Phipps Wins After Crash by Nazaroff

The 30-lap Grand American Modified main event was Gary Nazaroff’s to lose Saturday night at Saugus Speedway.

Leading the pack with just eight laps to go, Nazaroff did just that, spinning into a wall in a cloud of smoke and out of the race.

Nazaroff’s crash allowed points leader Dave Phipps of Simi Valley, who was close behind, to easily coast to victory before a crowd of 3,404.

Nazaroff, a 40-year-old Grand Am rookie from Covina, started second, moved into the lead on the opening lap and held a surprisingly sizable lead over the pack for much of the race.

By Lap 10, Nazaroff, who was not even among the top 10 points leaders when the race began, enjoyed a 10-car-length advantage over Gary Sigman of Carson.

However, at Lap 22, when racing resumed after a yellow flag, Nazaroff entered the first turn with too much speed and wound up hitting the wall.

“I think I just drove a little bit over my head,” said Nazaroff, in search of his first win. “It’s very disappointing. That was a good run for me.”

The win was the fourth this season for Phipps, the division points leader and defending champion. “I don’t know why he lost it,” Phipps said. “It’s really too bad. He would have been tough to pass.”

In other races, John Petsco of Newbury Park won the 20-lap Mini Stock main event to record his second victory of the season. Petsco started in fourth position and soon closed in on pole-sitter Rick Nisbet of Lancaster.

Petsco, who entered the evening third in the points standings, assumed the lead for good after Nisbet pulled into the infield with sparks flying beneath his car.

Damon Duckett of Acton finished second and Gerry Mielke of Torrance took third.

In the 25-lap Street Stock oval main event, Eric Sunness of Canyon Country moved into the lead on the eighth lap and withstood two lengthy delays to record his second main-event victory of the season. Points leader Ron Cerven of Palmdale finished second.

Chuck Berry of Woodland Hills won the 15-lap Hobby Stock oval main event, taking the lead in the final few laps from Debra Grizzaffi of Woodland Hills, who finished second. Points leader Rich Ocheltree of Van Nuys finished third and Brett Myers of Simi Valley took fourth.

Heat race winners included Mike McAtee of North Hollywood, Steve Bennett of Newhall and John Bowler of Northridge (Street Stock); Greg Maliniemi of Canyon Country and Yagel Berkovitz of Burbank (Hobby Stock); Petsco (Mini Stock); and Kirk Miller of Alta Loma and Gary Burton II of Lancaster (figure-eight).