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KYLE KELLER PREVAILS OVER WILD ROUND EIGHT OF MAVTV LATE MODEL ACTION AT MADERA
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (September 16, 2023) – 2022 Lunkerdaddy Pro Late Model champion Kyle Keller of Las Vegas became the second repeat winner of the 2023 campaign, claiming Saturday’s round eight from Madera Speedway. The MAVTV-televised race served as the penultimate round for the closely contested championship and had many twists and turns over its 80-lap distance.
Keller topped qualifying as the first repeat fast-timer this season then drew ninth in the redraw. Points leader Tyler Herzog of Fresno drew fifth while second in points Jacob Smith of Eagle, Idaho had to march from tenth.
Opening night winner Robbie Kennealy of Madera led the opening lap of the race before a quick caution. Multi-time champion Matt Erickson and Kennealy locked horns for the lead on the restart. Erickson led lap three. Kennealy slid through the infield in turn three after contact, falling back to fourth but the race stayed green.
The caution fell on lap 11 for Trevor Schlundt spinning in turn three. Herzog drove underneath round seven winner Shelden Cooper of Clovis for second. Two more cautions slowed the action and the subsequent restart scrambles allowed 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model standout Chase Hand of Wilton to knife into second. Hand then challenged Erickson from the inside for the lead on a lap 17 restart. Erickson and Hand collided heading into turn one, sending both into a slide to bring out the caution.
Tenth-starting Smith inherited the lead after the early-race fireworks and led lap 20. Herzog tried the outside of Cooper for second to no avail. Hand then tangled with Schlundt on lap 32, relegating him to restart at the rear of the field for a second time.
Cooper slowed with sparks underneath his machine on lap 33 for a caution flag. He was able to rejoin the race but was penalized a lap for drawing the caution.
Loomis’ Kenna Mitchell battled with Erickson before they came together as well, sending both into a spin on the front stretch. Mitchell was unable to continue in the race with damage.
Kennealy had oil pan damage from his lap four spin that eventually erupted, sparking a multi-car crash in turn one in the fluid on lap 48. Fresno’s Rick Thompson suffered heavy damage that dropped him out of the top-five. Bass Lake’s Mike Hensley and Schlundt were eliminated from the race. Fourth-running Glen Cook of Mariposa also had a leak in the rear end but he was able to make repairs during the Mission Racing Style Tortilla Chips break.
When racing resumed, Cook unfortunately spun after contact from 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model points leader Vito Cancilla of Martinez on lap 51. The following restart was an exciting one with two-by-two action at the front between Smith, Herzog, Keller, and Hand. Herzog and Smith made contact twice, with the second contact sending the duo spinning down the front stretch for a caution on lap 56.
The final caution of the event flew on lap 77 when Thompson and Erickson had a coming together on the front stretch while Erickson attempted to lap Thompson.
Keller prevailed over the numerous restarts and excitement to win the feature. Smith charged around Hand for second position. Herzog and Cook rounded out the top-five. Herzog will lead Smith by just ten points heading into the season finale: the $10,000-to-win Short Track Shootout on October 7.
Martinez’ Vito Cancilla eclipsed 400-laps led in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series in 2023, muscling past season-long challenger Chase Hand of Wilton, Calif. for Cancilla’s seventh triumph of the season as he moves closer to the championship.
Hand had won the fast-time award in the last two races and was seven-for-seven on runner-up finishes heading into round eight. Cancilla answered by topping qualifying then drawing the pole position during the redraw. Hand drew second for a heads-up duel of the top two in the series in a 70-lap race for drivers ages 10-16.
Cancilla leapt to the lead while Castro Valley’s Cam Carraway battled with Madera’s Joey Kennealy for third. Lincoln’s Kylie Glick slid through the infield to fall to the back of the pack on lap seven.
Carraway got loose in a tight battle with Texan Tristan Pena in turn two, with Pena spinning to avoid for the first caution on lap 24. Hand challenged Cancilla for the lead on the outside while Kennealy challenged Bakersfield’s Taylor Mayhew on the outside for third as well.
Hand led lap 27 before Cancilla led lap 28. Hand wrestled the lead back on lap 29. Kennealy won the side-by-side battle for third, nabbing the position on lap 35.
Reno’s Mia Wright spun on the front stretch on lap 36 to bring the race to its Mission Racing Style Tortilla Chips race break. Hand led Cancilla, Kennealy, Mayhew, and Carraway into the break for adjustments and interviews.
