Roark Notches 1st Career Win on Opening Night at Saugus

Some mighty rusty racers took to the track Saturday night at Saugus Speedway on the season’s opening night and after a six-month off-season.

The effects of idleness showed. Eight heat races littered with fender-benders took nearly two hours to complete before any main events got under way.

Then the 25-lap Street Stock oval main event, which took more than a half-hour to complete, began with a backstretch smack-up a half-lap into the race that undoubtedly cost pole-sitter Mike McAtee of North Hollywood a shot at starting the season with a victory.

Instead, Jeff Saelid of San Dimas and Scott Roark of Agua Dulce battled for the lead before Roark, a rookie who competed in only four events last season, took the checkered flag before a crowd of 3,168.

“First career win,” Roark said. “I’ll take the prize money and go to Disneyland.”

The lead changed hands three times between the pair before Saelid, leading on Lap 23, was involved in a crash and was forced to the pits, paving the way for Roark. Ron Cerven of Palmdale finished second.

In the 25-lap Mini Stock main event, Ed Fuller Jr. of Agoura started on the pole and led from start to finish. Chuck Jezulin of Redondo Beach finished second, Gregg Symonds of Agoura Hills was third and Jess Flores of Sylmar was fourth. Ed Fuller Sr. finished fifth.

In the 10-lap Hobby Stock main event, Rich Ocheltree of Van Nuys started fifth and went on to win his first career main event.

Ocheltree earlier established a new one-lap qualifying record with a time of 19.87 seconds.

Eight-lap heat Street Stock oval heat race winners included Richard Russo of Newhall, John Penning of Lebec and Eric Sunness of Canyon Country. Ocheltree won the Hobby Stock oval heat race.

Ray Maxon of Castaic, Gerry Meilke of Torrance and Fuller Jr. won six-lap Mini Stock heat races. Saelid won the eight-lap combined Street Stock and Hobby Stock figure eight heat race.

Trophy dash winners included Saelid (Street Stock oval), Randy Goldsmith of Cerritos (Hobby Stock oval), McAtee (Street Stock-Hobby Stock figure eight) and Rock Ake Jr. of Moorpark (Mini Stock).