Super Clean Modified Series Presented by Lucas Oil

Simi Valley-California's Andrew Phipps became the latest driver to visit victory lane in the Super Clean Modified Series after winning the Polydome Plastics 75. The May 17th event was held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's three eighths of a mile oval known as "The Bullring and was the third of ten races on the series' schedule." Phipps had to hold off a late race challenge from Jimmy Dickerson, who has won the last two series races, to earn the right to park his Spartan Truck Company/C L Motor Sports modified racer in victory lane and collect the winner's check worth $1,000. James Cole, Billy Johanneck and Scott Brown completed the top five.
 
26 Super Clean Modifieds started the event with Johanneck leading the first lap coming off of the pole position. One circuit later Phipps made an outside pass to take the lead. But it quickly became apparent that the car to beat belonged to Las Vegas local driver Doug Hamm who appeared to be determined to show the modified racing visitors that he knew the fast way around the Bullring. Hamm took command of the race on lap six and for all practical purposes just simply ran away from the competition. However this race took a surprising, not to mention, bizarre turn on lap 49 when Hamm suddenly ducked into the pits to take on fuel. He returned to the track, still on the lead lap, but started at the tail end of the line. Instead of mounting a charge to the front, Hamm's evening completely unravelled on lap 53 when some serious smoke began to emit from his engine.
 
Hamm's fuel problems returned Phipps to the lead. But any plans he had of pulling away from the field came to an end on lap 63 when a blown engine brought out the final caution flag of the race. Phipps now had Dickerson literally glued to his rear bumper. Phipps needed a terrific restart and that's exactly what he pulled off. It was that little edge that allowed to take his first series win.
 
Last year Andrew Phipps was running a NASCAR Super Late Model stock car but came to the conclusion that the expense of such an operation, and the stress that came with it, just wasn't worth it anymore. That's what led him to the decision to switch to modifieds and join the Super Clean Modified Series. He simply wanted to have fun with his racing again. Back on May 3d, after finishing second to Dickerson at the Havasu 95 Speedway, Phipps said "we're competitive and we're hanging with the top guys in this series and I think we're going to win one of these races." Two weeks later Phipps arrived in Las Vegas and made that prediction come true. It also appears that he's having a lot of fun.
 
In addition to the title sponsor the Super Clean Modified Series is also supported by an impressive marketing concept known as Team Lucas which is comprised of Lucas Oil Products, Jim Beam, K&N Performance Filters, Blue Water Resort and Casino, General Tire, Fatheadz Sunglasses, Dixie Chopper, Sencon Concrete LLC, Torco Racing Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Poly Dome Plastic Products, R&L Carriers, E3 Spark Plugs and Budweiser.

By Dave Grayson.