New Driver, Same Result at Saugus

For the second consecutive outing, Richard DeLong Jr.’s Pontiac finished first in the Sportsman division main event Saturday night at Saugus Speedway.

As was the case June 11 when NASCAR star Bobby Allison was behind the wheel, DeLong’s blue and white Trans Am edged points leader Dave Phipps of Simi Valley to win the 40-lap race.

About the only difference was the absence of Allison, who, it was announced to the 3,688 in attendance before the evening’s first race, was still listed in critical condition in a Pennsylvania hospital after a crash last Sunday.

This time it was DeLong, a resident of Van Nuys, in the driver’s seat and he barely held off Phipps, the defending track champion, in a race twice delayed by extended red and yellow flags.

“We set up the car for Bobby when he was here two weeks ago and we didn’t change a thing,” said DeLong, who entered the race third in the points standings. “I have good people helping me.”

DeLong, however, admitted that Phipps’ car--a 1985 Buick Regal--is faster.

“If there had been another 10 laps, he probably would have beaten me,” DeLong said.

It was also a successful night for Hobby Stock points leader Larry Krieger of Reseda. Krieger recorded a hat trick, winning the frenzied 15-lap figure 8 main event, a figure 8 heat race and the figure 8 trophy dash.

Krieger also won the 25-lap Hobby Stock oval main event. He moved into the lead just before a yellow flag on Lap 12 and won by a half-lap over Arleta’s Brian Kelley.

In the well-received destruction derby, which is held on the last Saturday of the month, Cliff Jones of Sun Valley was the only driver whose car was still moving after 15 minutes of smash-ups and smoke.

Eight-lap Sportsman heat-race winners included Tom Colgan of Studio City, John Cran of Reseda and Craig Rayburn of Simi Valley.

Sue Fransden of Chatsworth and Susan Pittinato of West Hills also won Hobby Stock heat races.