Harper Continues on Road to Top of Sportsman Division With 3rd Win

What is rapidly becoming apparent--that Will Harper of Tarzana is emerging as the driver to beat in the Sportsman Division at Saugus Speedway--became even more clear with his third victory in the past four main events Saturday night in the 40-lap race before a crowd of 2,861.

Harper, who began the evening third in the points standings, sifted through heavy traffic from a 14th-place start to post his division-high third main-event win of the season.

Harper, who earlier in the evening set a track qualifying record for the second time this season with a one-lap time of 16.77 seconds, made several skillful passes, including a double pass on Lap 27 of leader Pat Mintey Jr. of Quartz Hill and Dave Phipps of Simi Valley.

Phipps, the champion the past two years and in three of the past five, finally passed Mintey on Lap 31, but was by then far behind Harper. Three laps later, Phipps sputtered into the infield with a broken distributor, leaving Harper to speed to the checkered flag.

In each of the past two seasons, Phipps has raced to the title by more than 100 points and has made the outside pass on the flat one-third-mile oval his hallmark.

Harper had made it look easy. The new Dave Phipps?

“Whenever you set the track record and you’re winning, you’re the car to beat,” Harper said. “But Dave Phipps is the king of the Sportsman class and has been for nine years. It would take a real good year for me this year to be considered the driver to beat. That’s something you don’t take away with one race.”

Phipps, who began the evening fourth in the standings, conceded that Harper, who has won three of the past four main events, is currently in the driver’s seat to win the track title.

“He’s running real good,” Phipps said. “He was able to make a nice pass on the outside. We’ve got to go a little faster.”

In other races, Craig Rayburn of Simi Valley shot into an early lead and sped unchallenged to the checkered flag of the 25-lap Street Stock oval main event.

Dale White Jr. of Simi Valley won the 15-lap Street Stock figure 8 main event. Mike McKearn of Las Vegas won the 15-lap Street Stock oval semi-main event.