Krieger Posts Saugus Win in Blaze of Yellow

The last thing Larry Krieger wanted to see was a trio of yellow flags in the waning laps of Saturday night’s 40-lap Sportsman division main event at Saugus Speedway.

But there they waved, starting on Lap 36, as Krieger, last season’s Sportsman rookie of the year, tried to put the finishing touches on an unlikely victory.

Krieger, a 24-year-old Reseda resident, had qualified dead last (17.63) because of failing brakes on his IROC Camaro, but grabbed the pole position for the main event based on Saugus’ random starting order that inverted the field.

Krieger drove well enough to hold the lead throughout the race, but Dave Phipps of Simi Valley, who started 11th, and defending-champion Will Harper of Tarzana (17th) closed to third and fourth when the first yellow tightened the field.

Krieger, however, survived each delay and crossed the finish line for the first main-event win of his career before a crowd of 4,145. Phipps closed to second and Harper finished third.

Chuck Wahl of Castaic, who moved into second on Lap 32, was involved in a crash with Gary Sigman of Carson on Lap 38, triggering a yellow flag and knocking him from the race.

Three leaders and as many crashes highlighted the 25-lap Hobby Stock oval main event. Jim “The Gunner” Gunnarson of Reseda moved from fourth to first between Laps 5 and 8 and navigated successfully until the checkered flag.

Russ Wolff of Glendale apparently had second place sewn up but spun into the infield on Turn 3 of the final lap.

Neil Conrad of Arcadia claimed second and Shannon Flavin of West Hills finished third.

James Kusch of Sepulveda won the 15-lap Hobby Stock figure-eight main event.

In other races, Scott Dinger of Simi Valley moved into the lead on Lap 3 of the 15-lap Jalopy main event and easily outdistanced the remaining 11 cars until the finish. Kerry Mulligan of Granada Hills finished second.