VERNON GRABS MILITARY TRIBUTE NIGHT HONORS AT MADERA

 

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (May 26, 2018) – Bakersfield’s Racin Vernon avenged his round three misfortune to take a dominating win in Saturday’s Military Tribute Night at Madera Speedway, leading all 80 laps for the $2,000 victory.  Vernon has led a total of 138 laps over the last two races in the challenging RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series on MAVTV.

 

Vernon led 58 laps in the April’s round #3 before spinning from the lead.  Blaine Rocha took advantage to take the victory and parlayed that into fast-time in this weekend’s round four.  The 33 car turnout was narrowed to 22 starters after a 25 lap B Main.  Rick Thompson won the $500 non-qualifiers portion of the B Main.

 

Rocha started from the pole on a straight-up start but immediately yielded the lead position to Vernon.  Two-time series champion Buddy Shepherd immediately slowed from the second row with a broken third link and retired to the pits.

 

A pair of cautions slowed racing on laps eight and nine and brought on the new Texas style restarts with Vernon by himself while Rocha was outside of third running Austin Herzog on each attempt.  2016 champion Matt Erickson and Glen Cook staged a long and sustained side-by-side race for fourth behind them.  The caution flew again on lap 14 when Garland Tyler stalled in turn two after possibly tagging the front stretch wall.

 

Logan Zampa jumped outside Cook to take fifth on the restart with Kyle Gottula following suit for sixth.  Rocha started to peek inside Vernon for the lead before a caution on lap 22.  Erickson got swallowed up by both Gottula and Zampa on the following green flag run.  The race’s next caution did not fall until lap 48 when Vernon tangled with lapped car Nick Grossi.  Grossi spun and in the ensuing melee Cook drove hard into the front end of Zampa while Erickson suffered heavy front end damage as well.

 

The caution ended up bringing the field to the lap 50 break two laps early, with only Grossi ruled as an involved car.  Cook’s race was over, however, with heavy damage while Erickson pitted in the infield for repairs to surrender his track position and restart at the rear.  Zampa and Vernon were able to continue on unscathed.

 

After adjustments and MAVTV interviews, racing resumed with Vernon, Rocha, and Herzog maintaining the top-three positions throughout cautions on lap 61 and 72.  Zampa and Gottula moved past Herzog and staged a spirited race for third that ended with them tangling into turn one.  Gottula spun forcing Ryan Philpott to come to a stop. Round #3 podium finisher Jack Wood slammed into the back of the parked Philpott to end both of their races.  Gottula’s race was over as well with a broken rear panhard bar, while Zampa was penalized to the back of the pack.

 

A five lap shootout saw Vernon successfully hold off Rocha and Herzog for the win.  B Main winner Ross Strmiska came from 17th to finish fourth ahead of 19th starting Dillon Tucker in fifth.

 

A straight up start in the 70 lap 51FIFTY Energy Drink Junior Late Model Series race proved to the benefit of 2017 champion Jesse Love as he took a convincing victory.  Love led the entire 70 lap affair after a sizzling 15.117 second lap in qualifying for a new track record.

 

His drive towards his eighth win in just his 12th Jr. Late Model start began from the pole.  Love led comfortably ahead of second in points Tanner Reif of Las Vegas and 2018 two-time winner Dylan Zampa.  The 11 car field for drivers ages 10-16 raced under green for 37 consecutive laps.  The caution finally came out when Reif spun into the turn four wall after apparent contact with lapped car Calvin Hegje.

 

The caution ended up being the impetus for the lap 40 break, two laps early like in the Pro Late Model division.  Smooth sailing continued out of the break with Love continuing his impressive performance.  Zampa drove up to his rear bumper a few times but never was close enough to capitalize.  Love coasted to a 1.6 second victory over Zampa and 10 year-old Tyler Reif.  Kayla Eshleman drove from seventh to finish fourth, while Austin Edwards nipped Kabe McClenny for fifth by a nose at the finish.

 

Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros had their largest car count of 2018 with 13 entries in the pits.  The race is a two-races-in-one event with two separate trophies awarded.  Two-time Bandolero winner Kercie Jung of Bakersfield led the opening lap before Seth Wise led the second lap.  Jung then wrestled the lead back which she held until lap ten.  Wise led lap 11 before Jung spun on lap 12 for the race’s first yellow flag.

