51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 2025

 

This is a nine race SERIES in 2025 and it is televised on MAVTV! "The concept for the Jr. Late Model Series is something I've thought about since 2006, as I believe a restricted late model is a great place for a youngster to hone their skills in a car they can move up with throughout their teenage years. We are proud that we have built a series where talent can shine in the Pro Late Model Series, and we have now done the same for the 10-16 year old crowd with the Jr. Late Model Series on MAVTV" Kenny Shepherd.

 

For 2025 this is a nine race championship series and all nine races of the Series will be broadcast nationwide on MAVTV. This is a TELEVISED SERIES in 2025, the dates for the 2025 season are March 15th, April 5th, May 3rd, May 31st, June 21st, July 19th, August 23rd, September 20th, and the Big Short Track Shootout show on October 18th.

 

Driver eligibility;

 

1- Drivers must have prior racing experience and each driver must present a racing resume for approval. E-mail kshepherd@racemadera.com and request a driver application

 

2- Drivers must be no younger than 10 and no older than 16 years of age. Drivers that turn 16 during the season and have already begun the championship are eligible to continue for the remainder of that season. (Note, there is an exception process we have set up for drivers older than 16 that lack the proper experience to compete in the Nut Up Pro Late Model Series. Pease contact Kenny Shepherd for more information about this process).

 

3- The parent or legal guardian of a driver must sign the minor's release.

 

 

2025 51FIFTY Jr Late Model Rules

 

• BODY and CHASSIS - Any traditional late model type perimeter or straight rail chassis is allowed. Body must be a factory stock Five Star or AR pavement style body, body must be mounted in a stock manner as it was intended from the manufacturer, no extra panels may be used to extend the body in any way, hood must cover the air cleaner with no holes other than a small opening at the windshield for air to the carburetor, complete rear bumper cover must be used with no holes drilled in it, no extra material may be removed from the rear bumper cover, rear spoiler must be mounted in the stock location.

 

No under body air deflectors or wings of any kind. Teams are allowed to mount two ½” tall roof rails running front to rear on the roof of the car, but these rails are not allowed to extend down the rear window or onto the deck lid. No passenger windows are allowed, maximum for the vent window along the top of the door will be 12 inches and must go 90 degrees from the top of the door up to the A-post. No fans, ducts or hoses to the rear brakes, no holes or hoses are allowed through the interior sheet metal. Ride height rule; all cars must be able to get on and off the inspection scales without the use of any extra ramps or boards and the car must not drag on the scales, if your car drags on the scales you will not pass tech and will be forced to return to your pit area for corrections.

 

Rear Spoiler may be no wider than 60", and no taller than 6 1/2". Spoiler must be centered on the rear bumper cover and may not be offset in any direction. There may be NO forward support of any kind, no boxed ends or runners. No Gurney lip, or any type of wicker bill on the upper edge of the spoiler. It is mandatory that the Upper 2/3's of the spoiler and the rear window of the car be made of “clear” lexan to enable other drivers to see through them. Maximum quarter panel height is 34.5”.

 

2. ENGINES - Any cast iron block wet sump engine allowed. The only rule on the open engine is that it must be a wet sump engine with only a single 4bbl carburetor allowed. The open engine car weight for a straight rail chassis is 3,000lbs and a maximum of 58% left side weight. The open engine car weight for a perimeter chassis is 2,950lbs and a maximum of 58% left side weight. Maximum RPM for the open engine is 6,000 and cars must run a 6,000 RPM chip from the track or you may use the FAST/Crane ignition box part # 6000-6700 and coil part #730-0192.

 

602 crate engine cars that have a straight rail chassis are to be a minimum of 2,875lbs total weight and a maximum of 60% left side weight. 602 crate engine cars that have a perimeter chassis are to be a minimum of 2,825lbs total weight and a maximum of 60% left side weight. Maximum RPM for the 602 crate engine is 6,000 and cars must run a 6,000 RPM chip from the track or you may use the FAST/Crane ignition box part # 6000-6700 and coil part #730-0192. 602 engines must remain OEM from factory and may be either GM factory break off bolt seals or new GM factory style seals. All crate engines may be removed for inspection at any time after an event, especially if they are the old style break off bolt seals.

 

All cars must run a 6,000 rpm chip; this includes 602, and the open engine in the Jr. Late Model Series.

 

The engine set-back rule is 2" back for all open engines (the center of the forward most spark plug hole to the center of the upper ball joint on the same side). Maximum engine set-back for the 602 crate engine is 6" measured the same way. Any single 4bbl carburetor allowed on all engine packages.

 

Restrictors / You may run any four barrel carburetor. All cars must run a Keyser ½" governor plate part number 100 12600 with the 1.000 inserts/restrictors in them. The part # for the inserts is 100 126100. The only spacer allowed is the ½" Keyser plate.

 

The cost of the Keyser Governor plate is roughly $67.00, and the cost of a set of restrictors is $30.00. They can be purchased from Keyser Manufacturing (Port City) at 800-472-2464 or from Summit Racing at 800-230-3030.

