Horst Pads Points Lead at Saugus With First Win of Career

Ed Horst showed Saturday night why he is the points leader of Saugus Speedway’s Pro Stock division.

Horst, 39, a four-year track veteran from Reseda, entered the 25-lap oval main event with one second-place finish, two thirds and four fourths in eight starts.

But no wins. Not this season. Not ever.

Horst finally added the elusive checkered flag to his resume by driving to his first win before 4,791 in perhaps the division’s closest finish this season.

Horst, who started fourth and claimed the lead for good on Lap 12, finished a half-length ahead of both Rip Michels of Arleta and Terry Custer of Northridge.

Michels entered the evening third in points, Custer sixth. Scott Dinger of Simi Valley, second in points, finished fourth.

All four could fit under a blanket at the finish. But Horst, with his first victory in sight, wasn’t about to let up.

“They got fast cars, great motors,” Horst said. “They run hard. I just tried to hang on best I could.”

Michels had his hands full fighting off Custer for second.

“I couldn’t get beside (Horst) until the last lap,” Michels said. “I know that me and Custer and Ed were just beating for position the whole race. But that’s short-track racing. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

The 40-lap Sportsman main event was still in progress at press time.

In other races, Richard Smith of Reseda won the 15-lap Pro Stock oval semi-main event to lead four drivers who advanced to the main event. Brian Kelley of Arleta finished second, Richard Iannolo of Mission Hills finished third and Chris Doyle of Canyon Country finished fourth.

John Kirby of Ojai won the 10-lap Pro Stock figure-eight semi-main event.

Also on the program was a 10-lap go-kart exhibition by the Los Angeles Kart Club. Keith Tarello of Castaic finished first among about a dozen competitors on a course laid out on the track’s paved infield. Mike Knapp of Van Nuys finished second. Lance Hooper of Palmdale, Saugus’ defending Sportsman division champion, finished third.

Heat-race winners included Hooper and Doug Renno of Canoga Park (Sportsman), Rick Crow of Canyon Country (Pro Stock oval) and Horst (Pro Stock figure-eight).

Trophy-dash winners included Sean Woodside of Saugus (Sportsman), Custer (Pro Stock oval) and Horst (Pro Stock figure-eight.