Calczynski Finish Earns Top Dollar

Roman Calczynski of Sepulveda won the Miller American 100 in the Modified Division on Saturday night at Saugus Speedway before 4,313. But a more appropriate title for the main event might have been Driving for Dollars.

Calczynski won the 33-mile race and pocketed $4,000, the largest purse at Saugus this season.

Calczynski wasn’t the only one racing in the dough. Frazier Park’s Dan Press, who placed second, collected $2,000 and Palmdale’s Ron Hornaday Jr., who placed third, took home $1,500.

Three other drivers led during the race--Bill Sedgwick of Van Nuys for the first 27 laps and again from Laps 45 through 82, Glenn Cummings and Hornaday.

Sedgwick, however, spun out ahead of Press and when racing resumed after a yellow flag was positioned in the middle of the pack.

Calczynski, who battled carburetor trouble throughout the day, took the lead and held off Press in a dash to the finish.

“The crew fought with the car all day long,” Calczynski said. “They deserve credit. The results were excellent.”

Isn’t four grand grand?

“That’s one thing about Saugus Speedway,” said Calczynski, who is currently second in the NASCAR Southwest Tour points standings. “The purses are always good.”

Sedgwick led virtually unchallenged for the first quarter of the race before a high-speed spinout involving three cars halted the race for about 10 minutes.

Hornaday, Saugus’ defending Modified Division champion, lost control in Turn 1 and Harry Brady of Canyon Country smacked into the side of his vehicle. Also caught in the scrum was Modesto’s Troy Beebe, who had to have his car towed from the track.

On Lap 31, M. K. Kanke of Granada Hills lost his hold on third place with a spin-out on Turn 1.