Phipps Leads Series

Andrew Phipps moved into the lead in Irwindale Speedway’s NASCAR Lucas Oil Super Late Models series Saturday night thanks to his success and previous leader Todd Southwell’s mechanical bad fortune.

Phipps was a wire-to-wire winner of the second of the night’s Twin 50 races after a third-place finish in the opener. The 96 points gave him 634 for the season, putting him 30 ahead of Southwell with two races remaining. Southwell had led, 594-538. Southwell dropped out of the first race after 23 laps because of engine problems, finishing 25th in the 26-car field. Southwell started on the pole and was in second the first 17 laps.

In the second race, Southwell drove his backup car, which had mechanical problems early in the 50-lap race on the half-mile track. Southwell returned after an extended time in the pits but shortly later left for good, finishing 22nd and earning eight points. Cars driven by Scott Calvin and Dan Moore collided on the 44th lap, causing the race to be halted. The roof of Calvin’s Ford had to be pulled back to free him. Calvin complained of back pain and was taken by ambulance to a hospital as a precaution, a track spokesman said.

Jim McGill won the first race. McGill posted the fastest qualifying time but started third under the track’s inversion system.

-- Steven Herbert