Tripp Puts Field to Sleep at Saugus for 97th Victory

Sleepy Tripp of Costa Mesa showed why he is the winningest driver in USAC Western States Midget history by taking the checkered flag of the 20-lap main event before 3,847 on Saturday night at Saugus Speedway.

Tripp, a seven-time USAC champion, started sixth in the grid but shot into the lead after only three laps. From there, he breezed to the 97th victory of his 20-year career.

More important, the victory moved Tripp into the series points lead after 13 of 25 events. Tripp has 372 points, surpassing Robby Flock of Temecula (365), who began the evening as the leader.

Flock, second to Tripp with 35 victories, started on the pole but finished fifth.

Pete Ciulla of Chino Hills finished second, Ron Hazelton of Visalia was third and Darryl Haugh of Fresno took fourth.

In other races, Chuck Jezulin of Redondo Beach, second in the Mini Stock standings, gained on points leader Gerry Mielke of Torrance by driving to his second main-event victory of the season in a crash-filled 30-lap race. Ray Maxon of Castaic finished second and Robert Kluck of Huntington Beach took third.

In the 20-lap Pro Four Modified race, Mal Borders of Van Nuys took the lead from Joe Benson of Glendale on the seventh lap and went on to win his third main event of the season. Kenny Smith of El Monte finished second and Dennis Arena of Monrovia was third.

Heat-race winners included Madera residents Dan Vanderpool and Roger Galliano (Super Modified), Mielke and Brad Billings of El Monte (Mini Stock), Tripp (Midget) and Benson (Pro Four Modified).

Trophy dash winners were Jim Burns of Fresno (Super Modified), Robert Hines of West Hills (Mini Stock), Tripp (Midget) and Borders (Pro Four Modified).