Phipps Brightens Saugus With Main-Event Victory

Nothing could stop Dave Phipps Saturday night at Saugus Speedway. Not even the threat of a rainstorm could prevent the three-time defending Grand American Modified champion from winning his first feature race of the year.

As it turned out, it didn’t matter. The rain never showed and Phipps, 46, cruised to an easy 40-lap main-event victory in a race started almost two hours early in an effort to avoid pending showers.

The Simi Valley resident started on the outside of the second row before passing Jim Marlweski, also of Simi Valley, on the inside of turn one on the sixth lap.

Phipps moved out to a full straightaway lead before being slowed by three late caution flags which enabled Canyon Country’s John Watkinson III to close the gap.

But each time the race restarted, Phipps was able to move out to a comfortable margin.

“I decide when I want to go, so I’m able to get a little edge,” Phipps said of the restarts. “That’s really the only advantage the leader has.”

“It was kind of like a reverse of roles,” said Watkinson, who outdistanced Phipps in similar fashion in the season opener three weeks ago. “It’s just a matter of getting better breaks to fall your way.”

Watkinson finished second, followed by Dave Blankenship of Reseda and Canyon Country’s Rod Johnson.

In the 25-lap Street Stock oval main event, Greg Benner of Whittier ran away from the field and snapped points leader John Schultz’s string of four consecutive feature victories.

Craig Jensen of Sunland won the 25-lap Pro Stock oval main event.