PHIPPS POWERS TO MODIFIED WIN IN FRONT OF PACKED HOUSE AT HAVASU 95 SPEEDWAY

Source: Dave Grayson
Date: 09/21/2008

It was immediately apparent that racing fans were more than ready to welcome the start of a brand new, ASA sanctioned, winter racing season at the Havasu 95 Speedway. The most scenic quarter mile paved oval in the southwest, located in beautiful Lake Havasu City-Arizona, officially opened their gates for the new 2008-2009 winter season this past Saturday, September 20th. The happy race fans packed the speedway's grandstands and received in return more than their money's worth with some red hot action from four different racing divisions that frequently had them jumping out of their seats. The racing was presented by Pitzer's One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating and the Havasu Telephone Book-The Red one along with Big O Tires who sponsored the trophies.

The big winners of the evening turned out to be: Gary Felish-ASA Street Stocks, Alex Bowman-USAC Ford Focus Midget Series, Andrew Phipps-Super Clean Modified Racing Series and Mark Berlant-Factory Stocks.

The very popular ASA Street Stock division kicked off their new season with a spectacular main event under very special circumstances. By special arrangements approved the the American Speed Association-ASA, the Havasu 95 Speedway's street stock drivers will be allowed to compete for points in next year's ASA National Championship Series. That factor alone likely played a huge role that led to the intensity that was observed during the division's main event. Commenting on the ASA championship opportunity, Havasu 95 Speedway promoter Dennis Rudin said "in order for those guys to receive points they have to pass cars which means an inverted start that sometimes can lead to carnage. We'll just see how it goes. It's going to be a long season and tonight was just the start of it." Rudin expressed appreciation to the ASA for allowing his Street Stocks to participate in the championship and added "it's huge for our track and our drivers. We'll just have to see how it plays out. They will be racing against the entire United States and it's going to be hard to get to the top of the standings but it could definitely happen."

The ASA Street Stock's main event began with Dave Mitchell and Ryan Zynda leading the 16 starters underneath the initial green flag. Unfortunately the field did not make a full lap before the first of seven yellow caution flags flew through the air when Andy Campbell, Jeff Cleary and reigning division champion Rick Layman made contact on the backstretch. On the ensuing restart John Lewis jumped into the lead only to have the yellow flag come right back out due to debris found on the backstretch. Lewis led three more green flag laps before finding himself on the receiving end of some bizarre racing luck. While fending off a challenge for the lead from Ralph Adams, the two cars made contact in turn one and locked their bumpers together which resulted in a double spin out. At the very same moment Jimmy Rouse Jr and Rick Maddox Jr also had some turn two contact and wound up spinning into the dirt infield. This was followed by Jim Carlo's spin through turn three. All of this action occurred on lap six of the race a matter of seconds apart from each other.

With a significant number of cars from the top ten involved in the lap six melee, Nathan Hovdal inherited the lead and held it for one circuit before Gary Felish made what turned out to be the race winning move. Layman followed him into second and the crowd was ready for what was believed to to the start of a racing duel between the two popular drivers. Unfortunately that duel never developed because Layman's car dramatically slowed on the backstretch on lap 13 and came to a complete stop on pit road. The first problem was diagnosed as a broken article. The second problem, that being the safety issue of a car blocking pit road, brought out the fifth yellow flag of the race.

The length of the ASA Street Stock feature had to be reduced from a scheduled 35 to 25 laps due to rapidly approaching time constraints. Felish had to endure having his race rhythm disrupted two more times with yellow flags before he finally got to see the black and white checkers. Nathan Hovdal, Jim Carlo, Jimmy Morris and Ryan Zynda followed him across the line to complete the top five. In the preliminary events Morris and Rick Maddox Jr won the heat races while Felish won the division's trophy dash.

After parking his #05 Chevrolet, sponsored by Gary's Auto and Marine/Discount Tires/Interstate Batteries/Vinnie's Plastic and Powder Coating, in victory lane the race winner expressed disappointment in not getting to race with Rick Layman and said "I knew he was back there and he would occasionally tap on my bumper a little bit. I was looking forward to running to the end of the race with him. I thought it would be a really good race." Felish also made it a point to thank his lovely wife Stephanie who apparently had to practically make an appointment to visit the family garage to see him because her husband spent a very busy off season building new race cars.

