Mintey Leads From Start to Finish in Saugus Victory

Pat Mintey Jr. of Lancaster made his first main event victory of the season an impressive one before 4,307 at Saugus Speedway on Saturday night.

Mintey, who entered the NASCAR Sportsman division event in fourth place in the points standings, led for all 40 laps of the race to post his sixth top five finish of the season.

John Higgins of Simi Valley was second, followed by Ken Sapper of Sylmar and Dennis Logue of Mission Hills.

Ed Horst of Reseda (Pro Stock Oval), Craig Rayburn of Simi Valley (Pro Stock Figure 8) and Chuck Jezulin of Redondo Beach (Mini Stock) were victorious in the other main events.

Horst, the Pro Stock points leader, posted his third victory of the season, but only after two yellow flags on the 25th--and final--lap postponed his victory celebration for several minutes.

Joey Bolio of Lake View Terrace (eighth in the standings) and Gerrit Cromsigt of Palmdale (third) finished third and fourth.

Jezulin won the Mini Stock main event ahead of Gerry Mielke of Torrance, Ray Maxon of Castaic and Jeff McCall of Gardena.

Terry Limberopoulos of Bellflower appeared to be headed to an easy victory--leading by a full straightaway after 15 of the first 20 laps--but his engine blew on Lap 17.

Rudy Sandoval of North Hollywood, the mini-stock points leader entering Saturday night’s races, was involved in a three-car accident during a heat earlier in the day and did not advance to the main event.

Sandoval, who had to be cut out of his car, was taken to Henry Mayo Hospital in Newhall where he was listed in satisfactory condition.