It took Mike Salm four years and sixty races to win his first Grand American modified main event at Cajon Speedway. Now the Fallbrook racer can't be stopped.
This Saturday night Salm will be gunning for a sixth straight victory in the open wheeled class at the 3/8 mile paved oval. Joining the swift machines on the special "3M Night" card will be the late model sportsman, pony stocks, bomber stocks, and legends. And if that isn't enough, the night will conclude with a demolition derby. Race time is 6:45 PM. Qualifying runs start at 5:15. The track opens for practice at 4:00. Salm got his start in the modifieds at Cajon back in 1996. He was always knocking on the door, but couldn't quite make his way to victory lane. Still he had five runner-up runs, including three early this season. On July 1 Salm finally broke through, scoring his first victory. He has not been denied since. His last visit to victory lane two weeks ago put him in the modified record book. Lance Biggers had held the standard of four consecutive main event victories. Now that mark belongs to Salm. The winning string has allowed Salm to open up a 169 point bulge over sophomore Scott Brown in the modified points chase. Street stock graduate Doug Carpenter, who is making his first fling in the open wheeled cars this year, sits in third with 595 markers. Second year driver Randy Keatts is just one point behind Carpenter. Biggers sits in fifth with 554 points. Rounding out the top five are rookie Mike Jackson (333), veteran Bo Lemler (274), former truck racer Ron Nava (268), rookie Dave Williams (228), and vet Ron Brown (165).
Biggers remains the leader with seven wins this season. Lemler earned his initial main event trophy back in May.
Meanwhile the torrid battle atop the late model sportsman standings continues. This four man battle royal is certain to go to the final night of the season on September 23. Not since 1976 has the points battle in Cajon's top class been this tight. This weekend's 3M 40-lap feature could shake up the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series standings. With 95 points possible again this weekend, any of John Tyczki, Ron Overman, Jerry Gay, or Gary Tamborelli could be leading the standings when the checkered flag falls. Gay moved into a tie with Tyczki by winning last week's feature. The duo is just 14 points ahead of Overman, who had led the standings just two races ago. Gay and Tyczki have 1066 points apiece while Overman has 1052. Tamborelli sits in fourth with 1050 points.
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN 1 Jerry Gay San Diego 3 wins 1066 2 John Tyczki Jr Lakeside 3 wins 1066 3 Ron Overman Lakeside 2 wins 1052 4 Gary Tamborelli Escondido 4 wins 1050 5 Todd McLauchlan Alpine 2 wins 834 6 Dee Cable Santee 580 7 Russ Gregson Santee 542 8 Don Kerr El Cajon 2 wins 448 9 Robert Parenteau Lakeside 430 10 Jack Lee Vista 380
GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIED 1 Mike Salm Fallbrook 5 wins 774 2 Scott Brown Lakeside 605 3 Douglas Carpenter La Mesa 595 4 Randy Keatts Santee 594 5 Lance Biggers Alpine 7 wins 554 6 Mike Jackson Bonita 333 7 Bo Lemler Bonita 1 win 274 8 Ron Nava Encinitas 268 9 Dave Williams Escondido 228 10 Ron Brown San Diego 165
STREET STOCK 1 Danny Gay Lakeside 11 wins 1318 2 Eric Evans Imperial Beach 881 3 Rick Hagen Alpine 1 win 789 4 Scott Moses Chula Vista 770 5 Rob Freeman Santee 683 6 Rich Green Jr. El Cajon 2 wins 657 7 Rob Overman El Cajon 583 8 Ivan Harrison Santee 529 9 Dave Arce Santee 504 10 Brian Collins Oceanside 420
PONY STOCK 1 Jimmy Kyte Lakeside 2 wins 966 2 Ed Hale El Cajon 5 wins 820 3 Andy Papp La Mesa 1 win 693 4 Douglas Wright Jr. Jamul 2 wins 646 5 Marty Schmidt El Cajon 638 6 Ralph Smith Santee 1 win 572 7 Billy Hoagland Santee 1 win 548 8 Troy Hatfield Descanso 525 9 Tony Cortes La Mesa 471 10 Earl Downing Spring Valley 464
BOMBER STOCK
1 Pat Garity El Cajon 4 wins 1265
2 Mark Holland San Diego 1 win 960
3 John Luecht Chula Vista 1 win 665
4 Scott Youngren Fallbrook 623
5 Bill Holland El Cajon 622
6 Randy Wallace El Cajon 6 wins 594
7 Bob Wickey Spring Valley 2 wins 552
8 Alex McKay San Diego 549
9 Greg McCown El Cajon 510
10 Mark Schilling Oceanside 506