Mayhew fell backwards on the outside line on the restart while Cancilla ran all over the back bumper of Hand. Cancilla tried to muscle Hand in turn four on laps 49 and 51 to no avail. Cancilla finally muscled his way to the inside in turn two on lap 52, taking over the top spot on lap 53.
Hand tried to answer back on the outside before crossing over to the inside of Cancilla on the frontstretch on lap 54. Cancilla held court, taking the coveted seventh victory of the season followed by Hand, Kennealy, Mayhew, and Carraway.
Tyler Ridley won the 30-lap MST feature in which ten Mini Super Toyotas took the green flag. Tim Kammerer, Rian Bowman, and Patrick Geiger each led a lap during the first three laps of competition. Geiger paced Ridley throughout the main event. Lapped traffic reared its head, allowing Ridley to sweep past Geiger on the outside to lead lap 29.
Ridley led Geiger, Joseph Holliday, Kyle Labrie, and Thomas Magray at the checkered flag.
In INEX Bandolero competition, Kaine Bettancourt topped Andrew Williams in a 20-lap race.
Madera Speedway competes again on September 29 and 30 with the Harvest Classic, including the Speed Tour Super Modifieds on Saturday night.
For more information about the Madera Speedway including how to advertise with a race team on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or call the race office at 209-356-1968.
The 2023 season would not be possible without the support of Lunkerdaddy Fishing Lures, 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 5:00pm Pacific and 8:00pm Eastern.
2023 MADERA MAVTV LATE MODEL SCHEDULE
March 18 - $5,000-to-win
April 8
April 29
May 20 – Military Tribute Night
June 24 – Reverend Ron Spencer Red, White Blue Classic
July 22 - $5,000-to-win
August 26
September 16
October 7 - $10,000-to-win Short Track Shootout
SHELDEN COOPER BECOMES SIXTH DIFFERENT MAVTV MADERA PRO WINNER OF 2023
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (August 26, 2023) – Clovis’ Shelden Cooper earned his first career Lunkerdaddy Pro Late Model victory and became the sixth different 2023 MAVTV-televised Madera winner in Saturday’s 80-lap feature. The win keeps Cooper in the championship hunt and cements his run through the ranks of Madera, from Hobby Stock championships to Short Track Shootout B-Main wins, to a Pro triumph.
“I really need to thank my (family). They raised me to where if I want something I need to get off my butt and get it. I just spend hours and hours trying to get faster,” Cooper said. “Hunter (Holden) built a rocket ship. For a 22-year-old, I don’t know where he learned how to do this but he’s better than half the (crew chiefs) back there. This is my home track. This is a family run team.”
Cooper opened the afternoon with fast-time in qualifying. Cooper, from third in the standings, drew the two to lineup alongside the points leader Tyler Herzog of Fresno for the main event.
Herzog and Cooper raced side-by-side for the top spot at the start, separated by just .001 seconds on lap two. Cooper ran the outside to lead lap three but Herzog battled back on the bottom to lead lap five. Herzog was solidly in possession of the lead position by lap six.
A great duel developed behind Herzog with multiple cars scrambling for positions. Cooper and 2021 51FIFITY Jr. Late Model champion Brody Armtrout of Smartsville raced for second place. Loomis’ Kenna Mitchell worked underneath Armtrout to take third. The top six tightened up with Cooper retaking the lead from Herzog on lap 41. The green flag run ended when Matt Erickson of La Grange and Manteca’s Eric Nascimento, Jr. collided into turn three on lap 42.
Mitchell used the outside line to charge into the lead on lap 44. Mitchell then led Cooper, Armtrout, Herzog, and a returning Jay Juleson of San Jose at the lap 50 break.
Henry Barton of San Fransisco pounded the front stretch wall to bring out the yellow flag on the restart. On the following restart, Mitchell picked the inside line. Cooper capitalized, soaring past her to lead lap 51. Armtrout emerged from the pack in second, then attempted to close on Cooper. Cooper stepped up the pace considerably, running his best lap of the feature on lap 66.
Shelden Cooper darted ahead for a 1.486 second lead at the checkered flag over Cooper, Mitchell, Herzog, and Nascimento.
Martinez’ Vito Cancilla eclipsed 350 laps led in 2023 on the way to his sixth 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model win of the season in Saturday’s 70 lapper.
