Pacoima’s Leighton Wins Jalopy Race at Jam-Packed Saugus

The pits at Saugus Speedway on Saturday resembled the 405 Freeway on a Friday afternoon.

A near-record 116 cars signed up to race Saturday in Street Stock, Hobby Stock, Jalopy, Grand American Modified and Stuntmen’s divisions before 5,212 spectators. And those fans got plenty of racing--four B main events, a C main and seven fast-heat races pushed the start of the first main event past 10 p.m.

But when the not-ready-for-prime-time racers hit the track for a Jalopy main event, it was Dick Leighton of Pacoima who scored the night’s only win before press time.

Leighton won the 15-lap race despite spinning out on Turn 1 of Lap 12. His lead over second-place driver John Fleming of Simi Valley was so sizable, Leighton was able to right his course and hold on for the win.

Fleming, meanwhile, was black-flagged into the pits, leaving second place to Jeff Saelid of San Dimas. Jerry Carfley of Sepulveda took third.

In the 20-lap Hobby Stock oval main event, pole-sitter Oscar Sevilla of Mission Hills won his first main event of the season, holding off second-place Julianne Seeley of Canyon Country.

Sevilla’s win broke a streak of three consecutive wins by Palmdale’s Russ Wolff. Shannon Flavin of West Hills took third.

The Sportsman cars took the week off so the track’s fastest time was turned in by Dave Phipps of Simi Valley in the Grand American Modified division (17.20 seconds). Other fast times were turned in by Rip Michels of Arleta in the Street Stock (18.44 seconds), Seeley in the Hobby Stock (19.54) and Fleming in the Jalopy (20.69).

Seven trophy dashes also ensured that the ceremonial trophy dash flatbed was packed with winners. Leading the pack was double-winner Brian Kelley of Arleta, who won both the Street Stock oval and figure-eight trophy dashes. Other trophy-dash winners included Wolff (Hobby Stock figure-eight), Joey Bolio of Sun Valley (Hobby Stock oval), Harrison Bartholomew of North Hollywood (Jalopy), Bruce Dorn and Mike Sylvester (Stuntmen’s Division) and Gary Sigman of Carson (Grand American Modified).

In the Street Stock oval fast heat, Jim Leidholdt of Newhall had an apparent six-lap win taken away when he was penalized for rough driving, clearing the way for Terry Custer of Northridge.