Benner Earns First Victory in Main Event

Heavy traffic hit Saugus Speedway on Saturday night.

That much was obvious by the six main events that highlighted a bill played out in front of 3,346.

It was even more evident by the smoke screen beneath which the 25-lap Street Stock oval main event unfolded.

Six yellow flags were waved when multiple smash-ups occurred.

When the smoke cleared, Greg Benner of Whittier had held off a charge by points leader Gerrit Cromsigt of Palmdale to record the first main-event victory in his six-year career.

The 40-lap Sportsman main event was scheduled later Saturday night.

Benner, seventh in points, started second, quickly moved into the lead and appeared uncatchable. But Cromsigt, winner of the season’s first two main events, charged from 23rd position to third with two laps to go and appeared to be gaining.

Cromsigt’s run fell short, however, when he was flagged to the infield because of a fluid leak.

“I saw him coming,” Benner said. “With so many yellows, he’s going to be good on the restarts. I was very concerned. It would have been a very interesting finish.”

Cromsigt, who resumed racing but did not finish on the lead lap, said he believed he would have won had he not been stopped.

“They said I was leaking,” Cromsigt said. “They did their duty to check it.”

John Schultz of Valencia, second in points, finished second, and Kelly Colgan of Shadow Hills was third.

In the 20-lap NASCAR Mini Stock main event, Rudy Sandoval of North Hollywood moved ahead of leader Gerry Mielke of Torrance on Lap 11 and went on to win. Chuck Jezulin of Redondo Beach finished second and Mielke finished third.

Saugus Notes

In other races, Tim Mitchell of La Crescenta won the 10-lap Pro Four Modified main event ahead of Kenny Smith of El Monte. Mitchell also won the 15-lap Mini Stock Racing Assn. oval main event.

Tim Huddleston of North Hills and Terry Custer of Mission Hills won Sportsman heat races.

Other heat race winners included Greg Benner, Bart Bartholomew of Canyon Country and Jeff Holmes of Canyon Country (Street Stock oval); Kirk Miller of Alta Loma (Street Stock figure eight); Robert Paglia of Simi Valley and Chuck Jezulin (Mini Stock), and Dennis Arena of Monrovia (Pro Four Modified). Trophy dash winners included Lee Ladd of Thousand Oaks (Sportsman), Gerrit Cromsigt (Street Stock oval), Holmes (Street Stock figure-eight), Smith (Pro Four Modified) and Rudy Sandoval (Mini Stock).