Custer Finds Way to Saugus Victory in Pro Stock Main

Terry Custer of Northridge proved he can bang doors with the best of the NASCAR Pro Stock field Saturday night at Saugus Speedway.

Custer came from 10th place on a congested track and banged doors with Scott Dinger of Simi Valley the entire final lap before crossing the finish line ahead of Dinger by no more than a foot to win the 25-lap main event before 4,138.

Dinger had taken the lead from Mark Miller of Chatsworth on Lap 20 and appeared to have the right position on the last lap, but Custer got inside of Dinger as they banged together in Turn 2. Dinger then came inside of Custer in Turn 4 where both cars slammed and banged again, all the way down the front straightaway with Custer’s nose crossing the line first to bring the crowd out of its seats.

The victory was Custer’s second feature win of the season. Miller finished third and Ed Horst of Reseda was fourth.

Damon Duckett of Acton and Ed Fuller Jr. of Carson ran away from the field in the Mini Stock 20-lap oval main event but it was Fuller who put a move on Duckett to take the lead on Lap 18 and go on to win and regain the season points lead in the division.

Duckett finished second, Ray Maxon of Castaic was third and John Petsco of Newbury Park fourth.

Gregg Symonds, 70, of Agoura Hills who took the season points lead last week, was in fourth position, which would have given him enough points to remain at least a co-leader with Fuller. However, his aggressive attempt to move up with an outside pass on Lap 17 caused him to spin out, dropping him to third in the season standings behind Fuller and Petsco.

The NASCAR 40-lap Sportsman main event was in progress as this edition went to press.

Duckett drove to his first win of the season in the in the Mini Stock heat race.