MOTOR SPORTS / BRYAN RODGERS : Saugus Drivers Will Feel at Home

When Ron Hall, track promoter at Kern County Raceway in Willow Springs, started recruiting displaced Saugus Speedway drivers, he did so with a heavy heart.

“I patterned Kern County’s track after Saugus,” the 55-year old Hall said. “Of course I added a few of my own things, but this track is basically like Saugus and that’s because I loved that place.”

Hall competed at Saugus in the 1960s and was involved in other aspects of racing at the Santa Clarita facility.

When the announcement came that Saugus Speedway was closed for the remainder of the 1995 season, and perhaps forever, Hall was there passing out business cards for his racetrack.

Hall’s track opened in November of 1993 when he conducted the Asphalt Turkey Nationals.

“As far I know, we’re the only track west of the Mississippi River that races on asphalt in November.”

Kern County’s field has been bolstered because of the recent influx of Saugus drivers looking for places to race.

Since the closure of Saugus three weeks ago, “car counts have doubled in nearly every category,” Hall said.

In last Saturday’s Street Stock main event 22 cars competed, compared to fields of 14-16 earlier in the season.

Seven of the entries were drivers who normally competed at Saugus.

Even though Julianne Seeley was disqualified early in the Street Stock main for rough driving, she plans to return to Kern County.

“It’s a neat little track,” she said. “Because it’s smaller than Saugus it’s tough to pass but I plan on being here on Aug. 12.”

Kern County’s oval is only one-quarter mile and Saugus’ is one-third mile. But the biggest difference is that Kern County has banks of 3 1/3 degrees heading into the turns and Saugus is flat.

Grand American driver John Watkinson has previously raced at Kern County. Last year he set the track record in the Grand Am division at the Asphalt Turkey Nationals.

“I have an obligation to my sponsors to race,” Watkinson said. “Plus I think its important to the fans that Saugus drivers relocate and race again.”

Because Hall wants Saugus fans and drivers to feel at home, he is making arrangements with Virgil Kilpatrick, longtime Saugus track announcer, to announce a few of Kern County’s races.

“Virgil is a great race announcer and to have him here would be a real treat,” Hall said.

Another unique feature Kern County offers is live reports from a roving announcer in the pit area.

“If a guy goes to the pits, we can update the fans with what’s going on and give an accurate report on the status of the drivers,” Hall said.

“We just want race fans to come out and give us a try. We’re not as far out of the way as people think and we offer a pretty good show.”

*

Ronnie Hornaday’s victory in the Street Stock feature at Kern County last Saturday capped off a successful day for the Hornaday family.

Earlier, his dad, Ron Hornaday Jr., captured his fourth victory of the season in the SuperTruck series at Topeka, Kan.

*

Ventura race officials announced they will honor any Saugus racing license until the end of their Stock Car season Sept. 30.

The first driver to accept the offer was Scott Dinger of Simi Valley.

Dinger was at Ventura Friday night with an old Enduro car which had been sitting in his backyard.

After literally blowing the cobwebs off and changing the carburetor to meet Ventura specifications, Dinger finished third in a seven-lap heat race.

The car’s motor lost power early in the 20-lap main event.

Dinger, who last raced at Ventura in 1991 during the annual County Fair event, vowed to return with a fresh engine, although his main focus is pavement competition at Kern Valley Raceway.

Contributing: Darin Esper