 

The yellow flag tightened up the race for the Mini Cup victory as well, as three-time winner Kale McClenny had contact with Aaron Thomas that saw McClenny’s entire front bodywork come off.  Thomas was charged to the rear of the field for his involvement in the incident.

 

Jung quickly drove back through the field up to second behind Wise, while third running Riley Massey spun in turn four.  Massey, winner of the third race, turned her car back around and continued but lost a lap in the process.  Seth Wise took the Bandolero checkered flag and the overall win over Kercie Jung and Hank Hall, while Jayce McArthey won the Mini Cup trophy narrowly over Thomas and McClenny.

 

Modified Super Toyotas had five different leaders and five lead changes in their eight car, 25 lap event.  John McCollum, Jr. led lap one before spinning out from the lead on lap two.  Dave Lander led laps two through four before Bert Stephens held court.  Stephens led the race to lap 16 before getting tagged by Ryan Reynolds into turn one to send him spinning.  Both restarted at the back.  Patrick Geiger assumed the lead which he held for only one lap before it was Lander back out front.  Geiger managed to close back down on Lander, taking the top position on lap 20 and leading to the finish.  Reynolds and Stephens drove back to the front to finish second and third respectively.

 

A full inversion for the Toyota Sedans did not deter 2016 champion Jillaun Holden.  Kurt Davison led lap one before rookie Greg Tyler took over.  Meanwhile Holden and Tim Curtis were cutting through the pack one-by-one.  Holden finally passed Tyler on the outside for the lead on lap 19 and took the 25 lap win while Curtis was second ahead of Tyler.

 

Racing continues at Madera Speedway on June 9th with the Lucas Oil Summertime Horsepower Nationals presented by Protect the Harvest & Hoosier Tires! Lucas Oil Modifieds in the Protect the Harvest 75 on MAVTV, North State Modifieds, USAC HPD Midgets, Legends of Kearney Bowl, and CSS 360 Super Modifieds make up this big open wheel show.

 

For more information about Madera Racing on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or www.mavtv.com. For more information on RPM Mortgage and to obtain loan information please visit www.rpmwins.com and for more information about 51FIFTY Energy Drink visit www.51fiftyenergydrink.com

 

Madera Speedway is presented by major partners RPM Mortgage, 51FIFTY Energy Drink, Nut Up Industries, NICERIDE, iPull-uPull, and Color Fast Industries.

 

 

Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Thursdays re-runs of the 2017 season every week.  The show airs at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PST and is also available on the Lucas Oil Racing TV app.  New 2018 episodes will begin airing June 7th.

 

 

Madera Speedway 2018 Schedule Celebrating 47 years of Racing!

 

June 9th - Lucas Oil Summertime Horsepower Nationals presented by Protect the Harvest & Hoosier Tires! Lucas Oil Modifieds in the Protect the Harvest 75 MAVTV SHOW, North State Modified Tour , USAC HPD Midgets, Legends of Kearney Bowl, CSS 360 Super mods

 

June 16th – Madera Late Models Series 40 laps, Jr. Late Model Series 30 lap exhibition race, Madera Hobby Stocks, Southwest Truck Series, Toyota Sedans, MSTs, Legends of the Pacific , F4 Beater Cross

 

June 23rd - Closed

 

June 30th - Reverend Ron Spencer's Red, White and Blue Classic and BIG FIREWORKS SHOW! !) Race #5 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Model Series 80 Laps (50 Laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #5 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps),  MST (48 lap main spilt 24’s) , Toyota Sedans (48 lap main, split 24's), Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

 

July 7th - Gerhardt Classic 100 Lap Three wide start BCRA Midget Race, The Western Winged Super Sprint Series, USAC Western  Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Vintage BCRA, Legends of Kearney Bowl,

 

July 14th -  Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST, Toyota Sedans, and the Jr, Late Model 30 lap exhibition race

 

July 21st - Closed

 

July 28th - Summer Speed Fest $5,000 to win Race #6 of the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 100 laps (split 50’s), Race #6 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), MSTs, Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

 

August 4th - Children's Hospital Kids Night - Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, F4 Beater Cross, Toyota Sedans, MST,  Jr Late Model 30 lap exhibition race, Southwest Tour Truck Series

 

August 11th - PCS Super Late Model Series (Pacific Challenge Series), Madera Hobby Stocks, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, USAC HPD Midgets, MST, Legends of the Pacific, F4 Beater Cross

 

August 18th - Closed

 

August 25th - Race # 7 of the MAVTV Televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Model Series 80 laps (50 then 30), Race #7 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series , Legends of the Pacific, Toyota Sedans

 

September 1st - Hampton Inn and Suites Night at the Speedway, Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST's, Toyota Sedans, F4 Beater Cross, and the Jr, Late Model 30 lap exhibition race

 

September 8th - Closed for the Madera Fair

 

September 14th - 46th Annual Harvest Classic Night #1 presented by ($5 Ticket Night!) for everyone on night one. Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks,  F4 Beater Cross , MST, Toyota Sedans, USAC Western Midgets and Modified Truck Pulls!

