MADERA >> Jason Philpot of Sacramento collected his second season victory in the North State Modified Series on Saturday night as part of the Summertime Horsepower Nationals at Madera Speedway. He also set a new track record of 14.564 seconds, smashing the previous record (15.098) established last June by Tripp Gaylord.
Weather conditions were perfect for fast racing as 11 other NSMS contenders clocked in below the previous record set by Gaylord, including Charlie Collins (14.630), Eric Price Jr. (14.846), Cody Thompson (14.902), Guy Young (14.907), Bryan Denton (14.944), Darrin Knight (14.957), Darrin Sullivan (14.967), Joe Rhodes Jr. (14.992), Sierra Furia (15.007), Brian Collins (15.026) and Rich Cobb (15.055).
Philpot had to race forward from 10th position after pulling a 10-car inversion for the Lucas Racing Mid-State 60. Joe Rhodes Jr. of Sacramento made his first Madera start count from the outside front row as he took the lead from pole sitter Furia from Lakeport. Rhodes led 15 laps in a strong performance for the former Roseville bomber driver. It did not take long for Philpot to move through the pack as he assumed fourth by lap eight, moving around Lucas Oil Dash Winner Young of Redding.
Furia drifted back to eighth position by lap 10 in a tough start for the rookie. The leaders encountered lapped traffic by lap 15 when the first caution came out for Price Jr., who stalled on the track. At the same time John Baker’s car overheated, forcing him to call it a night.
Rhodes picked the outside on the restart and Knight of Kelseyville took advantage to take the lead into turn one. The move was nullified when Furia spun across the front stretch and went head on into the wall.
Rhodes chose the inside on the next attempt but Knight was not deterred as he took over the lead on lap 16. Rhodes eventually fell back to fifth.
Knight led 14 laps with Philpot in heavy pursuit. Philpot dove inside Knight on lap 29 through turns three and four with the pair making slight contact, which sent Knight spinning. Philpot drove off with the lead and Knight had to restart from the rear.
The fast-paced race had one more caution on lap 43 when Young’s car went up in smoke. Philpot drove away from the pack once more to take the .556-second win over Upper Lake’s Charlie Collins. Rhodes, Knight and another Northern-area driver, Sullivan of Kelseyville, rounded out the top five. Finishing in the top 10 were Nick Lyons,Thompson, Cobb, Denton and Terry Deal.
With points leader Mike Collins electing to sit out this event, Knight took over the points lead with Cobb, Codi Barba, Sullivan and Denton in the top five.
Young collected $100 in the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash while Denton received $50 for second. Philpot earned the Wenteq Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars. Rhodes took home the Naake Suspension award, and the DJ Safety Certificate went to Charlie Collins. Philpot also earned the Penney Racing Supply/Sunoco Fast Time Award.
The next North State Modified Series event is June 25 at the All American Speedway in Roseville. This special fair event will be shared with the Pacific Challenge Series Late Models and the Nor Cal Pro-4 Modifieds.
The North State Modified Series is presented by Protect the Harvest, Swartz Diesel, Lucas Oil, Sinister Diesel, Penney Racing Supply, American Racer Tires, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Fuels, Five Star Bodies, Wrap Star Pro, Wenteq, Scribner Plastics, DJ Safety, and Buckhorn Bar & Grill.