 

STOCK STEERING/ BIG SPRING CARS - All stock type steering box cars with stock type lower a-arms (cars without rack and pinion) with 5" or bigger diameter springs on the front suspension will receive a 40 pound weight break off all engine and chassis combinations.

 

3. TIRES AND WHEELS - Tires are the Hoosier 8.0-15/970 treaded tire. ALL tires MUST be purchased from the track, and tires MAY NOT be cut, soaked or altered in any way. Any team wishing to run used tires must submit the tires for inspection and scanning prior to qualifying, note these used tires must have been purchased from Madera as well. Wheels must be steel and not exceed 8" in width. Competitors must start the race on the tires they qualified with.

 

4. SUSPENSION - Minimum wheel base is 101", rear wheel drive cars only.  Any steel shock, all external parts must be steel (Aluminum rod end on the shaft end ok, and an aluminum thread in body cap on the shaft end is ok). One shock per wheel, no remote adjusters or reservoirs of any kind may be used on a shock. REAR SUSPENSION – No fifth (5th) coil, torque arm or lift bar suspensions will be permitted. No bird cages of any kind (3 or 4 link). Trailing arms must mount to the rear end and chassis in a solid manner (heim allowed). No springs, sliders, rubber biscuits allowed on any of the rear trailing arms. Truck arm suspensions will be approved on a race by race basis. Any non-traditional rear suspension layouts will be approved on a race by race basis. Aluminum shocks are approved with a 25 pound weight penalty, no remote adjusters or reservoirs of any kind may be used on a shock.

 

 

All cars will not exceed 79" inch track width, it will be measured from the bulge outside to outside of the front tires at the spindle height. No independent rear suspension.

 

5. No traction control devices. Only one ignition box allowed and ignition box will be mounted as far to the right side of the car as possible with the chip or RPM dial facing the right side. All wires to the distributor must be run separately and not be part of a bigger wiring harness. All wiring must be sealed with no unplugged wires.

 

6. FUEL - All cars must run the track fuel, the track spec fuel is Sunoco 110 Purple race fuel or Sunoco E-85R race fuel. Teams may also run stock Chevron 91 octane pump fuel with NO additives and NO mixing of fuels.

 

7. Drive shaft, NO carbon fiber drive shafts allowed.

 

8. SAFETY – Approved seat belts and double shoulder harness and a crotch strap is required, no older than five years. A full face helmet required with a 2010 (recommended 2015) Snell sticker. SFI rated full driving suit and gloves for fire protection mandatory, SFI undergarments are recommended. Driver’s window must be equipped with a safety net and quick release latch of minimum size 22” wide by 16” high. Resilient padding must be installed anywhere the driver can reach on roll bars. Onboard charged Fire System Mandatory. Head and Neck Restraint System mandatory. All teams must have a 10lb fire extinguisher in their pit at all times. All cars must have a clearly marked electrical cut off switch easily accessible to the safety crew. Batteries must be securely mounted outside of the driver’s compartment. 1/16” steel side plate in driver’s door is mandatory. Roll cage must be constructed of 1 3/4” o.d. x.090 round tubing, the main frame and bolt on clips from the radiator area to behind the fuel cell must be must be made of steel, main frame must be minimum 2”x3” rectangular steel.

 

TRANSPONDER - All cars must run a transponder mounted 12" behind the rear axle, Transponder location – the transponder location on all late models will be 12” from the center of the rear axle tube to the center of the transponder. This is 9 ½” from the back of the axle tube to the leading edge of the transponder. Transponders are mandatory for the Friday night practice and for the entire day on Saturday. The official scoring is via the transponder, this is used for starts, restarts, reverts and the race finish.

 

Note, the following infractions will result in a BIG penalty which could include, a huge fine, suspension or a LIFETIME ban from the series.

 

A. Being caught with traction control.

 

B. Bypassing the RPM limiting control device in any way.

 

C. Altering the 602 crate engine under the seals in any way that is non OEM. (you may run after market valve springs but they must be the same spring pressures as OEM, you may run any carburetor, you may run the approved aftermarket replacement distributer, you must run a mechanical fuel pump in the stock location, and you must run the stock oil pan and stock harmonic balancer).

 

D. Altering the Hoosier 970 tire, such as soaking the tire, or cutting the tire. Tires are to be a stock 970 tire.

 

E. If you are caught cheating the fuel in any way, the fuel must be stock as provided by the manufacturer, and must not have ANY additives whatsoever.

 

F. Cheating the restrictor plate in any way.

 

Illegal components WILL be confiscated by Madera Speedway and become property of the speedway.

 

We reserve the right to adjust the rules at any time in the interest of safety and maintaining an even playing field.

 

Madera Speedway Race Procedures

 

Starts and Restarts – 2025 Procedures;

 

When the leaders hit the one to go at the flag stand the yellow track lights will go out and the front row will maintain pace car speed with no tire scrubbing past the flag stand. When the pace car pulls off the track the front row will maintain pace car speed until they get to within a car length of the acceleration cone/line in the middle of turn three and four. When the front row gets to the accelerate cone/line they are to gradually build speed starting at or about a car length prior to the cone/line. The race leader will be the first car to cross the starting line and will be guaranteed to lead at the starting line as long as they began to gradually accelerate at or slightly before the start cone/line and the leader does not spin the tires or decelerate in anyway after they passed the “acceleration” cone/line. If the leader does not gradually accelerate at the acceleration area, or accelerates late or abruptly, or pinches the second-place car up or down, or spins the tires, or decelerates at any time after the acceleration cone/line they will forfeit their right to lead at the starting line.

