Mintey Religiously Stays Ahead of Saugus Sportsman Pursuers

Confusing Pat Mintey Jr. with any of his Sportsman division competitors at Saugus Speedway isn’t easy.

Mintey is clean-shaven, his hair is cut short and he doesn’t smoke, chew, drink or swear. On the track, Mintey stands out because he’s usually ahead of the pack. And tonight, Mintey more than likely will be the one wearing the Sportsman division crown after the checkered flag falls on the final 40-lap main event of the season.

Then, after heading for home in Quartz Hill, Mintey likely will engage in a bit of celebration.

“Probably some pizza,” he said.

Before joining the Sportsman class in 1990, Mintey spent two years traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest as a missionary with members of a Mormon church. He has remained devoted to his faith.

And to racing.

Mintey, 26, needs just six points to clinch his first Sportsman championship. Realistically, he could clinch the title after the trophy dash and a heat race, settling the issue even before lining up for the main event.

He will earn two points just for finishing the main event, something he has not failed to do since April. Moreover, in 18 main events, Mintey, who finished fourth in points last season, has finished among the top 10 in all but four.

Piece of cake--which might also figure into his celebration plans.

“We really want to win this last race,” Mintey said. “It would be the cherry on top of the ice cream to set off the celebration with a win.”

If Mintey’s personality smacks of vanilla flavoring, it does.

He not only is among the track’s most respected drivers but among its most presentable competitors. His car is polished clean and so are the vehicles and trailers in his entourage.

Mintey, who works as a sales representative for a Santa Paula racing-parts manufacturer, says he has brought many members into his church through racing.

“Everyone out there knows me for who I am and my religion and they act accordingly when they’re around,” Mintey said. “They clean up the language a little bit. They accept me and respect me for who I am. I don’t get teased about it or anything. A lot of people don’t even bring it up.”

Mintey, who leads Sean Woodside of Saugus by 27 points, is poised to claim the family’s first title in nearly 30 years of racing. Pat Mintey Sr. raced at Saugus throughout the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, before embarking on a 12-year career on the NASCAR Winston West circuit. He was named the Winston West’s rookie of the year in 1977, finishing a career-best fifth for the season.

Mike Mintey, Mintey’s uncle, also was a popular driver at Saugus in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Mintey concedes the title will mean much to his family. But driving a good, clean race is what is most important.

“We just want to have a good, strong finish,” Mintey said. “To lose by a point would be a big disappointment.”

But highly unlikely.

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Add points race: The Sportsman points race isn’t the only one to be decided tonight at Saugus. The Street Stock division also will take the final checkered flag of the season.

Points leader Gerrit Cromsigt of Palmdale has all but tied a ribbon around a banner season in which he likely will claim his first track title and, possibly, set a track record for victories in a season.

With two main events remaining (oval and figure eight), Cromsigt holds a 22-point lead over Kelly Colgan of Shadow Hills. Cromsigt will clinch the title by finishing at least fourth in at least one main event--a virtual cinch considering he has finished among the top five in 17 of 23 main events.

Moreover, Cromsigt has won 16 main events, one shy of the track record set in 1988 by former Hobby Stock champion Larry Krieger of Reseda.

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Sportsman series set: The fourth Southern California Sportsman Series is scheduled to kick off Sept. 26 with a 100-lap main event at Saugus.

Following will be 100-lap races at El Cajon Speedway near San Diego (Oct. 2), Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino (Oct. 9) and Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield (Oct. 15).

The year-end series, expanded from three races last season, pits Sportsman drivers from four Southern California tracks in a short series with a total purse of more than $56,000. Each race will pay the winner $1,500. Typical Saugus main events pay $600 to win.

In addition, the points leader after four races will earn $1,500.

Last season, Ed Hale of San Diego won the Sportsman series ahead of Lance Hooper of Palmdale.

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Rolling along: The NASCAR Southwest Tour resumes tonight with a 100-lap race at Las Vegas Speedway Park. Points leader Ron Hornaday Jr. of Palmdale, who won last season’s event at Las Vegas, enters the series’ 14th event with a 192-point lead over Doug George of Atwater, Calif., who finished fifth at Las Vegas last season.

Hornaday is coming off his fourth victory of the season, Aug. 21 at Colorado National Speedway.

Next weekend, the tour returns to Saugus, where Hornaday will be making his 100th consecutive start with the Southwest Tour. Hornaday took the checkered flag in May in the tour’s last appearance at Saugus.

The NASCAR Winston West series resumes tonight with a 100-lap event at Tri-City Raceway in West Richland, Wash. The race marks the first Winston West appearance at West Richland since 1990.