Phipps Rallies for Sixth Win at Saugus

Dave Phipps of Simi Valley probably could maneuver his Buick Regal past an earthmover in an automatic car wash.

As he has done repeatedly this season at Saugus Speedway, Phipps, defending track champion and current points leader, started far behind--21st in Saturday night’s 40-lap main event--and roared into the lead as though he were passing parked cars.

But Phipps, who bagged his division-high sixth win of the season, before 3,937 spectators, had to work for it. It took five yellow flags and nearly 40 minutes for the race to reach Lap 16 and Phipps to climb to second place.

It took another six laps--and two more yellow flags--before Phipps began to nudge the bumper of leader Tom Colgan of Studio City.

Finally, on Lap 24, Colgan lost control, spinning 360 degrees in Turn 3, forcing a yellow flag and giving Phipps the lead which he never relinquished.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for Phipps, who, barring disqualification, is assured of becoming Saugus’ first three-time Sportsman champion.

Earlier in the program, after a parade of yellow flags in the Street Stock trophy dash and heat races, Allen Meek cruised to victory in the 25-lap oval main event.

Meek, who jumped into the lead on the second lap, opened a huge advantage over Jim Marlewski of Simi Valley, but had it pared on Lap 18 when Craig Rayburn of Simi Valley lost his rear axle and skidded into the wall on Turn 3.

After Rayburn’s car was towed from the track, Meek held off a charge by Marlewski to win. Ed Horst of Reseda finished a close third, and Dale White Jr. of Simi Valley finished fourth.

Jerry Ruzicka of Chatsworth won the 15-lap Sportsman semi-main event and, along with Frank White of Altadena, Dennis Wooldridge of Riverside and Ace Bennett of Monrovia, advanced to the main event.

In the 15-lap Street Stock oval semi-main event, Bill McLean of Canoga Park shot past Jackie Paper of North Hollywood and into the lead on Lap 7 and continued on to win and advance to the main event. The next four finishers--Paper, Benny Jones of Simi Valley, Wayne Kraft of Canyon Country and Chris Myers of Simi Valley--also advanced to the main event.

White and Rich Wolfe of San Bernardino each won eight-lap Sportsman heat races.

Eight-lap Street Stock oval heat-race winners included Greg Benner of Whittier, Glen Mullins of Valencia, Paper and Steve Reynolds of Sylmar.

Kenny Wilson of West Hills and McLean each won eight-lap Street Stock figure 8 heat races.