Phipps Breaks Drought With Grand Am Win at Saugus

Although he is the third-winningest driver in Saugus Speedway history, Dave Phipps of Simi Valley had not won a Grand American Modified main event this season entering Saturday night’s 30-lap race.

But Phipps withstood two restarts and several yellow flags because of accidents, driving a 13th-place start to take his first checkered flag in front of a crowd of 3,328.

For Phipps, 45, a three-time Sportsman division champion, the victory was the 47th of his career, ranking him behind only Dan Press (64) and Roman Calczynski (63).

Thanks to four second-place finishes, Phipps has led the Grand Am points race for much of the season. However, he had never gone so long during a season without getting a victory.

“It’s about time, I guess,” said Phipps, Grand Am champion each of the past two seasons. “Halfway through the season, I finally get a win.”

Phipps took the lead for good on the ninth lap. Dave Blankenship of Reseda, fourth on Saugus’ career victory list with 45, tailed Phipps for the final 20 laps and finished second. Blankenship pulled close with every yellow flag, but Phipps opened a gap at every restart and both drivers easily outdistanced the pack.

Bill McLean of Canoga Park edged Jim Marlewski of Simi Valley for third.

The 40-lap Sportsman main event had not been completed when this edition went to press.

In an oft-delayed 25-lap Street Stock oval main event, points leader Gerrit Cromsigt of Palmdale started 11th in the grid, moved into the lead on the seventh lap, then drove to his track-high ninth main-event victory of the season.

Cromsigt also has recorded four Pro Stock victories to give him 13 for the season. Larry Krieger of Reseda holds the track record with 17 main-event wins in 1988.

In other races, John Bower of Northridge won the Street Stock oval semi-main event to lead four drivers who advanced to the main. Kirk Miller of Alta Loma, Jeff Drummen of Northridge and Greg Bratschie of Granada Hills also advanced.