Motor Racing / Vince Kowalick : Calczynski Takes Lead in Bumper-to-Bumper Race for Tour Crown

Smack in the backstretch of the 19-race, $470,000 NASCAR All-American Challenge Series Southwest Tour, a surprising turnaround--and traffic jam--has taken place. Both are in the points standings.

Stock car drivers Roman Calczynski of Sepulveda, Ron Hornaday Jr. of Palmdale, Ray Hooper Jr. of Palmdale and Jim Thirkettle of Sylmar all did double duty last weekend as the tour completed races No. 10 and 11 on consecutive days in Northern California.

When the smoke cleared after Saturday’s race at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, Calif., and Sunday’s race at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka. . . . eureka! A new points leader had emerged.

Calczynski, who once trailed leader Troy Beebe of Modesto by 100 points, is the leader as the tour heads toward the finish.

“We finished second the past two years,” said Calczynski, who is in his third season on the tour. “We’re hoping this is the year.

“But it’s still early. Any one of the top five could pull it off.”

Calczynski, who leads Beebe by only seven points, had better keep a close eye on his rear-view mirror. Only 153 points separate the top five drivers, who also include Redwood winner Mike Chase of Bakersfield, Ken Pedersen of Sausalito and Hornaday. Throw in Hooper, who is 213 points behind Calczynski, and it’s a six-car, eight-race trophy dash for the cash.

Speaking of money, Calczynski, who has a tour-high three victories, also became the tour’s top money-winner with $15,704. Not bad for a guy who finished 16th Sunday because of a cracked oil cooler.

“We’re fortunate to get through the week with a second and a 16th and still lead the points,” Calczynski said.

Calczynski finished second Saturday--just 1.1 seconds behind winner Loran Kelley of Vacaville.

“I’m confident as long as I keep the car out of trouble,” Calczynski said. “The competition is so stiff it’s going to take a lucky break here, stay out of trouble there. . . . The only thing left is to win a few more races and win the championship at the end.”

Hornaday, Saugus Speedway’s Modified division champion last year, is in a three-way tie with Pedersen and Roger Gannon of Redding in competition among tour rookies. Hornaday has earned $10,063.

“As far as we’ve traveled,” Hornaday said, “it’s paid for itself.” The tour was scheduled to resume Friday night in Bakersfield with a 50-mile race at Mesa Marin Raceway.

Bakersfield is the place: Not only was the Southwest Tour scheduled to resume this weekend at Mesa Marin, but the NASCAR Winston West Series Race No. 7 is scheduled for today on the same 1/2-mile track.

And Glen Steurer of Simi Valley plans on getting a lot of mileage out of his trip through the Grapevine.

Steurer, 11th in the Winston West point standings, was scheduled to make his debut with the Southwest Tour on Friday night. Then he will buckle up for today’s 100-mile Winston West race.

“I have not driven two races in one weekend,” Steurer said. “They’re a night away, so it’s not that difficult.”

Steurer plans to continue the Southwest Tour in his 1988 Camaro while the Winston West Series breaks until November. He hopes the change of pace will bring better luck. Steurer has been slipping in the standings.

“We went from fourth to 14th real quick,” he said. “We broke a motor in Spokane and couldn’t get it fixed in time for the next race. When you’re down to a 10-race schedule, you don’t want to miss a race.”

About time: Any Tom, Dick and Harry should be able to win a drag race in 31 years of trying. But that’s how long it took the Scribner brothers--Tom, Dick and Harry.

Harry Scribner, a Simi Valley resident, won his first race Sunday in the inaugural National Hot Rod Assn. California Nationals at Sears Point International Raceway in Sonoma. Scribner, 44, and his Camaro clocked 7.498 seconds (184.50 m.p.h) in the $575,650 event. Scribner, along with brothers and teammates Tom and Dick, won between $15,000-$18,000.

“It’s been a long time,” said Scribner, who is scheduled to race Sunday in Seattle. “Through the years, we’ve gotten to the point of giving up. It’s a hobby with us.”