Blankenship Earns Record, Win at Saugus

This time, Dave Blankenship of Reseda promised, there would be no doubt.

After he set an apparent track record in a Street Stock one-lap qualifying race two weeks ago, Blankenship’s mark was disallowed after post-race inspections.

OK, Blankenship said, I’ll do it again.

On Saturday night at Saugus Speedway, before a crowd of 3,862, Blankenship broke the one-lap record with a time of 18.41 seconds. The old one-lap mark of 18.54 seconds was set by Rick Crow of Canyon Country last year.

Blankenship then burned his way to double glory by winning the 25-lap Street Stock oval main event. Blankenship, who started fourth in the 25-car field, strong-armed his way past leader John Kirby of Ventura on the second turn on Lap 11 and raced unchallenged the rest of the way.

“You know your car’s working, for one thing,” he said of the feeling that accompanied his record performance. “You’ve already done a little better than anyone else.”

Such confidence showed on his aggressive pass of Kirby.

Kirby held on for second while Ed Horst of Reseda took third. Craig Rayburn of Simi Valley finished fourth.

Rod Johnson of Canyon Country won his first main event in the 40-lap Sportsman feature.

Johnson started on the pole and had little competition, except for second-place finisher Dave Phipps of Simi Valley’s daring pass attempt on the main straightaway of Lap 37. Johnson sped for the Turn 1, however, and cut off Phipps bid.

Gary Sigman of Carson took third place, while Rodney Peacher of Sepulveda and Keith Spangler of Northridge, coming back from an accident two weeks ago, finished fourth and fifth.

In the Mini Stock main event, points leader Garrett Yamada of North Hollywood came from the middle of an eight-car field to win the 12-lap race.

Yamada executed an aggressive pass on the second turn in Lap 3 and then ran away and hid. Rock Ake Jr. of Moorpark was second.