For a Change, Phipps Chasing Pack at Saugus

Dave Phipps of Simi Valley likes to reminisce about his carefree youth when he watched the Saturday night stock car races from the grandstands at Saugus Speedway.

Phipps, 41, Saugus’ two-time defending Sportsman division champion and champion in three of the past five years, lists Ron Hornaday Sr. among his heroes.

Of the 1965 season, in which Hornaday sped to nine main-event wins and his only track championship, Phipps once remarked, “it got boring watching him win all the time.”

Well, fortunately for all the young fans at Saugus, the same no longer can be said of Phipps.

Tonight at 7, gentlemen will start their engines for the 100-lap, 33 1/3-mile, double-points Winston 100--the traditional highlight of the Sportsman season. Phipps, who has won the race the past two years, roared to nine main-event wins last season and entered the Winston 100 with a commanding 117-point lead over the nearest competitor.

This season, however, Phipps enters the race fourth in the points standings, 37 points behind leader Will Harper of Tarzana.

Sure was boring last season watching you win all the time, huh, Dave?

“No, not for me,” Phipps said with a laugh.

Actually, as Phipps is quick to note, he still is within striking distance with nine main events remaining. “I’m in a different position in the points department,” he said, “but I don’t feel any different going into the race. Our car is fast and I’m confident that we can win.”

Phipps, in fact, probably would be the points leader had he not failed to finish three races because of mechanical trouble. He has a division-high three main-event wins and six top-five finishes.

But possibly the biggest reason Phipps is in a dogfight is the emergence of Harper. A middle-of-the-pack competitor last season, Harper has won two main events (he was disqualified after winning another race) and has finished second five times.

“I’m really happy,” said Harper, who finished sixth in the points standings last season. “The car works incredible, the motor is fast, everything is great. I’ve been running fast and I don’t think anybody has passed us all year.”

Harper, however, has not raced without problems. Four weeks ago, his car was severely damaged after a crash at El Cajon Speedway. But he rallied to finish second in the most recent Sportsman main event on July 1 ahead of Phipps, who finished third.

“To get it back together and be able to keep Dave behind us just shows that my crew and everybody connected with the car has really pitched in.”

Does that make Harper the favorite tonight?

“In some people’s eyes,” he said. “But Dave did a real good job last race. He’s right in there.”

Other drivers to watch include Gary Sigman of Carson, who is in second place, 13 points behind Harper. Surprisingly, Sigman has yet to win a main event, but he is tied with Harper with eight top-five finishes.

Keith Spangler of Northridge is third, 20 points behind Harper. Spangler posted consecutive main-event wins in May but has not won since. He has six top-five finishes.

John Watkinson III of Canyon Country, with one main-event win is fifth.

This season’s dark horse appears to be Pat Mintey Jr. of Quartz Hill. Although he is 13th in the points standings, Mintey is the only other driver among the top 15 to have won a main event.

He has won two races, including the one on July 1 when he led from pole to checkered flag, holding off Harper and Phipps.

The lineup also includes Street Stock oval and figure 8 events.