For the second consecutive weekend, second-place in points Chase Hand of Wilton led time trials over the field of drivers ages 10-16 years old. Hand and Cancilla made up the third row for the feature. Fourth in points Joey Kennealy of Madera led third in points Taylor Mayhew of Bakersfield to the green flag.
Cancilla was pinned on the outside line on the opening laps and drifted back to the ninth position. Kennealy, Mayhew, and Hand ran closely together for the top spot before a caution on lap seven for Mia Wright of Reno, NV spinning in turn four.
Bryson Brown of Las Vegas had to pit with a fuel line issue but was able to rejoin the race. 12-year-old Jace Hale spun out of the top-five in his debut race, collecting Lincoln’s 13-year-old Kylie Glick and Brown in a grinding crash. All three drivers were unhurt.
Hand used the restart to take the lead from Kennealy on lap nine. Kennealy fell back to fourth on the outside line. Cancilla made a big charge through the pack, advancing to second by lap 16. Cancilla hounded the back bumper of Hand for numerous laps, then took over the lead on lap 34. Hand slipped outside of the top-five with brakes issues. Cancilla led Taylor Mayhew of Bakersfield, Kennealy, Texan Tristan Pena, and Jacob Ryan of Livermore into the lap 40 break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews.
Cancilla drove to a 4.4 second lead on the restart before Hale and Pena collided for fifth on lap 62 for a caution flag. Ryan, Hailey Liles of Dinuba, and Pena crashed on the ensuing restart into turn one as well.
Hand took his shot for the lead with eight laps to go, driving underneath Cancilla. They raced side-by-side for a few laps before Cancilla was able to preserve the lead and drive to the win. Kennealy, Mayhew, and Cameron Carraway of Castro Valley rounded out the top-five finishers.
Kaine Betancourt won the 20-lap INEX Bandolero feature over Andrew Williams.
MAVTV-televised Late Model action returns to Madera Speedway on September 16 with the Lunkerdaddy Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Mini Super Toyotas, and INEX Bandoleros competing.
For more information about the Madera Speedway including how to advertise with a race team on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or call the race office at 209-356-1968.
The 2023 season would not be possible without the support of Lunkerdaddy Fishing Lures, 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 5:00pm Pacific and 8:00pm Eastern.
2023 MADERA MAVTV LATE MODEL SCHEDULE
March 18 - $5,000-to-win
April 8
April 29
May 20 – Military Tribute Night
June 24 – Reverend Ron Spencer Red, White Blue Classic
July 22 - $5,000-to-win
August 26
September 16
October 7 - $10,000-to-win Short Track Shootout
DREW CRENSHAW PERSEVERES TO WIN OLGA’S CALIFORNIA MINI STOCK DREAM 100 AT MADERA
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (August 19, 2023) – Nampa, Idaho’s Drew Crenshaw became the first front-wheel drive winner of the Olga’s California Dream 100 for Mini Stocks at Madera Speedway on Saturday night, overcoming an engine failure as he came to the checkered flag to get the $3,000 victory. The race was filmed for a later broadcast on Madera Racing on MAVTV and featured 45 Mini Stock entries from eight states and Canada dueling at the Central California one-third mile. Crenshaw continued the trend of Northwest drivers winning, now four-for-four in the Summer Classic.
“(After I went up in smoke) I hoped he wasn’t too close and I could coast the rest of the way,” Crenshaw said. “On lap 98 the whole right front started shaking so bad I couldn’t even turn into turn one. It means the world (to win). All the cars were pretty equal here. Next year, bring your car out and have a good time with us guys!”
Fred Vigil of Melba, Idaho led time trials at 16.148 seconds with 40 drivers taking qualifying times. Rocklin’s John Sproule won the 20-lap C-Main before 2022 California Dream 100 runner-up Cody Parenteau of Lakeside won the 20-lap B-Main.
23 entrants took the green flag with Mario Novelli of Roseville unable to start from the pole position. The top 20 drivers who qualified directly into the show started fully inverted. Troy Palmer of Boise led the way ahead of Jeff Durant of Clovis at the start. Durant then retired to the infield and his No. 3D car burst into flames. Safety crews were able to extinguish the blaze and the race stayed green.
Fifth-starting Kevin Thompson of Fresno charged forward, taking the lead on lap 13. Gary Klinetobe of Fortuna followed him into second. Thompson led Klinetobe through lapped traffic. Klinetobe then dove underneath Thompson to lead lap 22 as the race’s third leader.
