SOUTHWELL'S SPEED ON DISPLAY AT IRWINDALE.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK Motor Sports

Todd Southwell had the fastest car to start the NASCAR Super Late Models season opener at Irwindale Speedway.

But Rip Michels, a regular on the NASCAR Elite Division, Southwest Series, had the fastest car at the end and won the Irwindale Speedway opening night race.

Michels, a three-time track champion making a rare start at Irwindale Speedway, had a little too much for the NASCAR Super Late Models regulars last Saturday night. But Southwell proved to be among the best of the drivers who will be racing on a regular basis in the Super Late Model division.

``Usually opening night is such carnage. It's bad,'' said Southwell, a Canyon High and College of the Canyons graduate. ``My goal was to get through with a nice, clean top-five finish. But I'm pretty disappointed we didn't win.''

Southwell knows firsthand how bad opening night can be. Last year he was involved in a nasty crash before the start of the opening Super Late Model race, and it took him more than a month to get his car repaired and back on the racetrack.

Even worse was that it took him out of contention for the points race at the start of the season.

With Michels in the field, it made gauging the rest of the drivers a challenge. But one thing was certain in Southwell's estimations: Super Late Model rookie Andrew Phipps is going to be a contender for the division championship.

In qualifying, Southwell came within .02 seconds of beating the track record set by Canyon Country's Greg Purlsey a year ago.

When it was Phipps' turn, he set the track record, clocking a lap around the half-mile oval in 17.712 seconds.

Phipps turned in a strong performance in the race as well, finishing third in his Super Late Model debut.

``The No. 21 car was a big surprise to me,'' said Southwell, who now lives in San Marino. ``I knew Phipps would be strong four or five races into the season. I foresee a battle between the No. 21 car and myself this season.''

Rod Johnson of Canyon Country was fourth in the season opener and Tony Jackson of Palmdale was 16th.

Joe Ruggles of Palmdale won the NASCAR Grand American Modified opener. John Watkinson of Canyon Country was second and Zach Foster of Canyon Country was seventh.

Chris Houwen of Acton was ninth in the NASCAR Late Model opener. Canyon Country's Dave Hessing was 16th and Travis Thirkettle of Newhall was 23rd.

Brent Cusick of Santa Clarita was 21st in the NASCAR Super Stocks opener. Brenda Pugh of Quartz Hill was 10th in the NASCAR Mini Stocks opener.

Racing continues tonight at Irwindale Speedway with NASCAR Super Late Models, Mini Stocks, Pure Stocks and the West Coast Pro Trucks.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Races start at 6.

--Indy Racing League: It was 10 years ago when Valencia's Bryan Herta went into Phoenix International Raceway, set the track record and won the first pole position of his career in the CART Series.

Now a driver for Andretti Green Racing in the Indy Racing League, Herta returns to the Arizona mile for today's XM Satellite Radio Indy 200.

And like he did 10 years ago, Herta won the pole with a lap of 176.612 mph on the 1-mile oval Friday.

``I'm really looking forward to Phoenix,'' said Herta, a Hart High graduate and driver of the No. 7 Honda-powered entry. ``It's always been one of my favorite tracks, and is probably my favorite oval.''

This will be Herta's second visit to Phoenix for an IRL race. Last year, he started ninth and finished seventh.

But this year there is a little more on the line. XM Satellite Radio is Herta's primary team sponsor as well as the sponsor for the race.

``Now, to have the race sponsored by XM Satellite Radio, I think it adds a lot of extra incentive for the XM Satellite Radio team to bring home a victory,'' Herta said. ``We've been wanting to get that first win for them badly and I can't think of a better place for it to happen than at their own race.''

Herta's Andretti Green Racing teammate, Tony Kanaan, is the defending race champion. Phoenix was one of three IRL wins last year for Kanaan, who went on to win the series championship.

``Phoenix International Raceway has been very good to me,'' said Kanaan, driver of the No. 11 Honda entry. ``I love to race at PIR and feel very comfortable racing there.''

Andretti Green's Dan Wheldon won the IRL opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway two weeks ago.

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box:

(1) IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY STANDINGS

(2) INDY RACING LEAGUE

- Associated Press