 

If the leader has provided a good start and the second-place car beats the leader to the starting line on the start, or a restart the green flag will remain out and the second-place car will be black flagged and will have three laps to drop back to the third position on the race track under green. If a caution comes out prior to the second-place car dropping back to the third position they will restart in the third position. If there is a restart with three laps or less remaining in the race and the second-place car beats the leader to the starting line after the leader has provided a good start the second-place car will be black flagged and must drop back to the third position and then resume racing, if they do not drop back to the third position after being black flagged they will be placed in the third position for the finish of the race.

 

Note, If the leader does not provide a good start and the second-place car beats the leader to the starting line the green flag will remain out and there will be no penalty issued to the second-place driver.

 

The "Choose" rule (Cone Rule) for all restarts. Drivers will pick the low or high lane for a restart when the cars are instructed to double up at the start/finish line.

 

•  Caution Flag Procedures: When the Caution Flag is displayed, you are to slow down in a safe manner and proceed with caution back to the start/finish line single file. No Racing or Passing. Stay in Line. Violators are subject to penalty. Your restart position will be the position you were in the previous completed lap unless you are deemed to be involved in the incident that brought out or led to the yellow flag being displayed. If you are directed by Race Control to correct your on-track position, you must do so within 2 laps or you will be penalized 1 lap and will no longer be eligible for a Lucky Dog. If you are involved in an incident causing a caution flag you will be sent to the rear of the field. Caution Flag laps may be counted if we deem necessary.

 

• Involvement: If you are deemed to be the cause of an incident or involved with it, you will be placed to the very rear of the Field. Cars may be parked if charged with causing 3 on track incidents. Rough driving will not be tolerated as well as any retaliation. Depending on the incident, you may be parked, issued a fine, and penalized.

 

• Lap Down Cars: All lap down cars will be moved to the rear on all restarts. There will be a Lucky Dog on every yellow flag giving one driver the least amount of laps down, one lap back and putting them to the very rear of the field unless the eligible car was involved in the yellow flag incident. ALL LAP DOWN CARS ARE DIRECTED TO STAY ON THE TOP/HIGHSIDE OF THE TRACK when being passed by the leaders of the race.

 

• Blue Flag; Blue flag means move over, the leaders are coming. Follow the Flagman’s direction and move to the top of the Race Track. Make sure you hold your line. Use hand signals to notify Drivers of your intentions

 

• Black Flag: Black flag pointed at you is a warning in regards to your actions on the track. If it is displayed, you must go to the pits within 3 laps (note, if the black flag is used on a restart for the second place car they must drop back to the third position)

 

• Red Flag: Red flag means stop in a safe manner and follow Track Officials directions. Only Cars in the Hot Pits may be worked on.

 

Yellow/Checkered Finish - The race will finish under green; Except in the case that the leader has taken the White Flag and the yellow is displayed

during the White Flag, the field is frozen, do not pass and proceed safely back to the start finish line and the finishing order is

final, cars will be scored in the position they held when the yellow was displayed (except for those involved). If that relative

position could not be determined, they would be scored in the order those cars in question crossed the finish line on their last

completed green flag lap, those involved in the caution or those cars that cannot proceed at that point will be positioned

accordingly.

 

• Hot Pits: If you enter the Pits for any reason you will restart at the rear of the Field.

 

• Tires:  Cars must start and finish the Main Event with the same tires they qualified with. Any tire changes after Qualifying must be approved. Driver will start at the rear field and tires will be subject to impound by Race Control

 

 1. The main event line-up will be set by a card draw; all drivers in the top six will draw for their starting spot.

 

2. Teams can work on their race cars on the starting grid all the way up until the time the cars roll off the grid for the first segment without penalty, or position loss.

 

3. Teams can work on their cars at the halfway break, they may change anything they want except tires (the four marked tires can change locations on the car at the half time break, example, the right front and right rear may be exchanged), and each car must remain on the tires the car qualified on. A team may work on the car during the 10-minute break before they roll off for the start of the second segment without penalty, or loss of position.

 

4. If a car is worked on by the pit crew after the cars have rolled off for either the first segment, or second segment, then the car must re-enter the race at the rear of the field. The only exception to this is for a safety item the MADERA SPEEDWAY HEAD SAFETY OFFICAL would assist with at the start finish line in victory lane, such as a seat belt issue, head and neck restraint issue, or a window net issue.

 

5. Championship points are awarded for the main event with 50 points going to the race winner, 48 for second, 46 for third and so on... There are bonus points for the segment leaders in each race, 1st-5 bonus points, 2nd-4 points, 3rd-3 points, 4th-2 points, and 5th - 1 point. There are also points for qualifying, 4, 3, 2, 1, for the top four cars.