Harper Closes Saugus Season With a Victory

In the Sportsman Division season finale at Saugus Speedway, two-time defending points champion Will Harper of Tarzana closed with a bang.

Having clinched this season’s points title Sept. 1, Harper raced Saturday with no pressure--unlike last year when he won the title on the final night.

“After the grind of racing for points all season, it’s nice to get out here and race for fun,” Harper said.

Harper started second and passed Lance Hooper of Palmdale on Lap 23 of the 40-lap event before a Fan Appreciation Night crowd of 3,650. The race figured to be Harper’s last as a regular competitor at Saugus Speedway in light of his announcement that he plans to move up to the Winston West or Southwest tour in 1991.

The race was not fun for everybody, though. Tempers flared when John Watkinson of Canyon Country rammed his car into the vehicle of Larry Woodside of Saugus after the two hooked up and spun on Lap 16.

Woodside, angered by what he felt was a deliberate attempt to damage his car, had to be restrained by race officials after the collision. Both cars were taken to the pits afterward.

Gary Sigman of Carson took second place in the main event, and Rodney Peacher of Sepulveda finished third.

Hooper won the six-lap Sportsman fast-heat race. Other fast-heat winners included Russ Wolff of Glendale (Hobby Stock oval), Neil Conrad of Arcadia (Hobby Stock figure-eight), Ron Katz of Simi Valley (Outlaw Mini), and Efrin Gonzalez of Sun Valley (Jalopy).