Heat-Race Effort Gives Harper 3rd Saugus Title

Those who mistook Saturday’s 25-lap Street Stock oval main event at Saugus Speedway for a demolition derby should be excused. Apparently even some of the drivers were confused before the race was over.

The race, before a crowd of 3,420, was slowed by three accidents--including a five-car pileup on Lap 11 that brought out a red flag and a stray passenger door that somehow found its way off Dave Blankenship’s car.

In the end, however, Thad Friday of Reseda held off Doug Renno of Canoga Park by half a straightaway for the win. Ed Horst of Reseda placed third and Rip Michels of Arleta was fourth.

In the final event of the evening, Keith Spangler of Northridge held off Will Harper to win the 40-lap Sportsman Division main event. Spangler took the lead on Lap 29 and survived five yellow flags to beat Harper, who earlier in the night had placed second in his heat race to clinch his third consecutive seasonal points championship.

Friday, who started eighth in the 24-car field--which was reduced to 18 before the race was over--moved into the No. 3 position on Lap 17, then overtook leaders Tim Staubs (Littlerock) and Dale Petty (Palmdale) with an aggressive move on the third turn of Lap 19.

Staubs, who led for the first 19 laps, eventually finished ninth. Petty was fifth.

Garrett Yamada of North Hollywood provided little drama in his easy win in the 10-lap Mini Stock main event, increasing his lead in the seasonal points standings. Yamada, starting in the No. 4 position, steered into first by the end of the first lap and easily outdistanced Rock Ake Jr. of Moorpark and Debra Grizzaffi of Canoga Park.

Petty spun Bruce Tarpley of North Hollywood into the infield when Tarpley attempted to pass inside on Lap 6 and weathered a late charge by Brian Kelley of Arleta to win the eight-lap figure-eight heat race.

In other heat races, Blankenship of Reseda swept by Steve Nickolai of Simi Valley on Lap 4 and held on to win the Street Stock oval race;, Yamada led from start to finish to win the Mini Stock division; and Rodney Peacher of Sepulveda won the Sportsman race.

Chuck Wahl of Castaic won the 15-lap Street Stock semi-main event by passing John Schuetze of Simi Valley on the final backstretch. Schuetze held on for second with Shawn Cran of Palmdale and Brian Myoto of Saugus taking third and fourth to advance to the main event.