MOTOR RACING / SHAV GLICK : Stewart’s the Favorite in Vegas 250

The Las Vegas 250, a shortened version of the Mint 400 off-road race, will be held Saturday near Jean, Nev., 25 miles south of Las Vegas.

Ivan Stewart and his Team Toyota truck, which won the race in four of the last five years, will be favored. Stewart, 49, leads defending champion Ford driver Rob MacCachren by 10 points after two events in the SCORE Tecate Trophy-Truck standings.

Jeff Lewis, driving a Class 7 Chevrolet 4x4 for Team MacPherson Motorsports, will be going for his eighth consecutive class victory.

Drivers will take three laps of an 80-mile circuit laid out through the Southern Nevada desert.

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Motor Racing Notes

STOCK CARS--Four-time Grand American modified track champion Dave Phipps will go for the 57th victory of his career Saturday night at Saugus Speedway. Late models, mini stocks and a destruction derby are also on the program. . . . Ventura Raceway will feature IMCA modifieds Friday night. . . . Kern County Raceway at Willow Springs will open its season Saturday night.

MOTORCYCLES--The 25th annual El Trial de Espana, a fund-raising event to raise money to send American trial riders to compete in Europe, is scheduled Sunday at the McCain Valley Recreation Area in Lark Canyon, 50 miles east of San Diego. Round 3 of the national championship series will be held Saturday at the same site. . . . The Corsa MotoClassica, a vintage race for classic motorcycles, will be held Saturday and Sunday at Willow Springs Raceway.

INDY CARS--The Long Beach City Council has voted to extend the contract of the Grand Prix Assn. of Long Beach to stage its street race to the year 2010. The Toyota Grand Prix on April 9 attracted a record 284,000 spectators, 205,000 paid, for three days. City officials said it brought an estimated $35 million into the Long Beach economy.

PAGE JONES--Progress continues to be slow but steady for the Rolling Hills race car driver, who suffered head injuries last September in a sprint car accident at Eldora Speedway in Ohio. Jones has been moved from Daniel Freeman Hospital in Inglewood to the Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center in Lomita. The move was made to better facilitate his need for more rest and quiet, and to move him nearer his home, which he visits from time to time.

MISCELLANY--More than 800 entries are expected for the inaugural Parts Plus Super Chevy Show drag race this weekend at the Pomona Fairplex Raceway. Time trials are Friday and Saturday with eliminations in five sportsmen categories on Sunday. . . . The Sprint Car Racing Assn. will run Saturday night at Santa Maria Speedway. . . . The 10th annual La Carrera Classic for vintage cars will take place Saturday over a 120-mile course from Ensenada to Valle Trinidad and back to Ensenada.