MOTOR RACING : Krieger Gains Ground, Bids to Pass Harper in Sportsman Points Race

In the six-month Sportsman Division points race at Saugus Speedway, defending champion and current leader Will Harper of Tarzana is feeling some midsummer heat.

Although once he had little competition, Harper (227 points) can look into his rear-view mirror and see a hard-charging Larry Krieger of Reseda, 29 points back heading into next week’s races.

Just five weeks ago, Harper led by more than 50 points.

“He’s romping right up there,” Harper said of Krieger.

It hasn’t been an easy climb for Krieger, who has won the past two main events at the speedway. While Harper started fast and raced consistently in building his lead, Krieger plummeted early in the season from second place to eighth after a string of misfortune that included a missed race because of a blown engine.

Krieger, 24, the 1989 rookie of the year in the Sportsman Division, felt that his early success might not last.

“Yeah, when I saw those points standings and I was in second place earlier in the year, I thought, ‘Wow, check it out,’ ” Krieger said. “Then I told my dad, ‘Hey, enjoy it while it’s there.’ ”

Krieger’s modesty belies his talent. His return to second with three months left in the season is a tribute to the hard work he and his father daily pour into the car. (“Just doing our homework,” he said.)

It wouldn’t do to underestimate Krieger. In 1987, he was the rookie of the year in the Hobby Stock Division, and he won the points championship in 1988. Then came his Sportsman rookie-of-the-year effort.

“I’m trying to keep that record going,” he said. “I don’t think (Harper) is too worried, though. But I’d like to beat him. I mean, I like the guy, but I want to beat him.”

He has a chance.

Sportsmanship division: An act of kindness by Chuck Johnson of Glendora last Saturday night allowed Harper to maintain his points lead.

During heat races, Harper’s car sustained a broken valve that threatened to keep Harper out of the 40-lap main event.

Desperate, Harper tried to borrow a car from another driver, something he had never done. He knew that even the two points he could earn with a last-place finish might prove the difference in a tight points race come September.

Enter Johnson.

When Harper asked to drive his car, Johnson never batted an eye. A rookie who admits he is still learning how to race on a paved oval, Johnson watched Harper drive the car faster than Johnson ever had.

“I was pleasantly surprised (by the car),” Harper said. “I was just laughing in there, having a ball.”

Johnson enjoyed the scene too.

“He’s a super driver,” he said of Harper. “I didn’t realize how good he is.”

After a crash-marred race, Harper wound up in ninth place. The thing that seemed most ludicrous to Harper just moments before the race--a top-10 finish--was reality.

“If I end up winning this championship by 10 points or less,” Harper said, “I owe Chuck part of the championship. It was just a really nice thing to do.”

Johnson deflected all praise.

“It was great to see what the car could really do,” he said. “I thought I’d give him a chance to stay in the points standings. It’s all part of being a good sport.”

Up and coming: Just one year after he received his California driver’s license, Jim Powell Jr. of Cypress is tearing up the ladder in the Street Stock points standings at Ventura Raceway.

Powell, 17, is third in the points standings (825) behind Don Keeter (1,235) and Jim Firsich (1,130). Powell didn’t begin his racing season until eight weeks ago, making his rise in the standings all the more notworthy.

With three main-event wins and six fast times, Powell figures to be in the thick of the points race by the end of the season.