Rayburn Beats the Heat and Saugus Field

Craig Rayburn of Santa Clarita had an easy go of it in Saturday night’s 40-lap Sportsman division main event at Saugus Speedway, driving from pole to checkered flag to win before a crowd of 4,943.

Good thing, because Rayburn, who also competes in the track’s Pro Stock division, found himself behind the wheel in three main events on one of the warmest evenings of the season.

Rayburn held up in those events, too, finishing second in the 25-lap Pro Stock oval and 15-lap Pro Stock figure-eight main events.

In the Sportsman main, Rayburn, who is not among the top 10 in points, was never challenged in a race delayed only once by a yellow flag. Defending champion Gary Sigman of Carson finished second, ahead of Nick Joanides of Woodland Hills.

In the Pro Stock figure-eight race, Rayburn started second to Scott Dinger of Simi Valley and held his position throughout. Dinger, who entered the evening as the division’s points leader, drove to his seventh main-event victory.

In the 25-lap Pro Stock oval main event, Ed Horst of Reseda grabbed the lead with six laps remaining and sped to his fourth main-event victory.

Horst moved ahead when leader Sean Monroe of Los Angeles was involved in a spin with Scott Dinger of Simi Valley, who was trying to pass in the fourth turn.

Rayburn of Santa Clarita finished second, Brian Kelley of Arleta was third and Richard Karvasek of Reseda ran fourth.

In a combined 20-lap main event for Pro Four Modifieds and Mini Stocks, Mal Borders of Van Nuys stole the lead from Garrett Yamada of North Hollywood on the final lap to record his fourth main-event victory.

Yamada started second behind rival Gregg Symonds of Agoura Hills and was awarded the lead under a yellow flag with seven laps remaining. Yamada finished second and Symonds third.

In heats, Sean Woodside of Saugus and Dennis Logue of Mission Hills recorded Sportsman victories.

Pro Stock oval heat race winners included Niles Strever of Los Angeles, Karvasek and Gerrit Cromsigt of Palmdale. Earl Dorman of Saugus and Kelley won Pro Stock figure-eight heat races.

Rich Ellison of Simi Valley and Chuck Jezulin of Redondo Beach won Mini Stock heats. Borders won the Pro Four Modified heat race.

Trophy dash winners included Rayburn (Sportsman), Monroe (Pro Stock oval), Dinger (Pro Stock figure-eight), Robert Kluck of Huntington Beach (Mini Stock) and Borders (Pro Four Modified).