Hooper Hits the Jackpot at Saugus in Driving to Main-Event Victory

Lance Hooper of Palmdale is the kind of guy you want with you on your next visit to a Las Vegas casino.

The 1990 rookie of the year in Saugus Speedway’s Sportsman Division can do no wrong, and Saturday night’s 40-lap main event win in front of 3,792 is a prime example.

Hooper started 12th on a 24-car field and drove skillfully for 35 laps, forging his way to third place behind Doug Renno of Canoga Park and Pat Mintey Jr. of Quartz Hill.

Then, on Turn 4 of Lap 35, Renno and Mintey tangled. Hooper sped to the front and took home his fifth main event win at Saugus Speedway in 1991, and his 11th overall for the season.

Hooper had actually passed Mintey three laps earlier, but had it nullified because of a yellow flag. Justice was his at the end of the night, though.

Saturday night also saw the return of two-time defending champion Will Harper of Tarzana, who took his No. 96 car out of the garage for some extra racing time. Harper finished fourth, with Ken Sapper of Glendale second and John Watkinson of Canyon Country third.

The 25-lap Street Stock oval main event was good to Ojai’s John Kirby, who started on the pole and brought home a wire-to-wire victory just ahead of second-place driver Brian Kelley of Arleta.

In the 20-lap Grand American Modified main event, Gary Sigman of Carson and Dave Phipps of Simi Valley waged a duel for first place in the final 10 laps. Sigman fended off Phipps’ repeated challenges in notching the win.

Russ Beckers of Sepulveda, leader in the Sportsman Rookie of the Year chase, won the Sportsman trophy dash. Other trophy dash winners included Ken Maler of Castaic (Street Stock oval), Ed Horst of Canoga Park (Street Stock figure eight) and Chris Hamilton of Hanford (Grand American Modified).

In the fast heat races, John Miller of Chula Vista came up from El Cajon Speedway and won in the Grand American Modified division. Other fast heat race winners included Brian Kelley of Arleta (Street Stock oval), Rod Johnson of Canyon Country (Sportsman) and Mitch Thompson of Sylmar (Street Stock figure eight).

Mintey clocked the Sportsman fast time of 16.71 seconds. Other fast times were turned in by Dave Phipps in the Grand American Modified (17.37 seconds) and Rip Michels of Arleta in Street Stock (18.48 seconds).