Van Nuys forced one yellow flag on lap 15 when he grazed the wall in turn No. 2. Arcadia’s Terry Harmes, who led early in the race, became entangled with Joe Barreras Jr. of Canyon Country on lap 14 to bring out yet another yellow flag.

But the funniest crash in the pre-smash-up derby came when Rick Crow of Canyon Country and Jeff Drummen of Northridge collided and locked front ends, halting the race for more than 15 minutes while track workers tried to pry the cars apart. Finally, both vehicles were towed off the track while still joined at the bumpers.

When the race was over, Allen Boles of San Fernando, who had taken the lead during the Harmes-Barreras Jr. acquaintance, emerged victorious.

Reseda’s Larry Krieger passed Rick Michaels on the 22nd lap to claim second place. Michaels finished third just ahead of Barreras.

The hobby stock main wasn’t the only race in which the yellow flag was aflutter. In the 12-lap hobby stock semifinal, Crow passed Scott Wade of Glendale in turn No. 3 of the third lap and finished first unchallenged. But Ward spun out on the back straightaway on the sixth lap to delay the race and, consequently, did not finish.

Jim Leidholdt of Saugus moved into second place and held off Mike Branam of Lake View Terrace, who finished third.