 

September 15th - 46th Annual Harvest Classic presented by Midland Tractor and John Deere! The Western Winged Super Sprint Series, BCRA Midgets, USAC Western Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of Kearney Bowl, California Hard Tops, Plus the Blown, Injected multi engine Pulling Tractors!

 

September 22nd - Race #8 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then 30), Race #8 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, the 30 laps), MST, Toyota Sedans, Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

 

September 29th – Spears SRL Southwest Tour 125, the USAC Western Midgets, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of the Pacific, Madera Hobby Stocks, and the Legends of Kearney Bowl

 

October 5th -Practice for the RPM Mortgage Short Track "Best of the West" $10,000.00 to win Shootout Event open to Lucas Oil Modifieds, Late Models, Jr. Late Models, and the Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

 

October 6th - 150 Lap $10,000.00 to WIN “NUT UP SHORT TRACK SHOOTOUT” for the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 150 laps! (race #9 of the televised championship), Lucas Oil Modifieds 75 lap TV race! Race #9 of the 80 lap 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series and the Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

 

October 13th - Closed, NO RACES /

 

October 20th - 11th Annual iPull-uPull Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash and Blow Up and Monster Trucks!, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST's, Toyota Sedans, $2,000 to Win 200 lap Enduro, the Extreme Barrel Racing Series, a Trick or Treat thru the Pits and on Track PUMPKIN SMASH for the KIDS!

 

October 27th - Closed

 

November 10th - 2018 Championship Awards Banquet

ROCHA CLAIMS FIRST CAREER PRO LM WIN AT MADERA

 

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (April 28, 2018) – A full moon and tight track conditions led to a wild night at Madera Speedway for round #3 of the MAVTV-televised Late Model racing.  Blaine Rocha claimed his first career RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model 80 lap feature.  Rocha led the final 12 circuits for the win while Dylan Zampa won his second 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model race on Saturday as well.

 

Bakersfield’s Racin Vernon was perfect all weekend, leading both practice sessions and taking the fast-time in qualifying.  Vernon continued the good luck when he drew the pole position in the redraw as well.  Vernon started alongside fellow Bakersfield racer Jacob Smith, with Vernon taking off with the lead.  Smith’s run slowed early as he was spun by Glen Cook into turn one on the second lap, with the spin leading to Logan Zampa suffering significant front end damage.  Austin Herzog and Adam Lemke also had to pit for repairs.

 

Vernon led the opening three laps before Rocha took over for laps four through six.  A caution on lap seven came out when incoming points leader Matt Erickson spun and both Christian Roche and Zampa grabbed some damage in the melee.  Vernon took over the lead on the restart and proceeded to pick the outside line the rest of the evening on restarts.

 

Rick Thompson had advanced from 13th to seventh by that point and continued to move forward as the race saw four more incidents before lap 31, when Quintin Harris stopped in turn three with right front damage.  Erickson stalled on the front stretch and was out of the race with an apparent problem on the left rear.

 

Garland Tyler and Jack Wood began their duel for third on the restart in a battle that would continue on for many laps throughout the feature.  Herzog emerged into the top five before the halfway break as well.

 

Vernon led Rocha across the line at the lap 40 break while Tyler led Wood by a nose with Herzog fifth.  After a break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews, the second half resumed with Vernon driving away while Herzog took over fourth from Tyler.  Rocha remained on Vernon’s bumper as the top-two ran around the outside of the race track.  Herzog took up the battling with Wood for third position before the punctuation mark of the race on lap 58.  Vernon spun on his own entering turn one to surrender the lead and force the second half’s only caution flag.

 

Rocha took advantage, assuming the lead and driving away from Wood on the restart.  Herzog never relented and got around Wood for second with six laps remaining.  Rocha drove to victory by five car lengths over Herzog and Wood. Adam Lemke charged back to pass Garland Tyler for fourth as well.

