Carelli’s Victory Has a Little Spin on It

It resembled more of a high-speed parade than a stock-car race--with a bit of destruction derby near the finish.

Rick Carelli of Denver began the NASCAR Winston West 200 in first place, and that’s where he finished.

Carelli, last season’s Winston West rookie of the year, held the lead the entire 66 2/3 miles to post his first victory of the season in front of a season-high crowd of 5,640 at Saugus Speedway. The race was the third main event of the 15-race series.

Carelli was challenged only by defending champion Bill Sedgwick of Granada Hills. But Sedgwick, who started second and spent most of the race on Carelli’s bumper, became involved in a smoky spin with Lance Hooper of Palmdale with 29 laps remaining.

As a result, Sedgwick had to rally to finish third. Hooper, a local favorite and last season’s Sportsman champion at Saugus, finished a disappointing fifth.

“I saved as much as I could for the end,” said Carelli, who earned $5,375 for his victory. “After leading all those laps, I wasn’t about to give it up. I looked in the mirror and saw Bill spin out. I figured I had a big enough lead then.”

Hooper started 10th but had charged to fourth on Lap 58. Hooper was in third when the spin occurred.

Dirk Stephens of Tumwater, Wash., finished second and Hershel McGriff of Portland, the series’ points leader, was fourth.

In the 25-lap Pro Stock oval main event, Ed Horst of Reseda demonstrated why he won the division championship last season by passing leader Brian Mumford of Chatsworth with two laps to go and roaring on to win his first main event of the seson.

Horst, who entered the evening second in the division’s points standings, started 17th but sped through heavy traffic and challenged Mumford at every turn before making an inside pass in the front straightaway.

“He was a little bit slower in the turns,” Horst said. “I just kept working with him. Finally, he left me a little room and that was the name of that tune.”

Horst also won the division’s oval and figure-eight trophy dashes. The victories moved Horst ahead of Gerrit Cromsigt of Palmdale for the division points lead.

In other races, Rick Crow of Canyon Country won the Pro Stock oval semi-main event to lead four drivers who advanced to the main event.

Brian Kelley of Arleta, Joey Bolio of Lake View Terrace and Brian Bozile of Encino also advanced.

Bolio, Bozile and Mumford all won Pro Stock oval heat races. Earl Dorman of Saugus won the Pro Stock figure-eight heat race.