Spangler Gets Saugus Ride, Faces Old Partner

Keith Spangler did not come to Saugus Speedway with plans of racing Saturday night, but he did not hesitate to accept an offer from Lee Ladd to drive his Sportsman car in the 40-lap main event when Ladd was unable to race because of the flu.

Spangler had been without a ride since a June 1 collision with teammate Joe Heath, who owned Spangler’s No. 37 car. The incident terminated the business partnership between the Northridge residents. Heath reclaimed the car and repainted it with his No. 90.

The former teammates have not talked since the fallout, but found it difficult to avoid each other Saturday night.

Heath, driving Spangler’s old car, and Spangler, behind the wheel of Ladd’s No. 01 car, started side by side in the front row in the 40-lap main event in a race before a crowd of 4,873.

“There are no hard feelings,” said Heath, who started on the pole--awarded to the driver 15th in the points standings--for the eighth consecutive week and also won the trophy dash earlier in Saturday’s racing program.

“Business is business and racing is racing. What happens off the track does not affect me on the track. I felt no added pressure because of (Spangler).”

“Driving to win and to go as fast as possible is more of a concern than racing about (Heath),” Spangler said. “I’m just glad to have the opportunity to race.”

In earlier main events, Ron Cerven of Lancaster slipped past Kelly Colgan of Shadow Hills with seven laps remaining to win the 25-lap Hobby Stock oval. Mark Miller of Chatsworth was second and Julianne Seeley of Canyon Country was third.

Dave Phipps of Simi Valley powered by Charles Schardt of Chatsworth entering the last lap to win the 15-lap Grand American modified main event. Chris Hamilton of Hanford and Gary Sigman of Carson was fourth.

Chuck Berry of Canoga Park won the 15-lap Jalopy main event, followed by Harrison Bartholomew of North Hollywood and Mindy Drake of Palmdale, who finished third despite starting last.

Other trophy dash winners included Miller (Hobby Stock Oval), Drake (Jalopy), Schardt (Grand American Modified) and Jon Christensen of Palmdale in the Hobby Stock figure-eight.

Fast-lap times were turned in by Pat Mintey Jr. of Quartz Hill (16.76 seconds), Miller (19.44), Phipps (17.35) and John Fleming of Simi Valley (20.46) in the Sportsman, Hobby Stock, Grand American Modified and Jalopy divisions.