Ito Dominates Main Event at Saugus Track

The last time Saugus Speedway featured U. S. Auto Club Midget racing was in the mid-1960s, when the track had a dirt infield and half the wooden grandstands it has today.

The mighty Midgets--three-quarter and full-size--returned to Saugus on Saturday night, much to the delight of 2,977 fans who ignored the threat of rain to watch--and hear--the rip-roarin’ roadsters screech around the one-third-mile oval.

And with the return of the Midgets came the return of a racing giant.

Parnelli Jones, who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1963 and a Midget race at Saugus the year before, watched from the pits as George Ito of Ventura went wire-to-wire in the 20-lap three-quarter main event. Robby Flock of City of Industry finished second, ahead of Kelly Drake of Saugus.

In the 25-lap street stock main event, Sylmar’s Tom Kimmel, sixth in the standings, beat Dave Blankenship of Reseda, currently in fifth place.

In the semi-main events, Don Rogers Jr. of Palmdale beat Kenny Wilson of West Hills to win the 15-lap street stock oval. Wilson, however, came back to win the Street Stock Figure Eight.

Mario Bringetto of Modesto finished ahead of Billy Badger of Lancaster in the 8-lap full-size Midget race.