Sapper Leads Way in Twin 50s : Auto racing: La Crescenta driver returns to winner’s circle twice for first main-event victories at Saugus since 1988.

Frontrunners took a back seat to a dark horse in the annual running of the Winston Twin 50s for Sportsman cars on Saturday night at Saugus Speedway.

Ken Sapper of La Crescenta, in only his fifth appearance of the season at Saugus, drove to victory in both 50-lap main events before a crowd of 4,639.

For Sapper, who entered the evening 16th in points and who had not won a main event at Saugus since 1988, the victories likely stunned the division’s top five competitors, who entered the evening separated by only 38 points.

“It’s better when you surprise ‘em like that,” Sapper said.

Sapper, who won three consecutive Modifed division titles at Saugus from 1984-86, earned the pole position for the second main event by virtue of his victory in the first. He led the second race from start to finish, taking the checkered flag ahead of Terry Custer of Mission Hills and defending champion Gary Sigman of Carson. Danny Hornaday of Moorpark finished fourth.

In the first race, Sapper moved ahead of points leader Pat Mintey Jr. of Quartz Hill on Lap 25 and wound up holding off John Higgins of Simi Valley and Ray Hooper Jr. of Palmdale.

Higgins entered the evening fifth in points. Hooper was 12th.

“We haven’t been here for a while,” Sapper said. “My crew worked the car very hard all week.”

Mintey led from Lap 2 until Sapper made a pass in the back straightaway at the midway point. Mintey said he encountered engine trouble.

“The car was absolutely flawless and then I was running on seven cylinders,” said Mintey, who entered the race with two main-event wins this season. “We haven’t had a good run like that in several weeks. It’s disappointing.”

Said Sapper: “Pat went wide and it surprised me. It wasn’t any big challenge. I just drove right past him.”

Mintey finished fourth. Custer, eighth in points, finished fifth ahead of defending champion Sigman and Russ Beckers of Sepulveda.

Sigman entered the evening fourth in points, Beckers third.

Sean Woodside of Saugus, second in points, was running in sixth place but pulled into the pits on the 40th lap.

In other races, Dave Phipps of Simi Valley won the 35-lap Grand American Modified main event with ease ahead of Gary Nazaroff of Covina, Rod Johnson of Canyon Country and Dave Blankenship of Reseda. The victory was the second this season for Phipps, the division’s points leader and two-time defending champion.

Sportsman heat race winners included David Brandon of Palmdale, Danny Hornaday of Moorpark and Custer. Robert Rice of Lakewood and Nazaroff won Grand Am heat races.