PHOENIX (AP) -- Jim Inglebright drove to victory Sunday after race-long leader Steve Portenga crashed 1 1/2 laps from the finish of the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series stock car race at the Copper World Classic.

Inglebright driver won the 50-mile feature event of the program in a one-lap dash with Greg Pursley.

"Steve was running very strong, and it's really a shame that he wasn't around for the end of the race," Inglebright said.

After Portenga's crash, the field circled the Phoenix International Raceway oval until the wreckage was cleared. Inglebright, who started 20th, held the lead through the restart and around the one-mile loop to the checkered flag.

But two cars crashed at the end of the front straightaway on the fourth restart of the afternoon, and one -- driven by Jerry Robertson -- wound up crosswise in the middle of the track.

Inglebright, Pursley and Rick Carelli squeezed by, but at least eight other cars, including polesitter Mike Grady's, finished in a sprint and made contact with Robertson's car after the race was over.

"There were guys back there racing for position that didn't amount to a hill of beans, and they ended up costing themselves some expensive racecars," said Carelli, whose third-place finish made him the leading driver in top three finishes at PIR.

Kevin Harvick was fourth and Kurt Busch fifth.

Portenga, credited with 48 laps completed, was 30th.

He said he tried to go low after Ken Alexander lost control of his car, but had to take the high route in the turn.

"I saw him in plenty of time. He just didn't stop rolling," said Portenga, who started second and led 48 of 50 laps after passing Grady on the start.

Inglebright took over points leadership of the series driving championship with his fifth Southwest Tour win in seven years and won $10,525 to lead the series money-winners as well.

He succeeded Winston Cup star Ken Schrader as the winner at the stock car winner at the Copper World, which is sponsored by U.S. Tobacco.

"This is my first win here and my first win out of the way for the year," Inglebright said."It'll be easy for the rest of the year, but hopefully I'll get a few more along the way."

Source: ap
Posted: 2/7/99