Lathrop Outlasts Veterans at Saugus

Johnny Lathrop of Riverside outraced some pretty big wheels Saturday night to win the 25-lap Grand American Modified main event before 3,673 at Saugus Speedway.

Lathrop, 32, a track rookie, drove with veterans Dave Blankenship of Reseda and Dave Phipps of Simi Valley breathing down his bumper almost from the moment he moved into the lead on the 10th lap.

But while Blankenship, second in the division’s points race, and Phipps, the points leader and defending track champion, searched for openings both outside and inside, neither came close to negotiating a pass.

The win was the first of Lathrop’s career; Blankenship finished second for the second time this season. Phipps, who has three wins this season, took third.

“I knew they were right there,” Lathrop said. “That (Blankenship) was right on me. I just had to pay attention to my driving and not look around.”

The race was, perhaps, the most tumultuous Grand Am main this season.

On the 12th lap, Bill McLean of Canoga Park, running fourth, spun out in the middle of the front straightaway, forcing Phipps to make a swift dodge to avoid a crash.

Four more incidents followed, paring the starting field of 12 to eight at the finish.

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

In other races, Ron Cerven of Palmdale charged to his third main-event win of the season in the 25-lap Street Stock oval main. Cerven, the division’s points leader, assumed the lead on Lap 6 and led until the finish. Jeff Saelid of San Dimas was second and Kelly Colgan of Shadow Hills third.

Rick Nyberg of Mission Hills won a wild 15-lap Hobby Stock main event that included four messy, multi-car pileups, including one on the final turn.

Yagel Berkovitz of Burbank started the race on the pole and led for the first 14 laps, but was flagged to the pits because of a loose hood.