Corning Defeats Tough Field to Claim Saugus Main Event

Mike Corning motored all the way from San Diego on Saturday for his first appearance of the season at Saugus Speedway.

It was gas money well-spent.

Corning led for the final 29 laps of the 30-lap Grand American Modified main event, holding off some of Saugus’ best drivers in the process, to claim victory on the one-third-mile paved oval before 4,431.

Behind Corning were three of Saugus’ finest: Rusty Stewart of Redondo Beach, defending track champion Dave Phipps of Simi Valley and Dave Blankenship of Reseda. None were able to mount a serious challenge and they finished second, third and fourth.

The 20-lap three-quarter Midget main event was marred by an opening-lap front-straightaway crash that resulted in the car of Jay Drake of Val Verde rolling on its side. Drake was not hurt but he was unable to return.

When racing resumed, Rick Hendrix of Simi Valley slipped past pole-sitter Marc Hart of Ventura on the second lap and did not relinquished the lead. The race was slowed by a yellow flag on Lap 19, allowing the pack to close on Hendrix. But Hendrix made the one-lap dash to the checkered flag.

In other races, Jason Junkman of Fountain Valley finished first in the 10-lap Midget semi-main event to lead four drivers who qualified for the main event.

Melanie Eckhardt finished first in the eight-lap three-quarter Midget semi-main event.

Heat-race winners were Corning (Grand Am); Rick Galbraith of Burbank and Tim Mitchell of La Crescenta (Mini Stock); George Ito of Ventura and Lloyd Hemman of Madera (Midget); and Hendrix, Cory Kruseman of Ventura and Kenny White of Ventura (three-quarter Midget).