Spangler Takes Solo Journey in Sportsman Win

The real race was for second place in Saturday night’s 40-lap Sportsman Division main event before 4,390 at Saugus Speedway.

There was no touching the bumper of Keith Spangler of Northridge, who led from pole to checkered flag--mostly by the margin of about eight cars--to claim his division-high second main-event victory of the season.

“I had that one all the way,” said Spangler, who moved from third to second in the points standings. “But they’re never easy, no matter how far out in front you are. You still gotta get by all the lap traffic.”

All the action was behind the 19-year-old track sophomore, especially on Lap 17 when the cars of Michael Ayers of Camarillo and Dave Phipps of Simi Valley--battling in second and third place, respectively--became engulfed in sparks in a Turn 4 tangle.

Both drivers headed for the pits. Phipps returned in 18th place, Ayers did not return.

The yellow flag tightened traffic, enabling points leader Gary Sigman of Carson to close the gap on Spangler. But Sigman, who soon fell farther behind the leader, had his hands full with hard-charging Will Harper of Tarzana, who finished third.

Four drivers battled for the lead of the 25-lap Street Stock oval main event before a red flag on Lap 22 reduced the contest to a three-lap trophy dash.

Russ Beckers of Sepulveda, who began the evening sixth in the points standings, stole the lead from pole-sitter Tom Kimmel of Sylmar on the second lap and withstood charges from three drivers to post his first career main-event win.

“I put a new motor in at 1 o’clock this afternoon,” said Beckers, last season’s runner-up in the points standings. “It’s sure a strong little motor.”

Points leader Steve Nickolai of Simi Valley won the figure 8 main event, shortened to 14 laps because of a fire under the hood of the car driven by James C. Pitts of Lancaster.

Danny Hornaday of Moorpark won the 15-lap Sportsman semi-main event to lead five drivers who advanced to the main event.