3 Disqualified at Saugus Over Illegal Tires

Track officials at Saugus Speedway on Saturday night awarded victories to the third-place finisher in both Hobby Stock division main events after the top two finishers of each race were disqualified for racing with illegal tires.

Allen Boles of San Fernando, the winner in the 20-lap oval main event, and Joe Barreras Jr. of Canyon Country, the winner in the 15-lap figure 8 main event, both were stripped of their wins.

Larry Krieger of Reseda, the Hobby Stock division points leader, finished second in both races and was disqualified for using one illegal tire.

“It was the compound of the tires,” said Tony Famularo, Saugus’ technical director. “The softness. They were just too soft.”

Lawrence Leis of Canyon Country, who originally finished third in the oval race, and Rick Crow of Canyon Country, who originally finished third in the figure 8, were awarded wins.

In the Hobby Stock oval B main event, Shanon Flavin of West Hills swiped the lead from pole sitter Greg Van Grinsven of Simi Valley coming out of Turn 4 on Lap 15 and went on to win.

Van Grinsven, who led for most of the 20-lap race, spun out on the final lap and finished fourth. Raymond Duff of Canoga Park finished second and Mike Stuart of Sylmar finished third.

Tom Schmidt of Yucaipa won the 10-lap Foreign Stock main event and the eight-lap oval heat race.

Hobby Stock oval heat race No. 3 was marred by a spin-out and crash involving three cars. Susan Pittinato of West Hills slid sideways upon emerging from Turn 4 and was clipped by Krieger and then broadsided by Brian Kelley of Arleta.

All three drivers were unhurt. Leis won the race.

Other Hobby oval heat race winners included Van Grinsven and James Kusch of Sepulveda.

Duff and Krieger, who returned after making repairs, won eight-lap Hobby figure 8 heats.