Johnson Wins, Phipps Holds Series Lead

Rod Johnson led wire to wire in Saturday night’s NASCAR Lucas Oil Super Model Race at Irwindale Speedway, but runner-up Andrew Phipps was the big winner, thanks to Todd Southwell’s continued misfortune.

The 48 points Phipps received gave him 682 for the season and a 38-point lead over Johnson heading into next Saturday’s final points race.

Phipps will be assured of the championship if he finishes 19th or better in the finale of the 18-race series.

Southwell had led the series from the second race until falling victim to engine problems in both his primary and backup Chevrolet Monte Carlos in two twin 50s races Aug. 13, finishing 25th and 22nd in the final races before Saturday.

Southwell posted the fastest qualifying time Saturday but started third in the 25-car field under the track’s inversion system. Phipps, who had the third-fastest time, started on the pole.

Southwell was in third through 30 laps of the 75-lap race on the half-mile track, then his left front tire went flat after his car was struck by Dan Moore’s. Southwell was never a factor the rest of the race and finished 20th, dropping to fourth in the overall standings.

Phipps was in second throughout the race and finished 1.052 seconds behind Johnson.

In the Figure 8 race, Harry Kuenniger twice drove his car into the car driven by Jesse James after the two cars hooked.

Kuenniger and James fought after getting out of their cars. Kuenniger was taken from the track in an Irwindale Police Department patrol car, but it wasn’t known whether an arrest was made.

-- Steven Herbert