Delays Turn Finale at Saugus Into an Endurance Contest

If patience really is a virtue, then there were 5,965 virtuous souls at Saugus Speedway on Saturday night, where the first of the three much-awaited main events of the 1990 Winston/Fall Spectacular was able to squeeze itself in just before the 11 o’clock news.

Seemingly interminable delays in the B and C main events marred the season’s final night of racing, but the 50-lap Street Stock oval main event was able to get into the books at a reasonable hour.

Reseda’s Dave Blankenship, who finished a tight second to Simi Valley’s Craig Rayburn in the Street Stock points standings, started on the pole and led all the way to capture the $1,000 purse. Al Meek of Simi Valley started second and finished second. Ed Horst of Reseda was third.

The 100-lap Sportsman main event, which promised to be a wide-open race, remained just that: a promise. The frequent use of yellow and red flags during preliminary B and C main events delayed most of the night’s action, with the last race finishing after midnight.

In the Sportsman B main, John Watkinson of Canyon Country, Rusty Parr of Newhall, John Cran of Reseda and Alton McBride of San Diego finished in the top four places to advance to later main events.

Also in the Sportsman B main event, Larry Woodside of Saugus was injured when his car was struck in Turn 4 of Lap 1. Woodside was able to leave his car under his own power but appeared woozy. Race officials said that Woodside was complaining of back pain.

The 25-lap B main for Street Stock figure-eight cars had some fireworks when Jon Christensen of Lancaster and Mike Branam of Lakeview Terrace were involved in a spectacular collision at the intersection.

Neither driver was hurt, although Christensen had to be restrained by officials as he advanced toward Branam. Christensen gestured angrily at Branam before both cars were removed from the track.