The green flag run ended when Pasco, Washington’s Brad Rhoades had a serious fire in turn one on lap 26. He emerged from the smoke uninjured. 2022 winner Brian Boman of Rochester, Washington and Crenshaw had already advanced into the top-five by that stage of the event after starting 14th and 16th respectively.
Crenshaw made his presence known on the restart, rocketing to the lead by lap 30. Tyler Palmer of Jerome, Idaho spun and collected Dan Myrick of Clovis and Manteca’s Josh Cross for a caution on lap 44. Boman drove into second on the restart. Crenshaw led Boman, Klinetobe, Lucas Oil Modified champion Jim Mardis of Cherry Valley, and Vigil into the halfway break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews.
Vigil came to life in the second half driving past Mardis and Klinetobe to take third. Vigil then ran down Boman on the backstretch to nab second with a bump and run.
The pace picked up with Vigil clicking off the main event’s best lap on lap 56. Don Trafford of Nampa, Idaho grabbed fourth past Mardis on lap 60. Klinetobe faltered with brakes issues, slipping to seventh before being lapped on lap 74.
Crenshaw answered back to the challenge of Vigil’s pace by accumulating a sizeable lead before Vigil exited the race suddenly on lap 97 with mechanical woes. Coming to the white flag, Crenshaw himself went up in smoke. Crenshaw limped home to salvage an impressive 5.108 second win over Boman. Trafford, Dan Myrick of Clovis, and Klinetobe rounded out the top-five.
Bass Lake’s Mike Hensley held off Lunderdaddy Pro Late Model points leader Tyler Herzog to win the 40-lap Madera Late Model feature. Coarsegold’s Will Martyn finished in a career-best third.
Tyler Holden of Clovis overcame contact to win the 25-lap Hobby Stock feature over former champions Manny Gonzales, Jr. and Steve Schermerhorn.
Madera’s Joseph Holiday won his first career Mini Super Toyota feature, leading Tyler Ridley and Patrick Geiger at the checkered flag.
Racing action continues at Madera Speedway on August 26 with the Lunkerdaddy Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, and INEX Bandoleros scheduled to compete in round seven of their MAVTV-televised season.
For more information about the Madera Speedway including how to advertise with a race team on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or call the race office at 209-356-1968.
The 2023 season would not be possible without the support of Lunkerdaddy Fishing Lures, 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 5:00pm Pacific and 8:00pm Eastern.
2023 MADERA MAVTV LATE MODEL SCHEDULE
March 18 - $5,000-to-win
April 8
April 29
May 20 – Military Tribute Night
June 24 – Reverend Ron Spencer Red, White Blue Classic
July 22 - $5,000-to-win
August 26
September 16
October 7 - $10,000-to-win Short Track Shootout
JACOB SMITH LEADS WIRE-TO-WIRE FOR SUMMER SPEEDFEST $5,000 WIN AT MADERA
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (July 22, 2023) – Eagle, Idaho’s Jacob Smith led wire-to-wire in the 100-lap Summer SpeedFest for the MAVTV-televised Lunkerdaddy Pro Late Models, winning the $5,000 prize on a hot evening at the Madera Speedway. Smith became the first repeat winner through six rounds of competition and remains squarely in the title fight with Fresno’s Tyler Herzog with three rounds to go.
“Really just taking the bull by the horns at this race. No practice this morning and jumped into qualifying. Our halfway adjustment was right on,” Smith said. “Going a year and a half really just trying to make sure we have consistent speed. I’m excited to keep it going. I’m looking forward to these next three races.”
Mike Hensley of Bass Lake became the sixth different fast-time qualifier before the front row was made up of Madera’s Robbie Kennealy and Smith after the redraw. Brody Armtrout of Smartsville spun with a flat left rear tire on the backstretch, gathering up 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model points leader Vito Cancilla, age 11, and Hensley. Hensley and Armtrout were unable to continue.
Smith charged around the outside into the lead while Logan Zampa of Napa nabbed second as well. Kennealy eventually drifted backwards on the outside, falling to tenth on lap 17 and into the pits a few laps later with mechanical woes.
17th-starting Shelden Cooper of Clovis and Olivia Manke collided battling for eighth, with Manke spinning and both cars relegated to the rear after the caution on lap 22.
Ninth-starting Kenna Mitchell of Loomis emerged in second on the restart. Zampa challenged Mitchell on the inside on numerous occasions. The top four of Smith, Mitchell, Zampa, and 2022 champion Kyle Keller of Las Vegas lined up on the outside line nearly nose to tail. They ran that way into the lap 50 break with Herzog in tow from fifth.
