Never in the 39 year history of Cajon Speedway has a points battle been this close. There are four drivers who still have a golden opportunity to claim the late model sportsman track championship this year. This Saturday night the tussle will be settled once and for all. Gary Tamborelli, John Tyczki, Jerry Gay, and Ron Overman each have this one final opportunity to grab the gold. The duel will be settled in the 40-lap Grand Prix, which will cap this Saturday night's action on the 3/8 mile paved oval. It will be the final points night of the season for the drivers in Cajon's premier division.
Race time is 6:45 PM. Qualifying runs start an hour and a half earlier. Practice for the all-important race will kick things off at 4:00. Sharing the asphalt with the late model sportsman will be the street stocks, pony stocks, and bomber stocks. Two of those championships have already been settled. Danny Gay has claimed the street stock title for the second straight year. Veteran Pat Garity sewed up his initial championship in the bombers two weeks ago. In the pony stocks Jimmy Kyte is trying to become the 13th different driver in as many seasons to nab pony stock honors. But veteran Ed Hale, champ three years ago, is hot on his heels and this title chase between teammates could well not be settled until the pony stock finale on September 30.
But for now the tension continues to mount for Tamborelli, Tyczki, Gay, and Overman. Just 75 points separate this quartet. Should anyone set fast time Saturday night and then come home the victor in the finale, he could earn as many as 145 markers (depending on the car count).
Tamborelli led the chase most of the season. But he dropped back to fourth in the hunt when he was disqualified following an apparent main event victory back on July 21 when his Monte Carlo weighed in some five pounds light after the race. Since that time Tamborelli has been on a tear and has clawed his way back to the number one position after Overman, Gay, and Tyczki each paced the standings during the interim. Tamborelli is seeking an unprecedented fourth straight championship.
None of his rivals are strangers to the champion's table at the banquet. Each has felt the pressure of a championship chase previously though none has ever been involved in one as tight as this one. Jerry Gay won the sportsman title in 1996 after grabbing five street stock titles in the 1980' s. Overman has a pair of titles on his resume. He edged out Gary Crossland by just four points back in 1974 in the super stocks. Then in 1996 he came from behind on the final night of the season to edge his stepson Todd McLauchlan in the Grand American modifieds. Tyczki reigned in the bomber stocks in both 1995 and 1996.
CAJON SPEEDWAY NASCAR WEEKLY RACING SERIES POINT STANDINGS
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN
1 Gary Tamborelli Escondido 7 wins 1339
2 John Tyczki Jr Lakeside 3 wins 1325
3 Jerry Gay San Diego 3 wins 1321
4 Ron Overman Lakeside 3 wins 1258
5 Todd McLauchlan Alpine 2 wins 1019
6 Dee Cable Santee 720
7 Robert Parenteau Lakeside 550
8 Russ Gregson Santee 542
9 Don Kerr El Cajon 2 wins 486
10 Jack Lee Vista 450
GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIED
1 Mike Salm Fallbrook 6 wins 1031
2 Scott Brown Lakeside 1 win 783
3 Douglas Carpenter La Mesa 778
4 Randy Keatts Santee 764
5 Lance Biggers Alpine 7 wins 554
6 Mike Jackson Bonita 504
7 Dave Williams Escondido 384
8 Ron Nava Encinitas 374
9 Bo Lemler Bonita 1 win 274
10 Steve Teets Ramona 1 win 217
STREET STOCK
1 Danny Gay Lakeside 14 wins 1584
2 Eric Evans Imperial Beach 995
3 Rick Hagen Alpine 1 win 970
4 Scott Moses Chula Vista 880
5 Rob Freeman Santee 842
6 Rich Green Jr. El Cajon 2 wins 775
7 Rob Overman El Cajon 725
8 Ivan Harrison Santee 664
9 Dave Arce Santee 578
10 Brian Collins Oceanside 502
PONY STOCK
1 Jimmy Kyte Lakeside 2 wins 1078
2 Ed Hale El Cajon 6 wins 1046
3 Andy Papp La Mesa 2 wins 871
4 Douglas Wright Jr. Jamul 2 wins 797
5 Marty Schmidt El Cajon 746
6 Ralph Smith Santee 1 win 709
7 Troy Hatfield Descanso 662
8 Billy Hoagland Santee 2 wins 634
9 Earl Downing Spring Valley 544
10 Bob Cloke El Cajon 534
BOMBER STOCK
1 Pat Garity El Cajon 6 wins 1528
2 Mark Holland San Diego 1 win 1147
3 Scott Youngren Fallbrook 777
4 Randy Wallace El Cajon 6 wins 766
5 Bob Wickey Spring Valley 2 wins 766
6 Bill Holland El Cajon 756
7 Alex McKay San Diego 668
8 John Luecht Chula Vista 1 win 665
9 Chris Boyer San Diego 638
10 Mark Schilling Oceanside 598
