RACING ROUNDUP : Benner Gains Ground at Saugus Speedway

The points race is heating up in the Street Stock division following Greg Benner’s victory in the oval main event Saturday night at Saugus Speedway.

Benner, 40, of Whittier, entered the night in third place in the standings, but figured to improve his position after the top two drivers in the class were forced out of the 25-lap race with mechanical troubles.

Kirk Miller of Alta Loma, who started with a 10-point edge over Benner, suffered a broken drive shaft on the 14th lap and dropped out. Seven laps later, Valencia’s John Schultz, who was just two points back, was sent to the pits with a broken water pump.

“I wasn’t even aware that Schultz was gone because he was behind me at the start,” Benner said. “I kept my concentration with the help of my spotter (crew chief Dan Handley). He told me what was happening in the field and I drove accordingly. It makes such a difference when you don’t have to look in your mirror.”

With Miller and Schultz out, Benner held off Jeff Drummen to win wire to wire.

Mike Price of San Pedro was third, followed by Valencia’s Dana Moore.

Results from the 15-lap Street Stock figure 8 and 40-lap Sportsman main events were unavailable by press time.

Bellflower’s Terry Limberopoulos used a borrowed car to win his fourth Mini Stock main event.

Limberopoulos, 25, who is third in the points standings, drove Redondo Beach resident Chuck Jezulin’s car in the 20-lap feature race after his car suffered a blown head gasket earlier in the night.

“I’m just lucky Chuck’s got a good car,” said Limberopoulos, who moved into the lead for good after passing pole-sitter John Cotcher of Newhall on the outside of Turn 4 following a restart on the eighth lap.

John Dighera of Thousand Oaks was second, followed by Gardena’s Jeff McCall and Bob Kluck of Huntington Beach.

Kenny Smith of El Monte won the 15-lap Pro Four Modified feature race, outlasting Ron Katz, Garrett Yamada and Gregg Symonds for his fourth victory in six starts.

Smith also posted the fastest qualifying time and won the four-lap trophy dash.

Other trophy dash winners included Gary Sigman of Carson (Sportsman), Dean Grizzaffi of Granada Hills (Street Stock oval), Northridge’s Greg Bratschie (Street Stock figure 8) and Bob Kluck of Huntington Beach (Mini Stock).