Hooper Seizes Opportunity in NASCAR Event

Ray Hooper Jr. of Palmdale led for only one lap of the Miller Genuine Draft 100 at Saugus Speedway on Saturday night, but it was the one that counted.

Hooper slipped past Frazier Park’s Dan Press, who had won three consecutive NASCAR Southwest Tour races at Saugus, on the 99th lap.

Press had led for the first 80 laps before regaining the lead on Lap 96 from Loran Kelley. However, Press fell back after Hooper’s final charge and later was placed last for sideswiping Bob Lyon of Newhall on a pass.

Kelley took second, 0.3 seconds behind Hooper. Brian Germone of Sebastapol placed third, followed by Southwest Tour season points leader Doug George.

The race was slowed by four yellow flags, including a 15-minute delay after a four-car crash on Lap 25. Seventeen of 24 cars finished.

Ken Maler of Castaic dogged Brian Kelley of Arleta for nearly 10 laps before passing him on Lap 17 and holding on to win the Street Stock main event.

Maler was followed by Dave Blankenship of Reseda, Russ Beckers of Sepulveda and Kelley.

Craig Rayburn of Simi Valley clinched the Street Stocks season points title. He placed sixth in the main event.

Earlier, in Southwest Tour one-lap qualifying, Mark Perry of Saugus suffered a dislocated right shoulder when he skidded into the wall at Turn One after oil from a broken line reached his car’s wheels. Perry was treated and released from Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial hospital.

Also in Southwest Tour qualifying, Press broke his track record of 15.581 seconds, set in 1989, by 0.01 seconds. But Hooper turned in the top mark in the 34-driver field, lowering the record to 15.529 (77.275 m.p.h).

Harry Brady of Newhall held off two late pass attempts by Roy Testa to win the first of four 10-lap Southwest Tour heat races. A two-car pileup caused the heat to be restarted.

Joe Ordoqui of Los Angeles led from start to finish in the second heat, winning by a length over Darrel Krentz of Sparks, Nev. Gary Tamborelli of Escondido won the third heat race and Hans Wesski of Simi Valley sped to a two-length victory in the fourth.

Thad Friday of Reseda nudged past Tim Staubs of Littlerock near the last intersection to win the eight-lap Street Stock figure-eight heat race.