The opening night at the Havasu 95 Speedway was visited by the USAC,K&N Filters, Ford Focus Midget Series who finished their 30 lap main event in a very spectacular fashion. Jessica Brunelli led the starters under the initial green flag and paced the field for the first 11 laps before her evening in Lake Havasu City unfortunately unravelled. Alex Bowman was racing her for the lead when he unintentionally hit her rear bumper and caused the race leader to spin. Both drivers were sent to the rear of the field for being involved in the race's only caution flag. Under green flag racing again, the lead was inherited by current series points leader Ian Millie who appeared to be on his way to another USAC win. But Bowman wasn't through with this race yet. He began a furious charge from the rear of the field and re entered the top five on lap 16. By lap 23 Bowman was in second and doing everything he could to eradicate the distance between himself and Millie. On the white flag lap Bowman made a daring low line move coming out of turn three to steal the race from Millie on the final quarter lap of the race. Michael Lewis, making his series' debut, along with Brennan Newbury and Brendan Langiois completed the top five. In the preliminary events Langiois won the trophy dash while Millie and Bowman won the heat races.

After parking his Haas-CNC Racing, yes that's the same organization who will partner with Tony Stewart in NASCAR next year, midget racer in victory lane the 15 year old driver from Tucson-Arizona said "with only three laps left in the race I was nearly a full straightaway behind him. The only thing I could do was just put my right foot to the floorboard and hope for the best. Apparently it worked."

The evening was highlighted by an appearance from the SuperClean Modified Racing Series who treated the capacity crowd to 22 open wheel drivers in a 75 lap feature. However this event was shortened ten laps, again due to impending time restraints, because of the unusually high amount of caution flags. There were seven of them throughout the race with four of them coming within the first 13 laps. This was rather unprecedented from a regional touring series who usually presents close quarter, and very exciting, racing with very few cautions.

San Antonio-Texas driver James Cole led the 22 starters under the initial green flag and held the point to lap five when Andrew Phipps made what was to be the race winning move. While Phipps was en route to his third series win, not to mention adding a little cushion to his current series point lead, his championship rival Jimmie Dickerson along with Chris Gerchman was treating the fans to a multi lap door to door duel for second. Once Dickerson won that duel he set his sights on running down Phipps and was making up a lot of ground on the race leader before the laps simply ran out. Gerchman, Cole and Tim Morse completed the top five. Morse also won the series' trophy dash and set the fast time in qualifying earlier in the evening.

After parking his Spartan Trucking/Ron's Rear End Modified in victory lane, Phipps smiled when asked about the unusually high caution flags in this race and said "it wasn't wild and crazy from where I was sitting in fact it was beautiful. I was really worried about the 61 car, (Jimmie Dickerson), and I was watching him knowing he had some really fast cars to go through. He got up to second and I knew he was coming. I was trying to take care of my car knowing he would be there eventually. Luckily he just ran out of laps because they shortened the race a little bit."

When the speedway's Factory Stock Division rolled out for their main event one thing was clearly apparent: a lot of people spent their time off building new race cars. This feature race had a whopping 25 starters. This entry level division into racing only runs 12 lap mains but it's an intensely exciting 12 laps because they totally redefine the old motor sports term that says "racing is rubbing." When the slamming and bamming was over, Mark Berlant won the first division main event of the year while Bruce Rich, Lisa Snell, Robert Berwick and Thor Connelly completed the top five. In the preliminary events Doug Nordgren won the trophy dash while Mike Walgren and Berlant won the heat races.

Havasu 95 Speedway co promoters Dennis Rudin and Bill Rozhon, along with special events coordinator Eden Rudin, spent a long Lake Havasu City summer handling all of the details for their opening night. Among the many details was the laying of a sealant over the track's surface which actually increased lap times especially during qualifying. Commenting on the evening, Dennis Rudin said "It was a great show and the fans were great. We went a little long because of oil downs, and the cleaning of the track, but all in all it was a good night."

As if they aren't busy enough these days, the Rudins are in the midst of creating yet another venture located in their native Lake Havasu City. It's an old fashioned ice cream parlor named "Scoops". Commenting on the soon to be open shop, Dennis Rudin said "it opens September 23d. It's truly an old fashioned ice cream parlor located down on Main Street. It will feature old time phosphates, banana splits, hand dipped ice cream and sundaes."

As soon as the banana splits are in full production then it will be time for the Rudins and Bill Rozhon to turn their attention back to the Havasu 95 Speedway. Their next event is set for October 4th and will feature a return visit from the SuperClean Modified Racing Series along with action from the ASA Street Stocks, Bandeleros and the Factory Stocks.

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