Sandoval Holds Off Ake at Saugus

Rudy Sandoval’s 1972 Datsun 510 has proven fairly dependable for the past three seasons on the Mini Stock circuit at Saugus Speedway, except for one part--his rear-view mirror.

Sandoval lost it during a collision last year and has yet to replace it.

The 22-year-old from North Hollywood did quite well despite the handicap Saturday night in the 20-lap main event at Saugus Speedway before a crowd of 3,925.

Sandoval, who bolted to the lead on the first lap after starting in the No. 5 position, was able to hold off Rock Ake Jr. of Moorpark to record his first main-event victory of the season.

“I didn’t know who was behind me because I couldn’t look back,” said Sandoval, who finished in fifth place in last year’s point standings--winning 12 main events, including seven in a row. “I can kind of feel when someone’s coming on by the vibration on my rear bumper.”

Sandoval said he had no trouble sensing Ake closing in.

Ake, who had the fastest qualifying mark in the one-lap qualifying (19.12 seconds), started 13th in the 20-car field but moved into fourth on the eighth lap, third on the 13th and into second with five laps left. Ake’s qualifying mark, in fact, was a track record, breaking his own mark of 19.23 set a year ago. “I was able to take a quick glance,” Sandoval said. “I was scared to death, but I just had to go all out the whole way.”

And about the mirror? “I am going to get one as soon as possible,” he said. Santa Clarita’s Craig Rayburn was second, followed by Gary Sigman of Carson and Jerry Bosson of Simi Valley.

Northridge’s Joe Heath survived four yellow flags and a red flag when Mark Austin of Canyon Country’s car burst into flames on the fifth lap to win the 40-lap Sportsman main event. Austin escaped from the vehicle uninjured.

Santa Clarita’s Craig Rayburn won the 25-lap Street Stock main event, followed by Rip Michels and Brian Kelley, both of Arleta. Ken Maler of Castaic was fourth. Rayburn passed pole setter Greg Benner of Whittier on the fourth lap and was never challenged.

Trophy dash winners included Sigman (Sportsman), John Petsco (Mini Stock) and Ed Horst of Canoga Park (Street Stock Oval and figure-eight).

Other fast-lap qualifying times were turned in by Pat Mintey Jr. of Quartz Hill (Sportsman; 16.64); Michels (Street Stock; 18.50) and Horst (Street Stock figure-eight). Gerrit Cromsigt, Scott Stewart of Simi Valley, Rod Maxon of Castaic and Larry Woodside of Saugus won six-lap heat races in the Street Stock, Street Stock figure-eight, Mini Stock and Sportsman divisions.