 

With Erickson failing to finish, Herzog assumes the points lead before the upcoming Military Tribute Night on May 26th.

 

The drivers ages 10-16 years old in the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Models had a dynamic 70 laps as well.  Jesse Love IV, winner of round #2 and the 2017 champion, looked poised for victory before a grinding crash ended his efforts.

 

Love qualified fastest and started on the outside pole alongside 2018 points leader Tanner Reif.  The first caution flew on lap five for Olivia Manke spun out in turn four.  The caution flew again on lap 13 when Anthony Guiamano spun in turn two from the fourth position.  Love picked the inside of Reif on each successive restart attempt.  Las Vegas’ Tyler Reif spun in turn one on lap 16 and Manke suffered hard contact with both Kyler Berry and the outside wall to end her evening.

 

Dylan Zampa aimed inside Tanner Reif for second place before spinning as he tried to go three wide underneath a lapped car.  Kayla Eshleman swooped around Austin Edwards to take third while Jesse Love led Reif into the lap 40 scheduled break.

 

Racing resumed with 30 laps to go and saw a large crash end the day for several cars.  Reif edged forward on Love coming to green.  Heading into turn one, Love and Eshleman made contact sending Love up the hill into Reif.  Reif spun and the field scrambled.  The resulting incident saw Love have a brief fire as he hit the backstretch wall, with Guimano spun around backwards into the wall as well.  Reif, Love, and Guiamano were all done for the night.

 

Eshleman was relegated to the rear of the field with third year driver Austin Edwards assuming the lead.  Zampa moved inside Kabe McClenny for second quickly.  Four laps later, Zampa took the lead from Edwards and started to stare down his second win.

 

Eshleman knifed through the pack to challenge McClenny for third with Tyler Reif in the mix as well.  Reif moved past them both and closed down on Edwards for second.  Reif spun on his own after taking second on lap 66, setting up a four lap run to the finish.  Zampa motored away to victory with Eshleman inheriting second when Edwards faltered with a flat tire.  Kyler Berry completed a great comeback to finish third in his second televised start.  Wastonville’s Lilly Mead managed to get past Kabe McClenny for fourth as well.

 

Bakersfield’s drivers continued their perfect record in the Mini Cup vs. Bandoleros series, but it was a new young lady taking the helm of the Bando class.  Riley Massey overcame a mid-race penalty to charge to victory.  Massey used her horsepower in the larger Bando car to advance from fifth after the inversion.  She went straight to the lead over a pack of four Mini Cup cars before the field made it to turn one at the start.  Massey held that lead until the first caution when she was penalized for jumping the start.

 

Kale McClenny won the first two Mini Cup races and assumed the overall lead as well before Massey made her move forward.  Massey drove away to a comfortable Bandolero victory while McClenny was part of a great Mini Cup race with Aaron Thomas.  The duo went side-by-side across the finish line with McClenny taking his third Mini Cup win by just .005 seconds.  Joseph Holliday rounded out the Mini Cup top-three while Zachary Ginn of Bakersfield finished second in the Bando class.

 

Joshua Whitfield made his triumphant return to the Hobby Stock division by taking the 30 lap feature as he drove away from Thomas Suarez.   Steve Schermerhorn rounded out the top-three.

 

2016 Toyota Sedans champion Jillaun Holden recovered from an early spin to get her third Toyota Sedan victory of the season and extended her points lead in the process.  A caution with two laps to go for Kyle Labre spinning set up a thrilling finish.  Rookie Greg Tyler made a valiant effort to jump to Holden’s outside coming to the line.  Holden held on by a scant .007 seconds with Tim Curtis debuting a new car for a third place finish.

 

Madera Speedway continues racing next Sautrday with the Vukovich Classic / The BCRA Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of Kearney Bowl, Senior Open Vintage Super Modifieds, California Hard Tops, Vintage BCRA, USAC Western Midgets, Legends of the Pacific.

 

For more information about Madera Racing on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or www.mavtv.com. For more information on RPM Mortgage and to obtain loan information please visit www.rpmwins.com and for more information about 51FIFTY Energy Drink visit www.51fiftyenergydrink.com

 

Madera Speedway is presented by major partners RPM Mortgage, 51FIFTY Energy Drink, Nut Up Industries, NICERIDE, iPull-uPull, and Color Fast Industries.

 

Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Thursdays re-runs of the 2017 season every week.  The show airs at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PST and is also available on the Lucas Oil Racing TV app.  New 2018 episodes will begin airing later this spring.