Philpott Surprise Winner at Ventura Raceway

It was billed as the West Coast championship for California Dwarf cars. But when the 20-lap main event ended at Ventura Raceway on Saturday night, none of the top four drivers in the season points race remained in the race.

Doug Philpott of Manteca, Calif., proved too much for the other 23 drivers as he led wire to wire to win the spin-out-plagued main event and its $750 purse before 2,482.

Philpott was not in the running for the season points championship, which was won by John Henry of San Diego even though Henry left the race on the fourth lap after an accident. Henry’s closest challenger for the championship was Justin Power of Carson, who crashed his car on the opening lap.

The A main events for Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and IMCA Modifieds were still waiting to be run when this edition went to press. The program was delayed because of numerous spin-outs and mishaps.

With the regular season points championships already concluded, two special B main events were held for non-main-event winners from the 1992 season.

Scott Niven of Agoura Hills took the checkered flag in the Street Stock 12-lap B main, leading the entire way.

Steve Northrop’s wire-to-wire performance in the Mini Stock 12-lap B main gave the Ventura driver his first victory of the year.

Heat races were run in selected divisions because of the number of cars in the program. In 10-lap heat-race action, Ryan Cole of Santa Maria won in the IMCA Modified division.

Dwarf car heat winners were Power, Mike Spina of Las Vegas, Ken Jordan of Fremont and Dub Kyle of Modesto. Power also won the Dwarf car four-lap trophy dash.

The Dwarf car 15-lap semi-main event became one of the sloppiest races of the season with eight yellow flags in the first five laps. The race was shortened to eight laps and Chuck Calkins of Scottsdale, Ariz., emerged to take the checkered flag.