Phipps Wins 1st Modified Title at Saugus

Dave Phipps of Simi Valley is not afraid to tackle new challenges.

On Saturday night before 6,241 at Saugus Speedway, Phipps, a Sportsman season points champion in 1984, ’87 and ‘88, succeeded in his latest quest.

Phipps finished second in the 15-lap Grand American modified main event to win the points title in the inaugural season of the division at Saugus.

Phipps concedes the Grand American Modified division does not carry the prestige of the Sportsman division. Nevertheless, Phipps was ecstatic about his latest title.

“I really don’t know what to say. I’m just tickled to win and very excited and happy,” said Phipps, 43. “Racing is racing. There really isn’t a different style to driving.”

Phipps started in the No. 8 position but weaved his way into second behind Gary Sigman of Carson on the fourth lap and held on for the runner-up position in a race slowed by three yellow flags.

Rusty Stewart of Redondo Beach was third and Jim Marlewski of Simi Valley finished fourth.

Palmdale’s Ron Hornaday Jr. took advantage of his first pole position of the year to post a wire-to-wire win in the NASCAR Southwest Tour 100. Hornaday averaged 56.132 m.p.h for the 33.3-mile race that was slowed by four caution flags.

Dennis Dyer of Palmdale was a length back in second.

Hornaday moved up a spot to second in the points standings with 1,869 points. Rick Carelli of Denver, who finished third Saturday, leads with 1,920 with three races remaining in the series. Jon Paques of Albuquerque is third with 1,855.

Hornaday, making his 66th consecutive Southwest Tour start--a streak dating to April 30, 1988 and the most by any current driver on the circuit--posted the fourth-fastest mark of 15.782 seconds (76.036 m.p.h) in one-lap qualifying and won the four-lap Southwest Tour trophy dash.

It was the first Southwest Tour victory at Saugus for Hornaday, 33, who recorded victories at Bakersfield and Eureka this season and finished in the top five 29 times.

Only 0.034 seconds separated the first four qualifiers with Dan Press of Frazier Park turning in the top mark at 15.748 (76.2 m.p.h) for his 12th career fast time. That gave Press a Southwest Tour record, eclipsing the previous standard of 11 shared by Press and M.K. Kanke of Granada Hills.

Kenny Smith of El Monte won the Outlaw Mini Stock 25-lap main event and Preston Davis of Valencia was second.