Seeley’s Main-Event Victory Makes History at Saugus : Auto racing: Canyon Country driver treats season-high crowd of 6,583 to first win by a woman driver.

It was the Fourth of July at Saugus Speedway, so Julianne Seeley of Canyon Country made an early declaration of independence in the 25-lap Hobby Stock oval main.

Seeley, driving the hot pink-and-white No. 18 car, took the lead from Kelly Colgan of Shadow Hills on Lap 7, then won over the season-high crowd of 6,583 while running away to score what was believed to be the first main-event win by a female in the track’s history.

Seeley, 28, had to fend off a hard-charging Ron Cerven of Lancaster over the final five laps, but her car, which set the fast time earlier in the evening, proved too powerful.

“I didn’t see anybody for the longest time, then I saw him,” Seeley said. “I was praying, ‘Please, God, please.’ Then I was hoping they would throw the checkered at 20 laps. But I held on.

“We’ve been running so well this year. The crew sets up the car so well, all I have to do is drive it.”

Cerven held on for second with Richard Ingram of Hesperia third.

In the 12-lap Grand American Modified main event, Chris Hamilton of Hanford, the 1990 national rookie of the year, ran away and hid from the pack in notching the win. Points leader Dave Phipps of Simi Valley was towed to the pits after his car broke down early in the race.

Brad Guerin took second with Gary Nazarof taking third.

Dick Leighton of Pacoima won the 15-lap Jalopy main event by holding off hard-charging Jeff Saelid of San Dimas on Lap 13, when Saelid’s takeover bid ended in a spin-out. John Fleming of Simi Valley took second with Saelid finishing third.

Earlier, Leighton had won a trophy dash and a fast heat.

Leighton had company in his three-win night, as Stuntmen’s Division tandem Adail Gayhart and Betsy Oliver of Malibu took the checkered flag in the 12-lap main event after winning both a trophy dash and fast heat earlier in the night.

David Moak of Tujunga won trophy dashes in both the Hobby Stock oval and figure-eight races.