03.22.2011
FOR SCRIBNER, IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR TO GET NEW CAR READY

By Mark Billingsley
Special to The Bee
Published: Friday, Mar. 18, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 8C
Last Modified: Sunday, Mar. 20, 2011 - 11:05 am

Chris Scribner has spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours getting his race car ready for the 2011 season, and he can't wait to get into the new machine and see if it brings even more success than the old model he drove last year.

Scribner, 28, of Folsom finished third in points last season in the Late Model division at Roseville's All American Speedway driving the No. 51 car that was built in 1989.

It was time to build another car from the ground up.

A week after the season ended last fall, Scribner was busy in the garage bolting a roll cage onto the chassis, putting a new engine onto the mounts and buffing the shine on his creation – No. 5.

"My dad, Rick, used to race sprint cars, and every car he owned had a 5 in it, so I'm keeping the tradition alive," said Scribner, who with his father owns Scribner Motor Sports in Loomis. "The good thing about being in the motor sports industry is that you get to know a lot of people who make parts."

Scribner's is a family operation. Chris Scribner's wife, Kristin, runs the media and marketing arm of Scribner Motor Sports. His mother, Janet, is the team manager, and his mother-in-law, Sandy Armstrong, is controller for the Harley Davidson business of National Hot Rod Association pro stock motorcycle driver Matt Guidera.

Scribner Motor Sports and Scribner Plastics, based in Rancho Cordova, cater to kart drivers. Scribner Motor Sports offers marketing and media support for karting teams, and Scribner Plastics offers transport crates, custom kart bodies and linked track barriers.

That racing insider's knowledge has helped control costs on Scribner's new race car. He estimated that he already has $20,000 into the project, and by the time the first green flag drops on the 2011 season on April 15, Scribner said, sponsors and family members will have invested an additional $30,000 to $40,000.

"Every car is different," Scribner said. "We haven't had the new car on the track yet because of the weather, so you never know what you're going to get out of the box."

He said he believes his car will compete with the best in the division this year. The 1989 model he replaced ran near the lead in last year's races but faded and was overtaken by fresher cars, keeping him out of the winner's circle. Instead of driving a racer that was just five years younger than he is, Scribner said, he looks forward to competing with the top drivers behind the wheel of a new machine.

"Some of the talent that's come out of Roseville is just amazing," Scribner said.