SAUGUS SPEEDWAY : With Phipps Forced Out, Blankenship Comes In First

Dave Blankenship has seen enough of Dave Phipps the past few years, finishing second in the Grand American Modified division to the Simi Valley resident each of the last three seasons.

So when an unlikely mistake forced Phipps out of running for the season’s biggest payday, Blankenship had reason to rejoice.

The 35-year-old Reseda resident took the checkered flag--and a check for $1,000--in the 50-lap feature race as part of the year-ending Fall Spectacular at Saugus Speedway Saturday night.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve won a main event,” said Blankenship, who failed to win a feature race this season. “It was a little different without Dave in there. He’s always there and you can never count him out.”

Phipps’ night ended early when he forgot to tighten his gas cap and it fell off while he was warming up prior to the start of the feature race. He returned to the track, but the car still leaked fuel because of a missing gasket, forcing the four-time Grand American Modified champion to the pits for good.

“There’s not much I can say,” said Phipps, who also won three Sportsman points titles. “I just set the cap on top. . . . I’m really disappointed.”

In the 50-lap Sportsman main event, Sal Rose of Van Nuys claimed the victory after pole-sitter Sean Monroe of Los Angeles was slowed by engine trouble on Lap 33.

Jeff Schrader of Santa Clarita won the 50-lap figure-8 main event when he moved past Pine Mountain Club resident Gerrit Cromsigt on the 48th lap.