In the first two seasons of the NASCAR Southwest Tour Series, Sepulveda, CA racer Roman Calczynski finished second in the points standings and had to watch another driver wear the crown as series champion. In 1988 he set out to change that and change it he did by winning the 1988 series title over Troy Beebe. Calczynski had to sweat it out until the final races of the year. The points were tight heading into the second to last race at Mesa Marin Raceway, until Beebe suffered misfortune with his fueling neck in the event costing him valuable points. Meanwhile, Calczynski was able to finish fifth in that event and seal the title with a second place finish in the finale at Phoenix.

Calczynski won the season opening Miller 100 at Saugus Speedway in March and the Bakersfield 100 in April. Calczynski's final victory came in the July 23 event at Roseville. Beebe swept both races at Cajon Speedway, and won the May 14 affair at Madara Speedway in the Budweiser 100. Defending champion, Mike Chase rallied from a slow and disappointing start to the season to finish third in the points. Chase won two events, first at the inaugural visit to Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka then later in the Inland Empire 100 at Orange Show Speedway in September.

Two rookies rounded out the top five in points, Ron Hornaday, Jr. and Ken Pedersen. Hornaday won the Pepsi Cola 100 at Shasta Speedway, while Pedersen won the 100-lap event at Mesa Marin in August. Though Hornaday scored a higher points finish, Pedersen claimed rookie of the year honors. Sixth in points was Loran Kelley who won two races at Orange Show in April and at Shasta in July. Ray Hooper, Jr. finished a solid seventh in points. Mike Hood won his only career series race at Saugus in September and finished eighth in points. Redding, CA driver Roger Gannon was ninth, while Rick Carelli finished 10th despite not running the full schedule.

Other race winners in the 1988 season included Jon Paques who won at Sonoma in April, former champ, Ron Esau who won the final tour event at Riverside International Raceway in June and Dan Press who won at Stockton in August. Several drivers won their only career series events in 1988. Jerry Bowers won his first and only Southwest event at Carson City in August. Mike Hood won the second Miller 100 event at Saugus in September. Gary Manlow won the October Classic 200 at Bakersfield while Jim Thirkettle won the season finale at AC-Delco 300 in the series first visit to Phoenix International Raceway.