Press Carts Off Another Main Event Win at Saugus

The crowd cheered in amusement when Dan Press of Frazier Park finished a distant last--after every other driver had entered the pits--in a wild and crazy go-cart exhibition during intermission Saturday night at Saugus Speedway.

But the fans cheered even louder for Press when he sped to his third main event win of the season in the 40-lap Modified Division main event.

“That go-cart stuff,” Press said, smiling, “is for the young boys.”

Press separated the men from the boys during qualifications by posting a one-lap time of 15.74--the fastest mark on the one-third-mile oval this season.

Press then took the lead of the main event on Lap 24 and fought off Larry Lord of Riverside and Harry Brady of Canyon Country to win.

In the 30-lap Sportsman Division main event, points leader and defending champion Dave Phipps of Simi Valley all but clinched an unprecedented third Sportsman title with his fourth main event win of the season.

Working the outside lane of the track, Phipps, who started in 23rd position, wheeled through traffic and climbed to third by Lap 21. Phipps took second a lap later and finally bolted past leader Frank White of Altadena on Lap 25.

Dale White Jr. of Simi Valley won the 15-lap Street Stock figure-8 main event. Points leader Dave Blankenship of Reseda held the lead until he spun out and was forced from the track midway through the race. Charlie Saied of North Hollywood and Jim Vermillion of Moreno Valley each won eight-lap Modified heat races. Heat winners in the Sportsman Division were Dave Whitson of Riverside, Arlyn Olson of Chatsworth and Will Harper of Tarzana.