Keller took over second from Mitchell on the restart while Cooper passed Zampa for fourth. Keller showed his nose briefly under Smith for the lead. The jockeying was halted when Rick Thompson of Fresno stopped in turn two on lap 60 for a caution.
Herzog battled to the outside of Mitchell for fourth while Cooper took over third. Zampa then clawed to the back bumper of Mitchell and they collided into turn one, sending Mitchell spinning out of the top-five on lap 73 and bringing out the caution. Both restarted at the rear.
Herzog passed Keller on the outside to take over the second position and Cooper attempted to follow suit. Manke drove all the way back to fifth after her earlier spin, passing Zampa. Zampa and Manke then crashed hard on the front stretch, with Manke’s car barreling into the inside k-rail and tires. She was uninjured but eliminated from contention.
Smith drove ahead over the final 18 laps for the coveted $5,000 SpeedFest prize. Herzog finished second followed by Keller, Cooper, and a resurgent Mitchell in fifth.
Martinez’ Vito Cancilla extended his championship lead with an outstanding fifth win of the season in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series. Cancilla led all 70-laps of round six for the drivers ages 10-16 years old.
Wilton’s Chase Hand entered the race with five consecutive second place finishes and topped Cancilla in qualifying. Cancilla drew the pole, however, and paced the race. Joey Kennealy of Madera and Taylor Mayhew of Bakersfield put on a furious battle for second on numerous tries throughout the night.
Kennealy dove underneath Mayhew at the start, but Mayhew drove around him on lap four to hold second. Hand and Henry Barton of San Francisco collided to bring out a caution on lap eight, sending both to the rear of the pack. Kennealy and Mayhew went side-by-side again, and again Mayhew held second on lap 12. Spins for Cam Carraway and Skyler Schoppe brought out additional brief cautions.
The race for second developed into a two-by-two spectacle before a serious crash halted racing. Las Vegas’ Bryson Brown rode over the left rear of Barton on the front stretch, clipping the flag stand before sliding the full length of the front stretch on his side against the wall. He stopped and rolled onto his roof to bring out a red flag on lap 34.
Brown was transported to a local hospital for precautionary measures and the scheduled lap 40 break arrived six laps early.
Kennealy, Hand, and Texan Tristan Pena all drove underneath Mayhew on the restart after the break for adjustments, relegating Mayhew to fifth position. Hand then knifed underneath Kennealy on the backstretch on lap 50 to complete the comeback run to second place.
Mayhew had a physical battle for third with Kennealy before a caution on lap 60 for a spin for Kylie Glick of Lincoln. A wild final sequence saw several drivers battle for second through fifth. Cancilla prevailed by a scant .489 second advantage over Hand, Kennealy, Mayhew, and Pena at the checkered flag.
Bakersfield’s Colton Page won the INEX Legends Tour Series 40-lap feature. Carson City, Nevada’s Nick Halen was the early race leader with a dragging bumper, which Page repeatedly tagged throughout the event.
The leaders drove into lapped traffic by lap 17. A three-wide maneuver saw Page nearly steal the lead on the outside on lap 23. They raced side-by-side down the backstretch with Page taking car No. 24P to the lead on lap 24.
Stockton’s Donny Darter spun on lap 26. Bakersfield’s Eddie Garone used the restart to drive high, wide, and handsome up to challenge for second. Darter and Jim Clark came together in an incident that sent Darter through the infield for a caution.
Page earned the win over Halen, Garone, Nathan Quella of Yorba Linda, and Tracy’s Brendan Ruzbarsky.
Las Vegas’ Keaton Harbison won the 15-lap INEX Bandolero feature in his Madera debut.
Madera Speedway returns to circle track action on Saturday August 19 with the Olga’s California Dream 100 for Mini Stocks.
For more information about the Madera Speedway including how to advertise with a race team on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or call the race office at 209-356-1968.
The 2023 season would not be possible without the support of Lunkerdaddy Fishing Lures, 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 5:00pm Pacific and 8:00pm Eastern.
2023 MADERA MAVTV LATE MODEL SCHEDULE
March 18 - $5,000-to-win
April 8
April 29
May 20 – Military Tribute Night
June 24 – Reverend Ron Spencer Red, White Blue Classic
July 22 - $5,000-to-win
August 26
September 16
October 7 - $10,000-to-win Short Track Shootout
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