Michels Blisters Saugus Track With Pro Stock Victory

Talk about a heat race.

The temperature peaked at 106 degrees Saturday at Saugus Speedway and the thermometer was holding at 94 by the time the evening’s 25-lap Pro Stock oval main event got under way.

But Rip Michels could stand the heat.

Michels, of Arleta, withstood a 45-minute race that featured a 20-minute delay to record his second win of the season before a crowd of 5,026.

The race, which had drivers navigating nearly 100 laps under caution flags, was delayed four times because of accidents. The race’s first lengthy delay came after three laps and had track crew members soaking up moisture while drivers coasted in circles.

“You know what a sauna’s like?” a sweat-soaked Michels said, pulling off his helmet and coveralls amid a field of overheated cars in the pits. “That’s about the only thing I can compare it to. I feel fine right now, though.”

Michels, who entered the evening third in the division’s points standings, started in the pole position, losing his lead only momentarily to Terry Custer of Northridge seconds before the race was stopped for the first time.

Upon restart, Michels was placed ahead of the pack and maintained the lead until the checkered flag.

The 40-lap United States Auto Club Midgets main event, featuring the appearance of six-time USAC Midget champion Sleepy Tripp of Costa Mesa, was still in progress at press time.

The evening also marked the season debut of open-wheel, open-cockpit Formula Vee cars, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America. In the 12-lap main event, Bob Taylor of Murrieta took the checkered flag.

But 74-year-old R.C. Zimmerman of Claremont gave the crowd a gasp when his car tumbled end over end on Lap 5, finally coming to a rest in Turn 4.

The race was delayed for several minutes, but Zimmerman was not seriously hurt.

In other races, Glen Whitton of Lancaster won the 12-lap Pro Stock semi-main event and Tripp and Wally Pankratz of Temecula won USAC Midget heat races.

Pro Stock oval heat race winners included Paul Wiener of Agoura Hills, Rick Crow of Canyon Country, Paul Lindlief of North Hills and Brian Kelley of Arleta.