Bartholomew Clinches Title in Jalopy Division at Saugus

All summer long, Harrison (Bart) Bartholomew of North Hollywood and John Fleming of Simi Valley have waged a battle for the points standings lead in the entry-level Jalopy division.

But as summer gave way to autumn Saturday night at Saugus Speedway, Bartholomew finally settled matters on the final night of points racing. It was one of three points championships decided.

Bartholomew, who led Fleming by 11 points entering the evening, won a trophy dash and took second place in the 15-lap main event before 4,020 to sew up the points championship. Jeff Saelid of San Dimas won the race.

Bartholomew received the break he needed to wrap up his first points title when Fleming, using a borrowed ride, came up with a flat front right tire on Lap 13. The mishap ruined a valiant run by Fleming, who started 20th in a 20-car field and was running fifth at the time.

Another points title was decided when Jack Sander and William Loe broke a tie in the Two-Seater/Hollywood Stuntmen’s division, edging the second-place car driven by Bruce Dorn and Nancy Houston in a 12-lap main event. The teams were tied with 146 points entering the evening, but Sander and Loe passed Dorn and Houston when the latter went a little wide on Turn 3 of Lap 4. Sander and Loe raced unchallenged from there.

And finally, Rock Ake Jr. of Moorpark started and ended his evening well. He set a track qualifying record in the Mini Stock division, then finished first in the 20-lap main event to clinch the points championship.

In the 20-lap three-quarter midget main event, points leader Gary Schroeder of Sylmar cemented his grip on the lead with a wire-to-wire victory. Frank Deiny Jr. of Burbank, who trailed Schroeder by just two points entering the evening, made a strong effort to catch Schroeder, passing nine cars during the race.

Deiny nearly tipped his car when passing on Turn 4 of Lap 17, but he steered his car back straight coming out of the turn and wound up passing two cars in the process to take over third place. Three laps later, Deiny settled for third place, keeping heat on Schroeder in the points standings. The two have five races left to decide the points standings.

Fast heats were won by Gerry Meilke (Mini Stock), Todd Conrad (Hobby Stock figure-eight), Dave Cash (Jalopy) and Eric Sunness (Hobby Stock oval).