Rookie, Car Bounce Back

Rookie Andrew Phipps rebounded from a May 14 collision that damaged his 2004 Ford Taurus and won the second of the Lucas Oil Super Late Models Series Twin 50s races Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway after finishing third in the opener.

Phipps started on the pole in the second race, led wire-to-wire and finished ahead of Russell White before a crowd estimated at 5,100.

“They replaced almost everything on the car and it was just as good,” Phipps said.

Phipps also started on the pole in the opener, and led the first five laps before White passed him on the sixth. Rod Johnson took the lead for good on the 33rd lap when he passed White. Johnson finished 0.333 of a second ahead of White to record his first victory of the season.

-- Steven Herbert