Kelley Fends Off Krieger to Claim Hobby Stock Win

Amid the recurring yellow flags and dented fenders that are synonymous with Hobby Stock division stock car racing at Saugus Speedway, Brian Kelley of Arleta easily won the 20-lap oval main event Friday night by a 10-car margin over Larry Krieger of Reseda.

Driving without a hood and right-front fender, which he lost in a heat-race crash, Kelley took the pole position and probably never gave his rear-view mirror a glance.

Kelley’s lead thinned with two yellow flags, but he opened a wide margin with each wave of the green flag.

In the 15-lap figure 8 main event, Krieger gained a measure of revenge against Kelley. After racing side by side for eight laps, Krieger, the figure 8 points leader, pulled ahead when Kelley slowed to avoid a collision in the intersection.

Krieger, who held a 47-point lead over James Kusch of Sepulveda at the outset of the evening, went on to win by a half-lap margin over George Nunes of Northridge.

Kelley later was forced from the race when Pat Dennison of Granada Hills slammed into the left side of his car while drivers were making immediate stops under a red flag.

Eight-lap oval heat race winners included Steve Katz of Granada Hills, Scott Wade of Glendale, Kelley and Susan Pittinato of West Hills. Danny Unger of Agua Dulce won the eight-lap figure 8 heat race.