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Jr Late Model Drivers Win Big
MADERA, CALIF. (August 1st, 2020) – The Madera Speedway has been the scene for many innovations in motorsports over the 50 year history of the track and one of the latest has been the invention of Jr Late Model racing with the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series on MAVTV, and fans watching last night on ShortTrack TV were treated to another sample of how the young stars from the series are making their mark on the sport.
The August 1st club race was held in accordance with current state, county, and local health guidelines. Race fans cannot attend these events at this time, but Madera Speedway is has invested heavily into a high-quality live stream production that is free to our fans to enjoy thanks to support from Nut Up Industries. Please visit www.nutup.com and place an order today to say thank you and use the code MAVTV20 at checkout for a 20% discount.
The Legends of Kearney Bowl was the opening act for the night with their 15 lap main event that followed opening ceremonies.
Fans from all over the planet tuned into ShortTrack TV to watch the August 1st club race featuring a big line up of racing action led by the hard-hitting Southwest Truck Tour. Austin Edwards is a former winner on MAVTV in the 51FIFTY Jr Late Model Series and he showed his ability to navigate the fastest 1/3 mile in the west and an intense group of drivers in the first 30 lap main event of the twin races. Edwards won the first main of the Southwest Trucks followed by Ronnie Davis and Brent Adams for the top three.
Kyle Keller is another rising star that currently competes in the 51FIFTY Jr Late Model Series and Kyle has been with the series from the early days. The Madera Late Models features a group of drivers competing for a championship in the club series as well as MAVTV drivers that venture in for a race or two here and there to tune up for the nationwide coverage on television.
Keller found some speed over the weekend using the club race as a tune up for TV but he had to battle a hard charging Shelden Cooper and Loren Kutz that also found some speed over the weekend. Speaking of speed, the trio ran lap times that would have firmly placed them into the upper dozen cars in the Nut Up Pro Late Model MAVTV series.
Kutz charged past Cooper for second with just a handful of laps remaining and then a caution came out setting up a front row battle between young Kyle Keller and the hard charging veteran Loren Kutz with Cooper, Del McIntosh, Lilly Mead, Trevor Schlundt, Mike Shapiro, Howard Holden, Hailie Liles, and Jon Schlundt all lurking right behind them ready to jump if the opportunity came up.
Keller took the bottom on the restart and as he hit the throttle in the start box Loren Kutz responded with a big move on the gas peddle but smoked his tires and that set up a battle for second place with Kutz and Cooper as Keller drove off into the sunset towards victory lane.
Keller won the 40 lap feature followed by Cooper, Kutz, McIntosh, Mead, Schlundt, Shapiro, Holden, Liles and Jon Schlundt for the top ten in the Madera Late Model Club race.
Dennis Saunders picked up a Hobby Stock win back in June and he put on a show battling with Tyler Rodgers and Manny Gonzales Jr, with new comers Don Mead and Brian Childers running behind them. But they all had a big problem as they were chasing a Herzog that led the entire race. It wasn’t third generation Austin Herzog, and it wasn’t second generation Bryan Herzog, it was the original championship winning Herzog, Richard Herzog. Rodgers looked as though he was going to challenge Herzog for the top spot until a steering part failed causing him to drop back from leader. Richard won the race followed by Dennis Saunders and Manny Gonzales making up the top three.
Up Next it was time for the CVMS mini stocks and this is one of the groups that always has the most fun at any track they visit. Brothers Baronian battled each other for the win with a full pack of hard charging drivers fighting for the last spot on the podium. When the checkers flew it was Rod Baronian that used a three-wide move in lapped traffic to escape the pressure from his bother to secure the victory. Greg Baronian came home second followed by Steven Brown rounding out the top three.
Shaun Reynolds battled past his brother Ryan and Smokin Dirt Bert Stephens for the victory in the MST class and Andrew Parr won the Toyota Sedan race.
The Southwest Tour Truck Series returned for their second thirty lap main event and all but just one truck started the second main which was pretty amazing considering they tore the tailgates off just about every truck in the first main.
The truck drivers picked up right where they left off with their hard charging brand of racing and it was Ricky Bogart that established himself as the leader and he commanded the lead for the majority of the race until young Austin Edwards ran Bogart down setting up a battle for the win with a handful of laps remaining in the 30 lap event. Bogart had lost his breaks midway through the race causing him to lift early in the turns to hold the bottom while Edwards was charging into the corners. This turned out to be a bad combination as Edwards got into the back of Bogart turning him around in turn three causing a caution to fly sending both drivers to the rear of the field.
On the restart with just four laps remaining it was seventeen year old Parker Jones on the pole with Ed Cutler outside setting up a sprint to the checkers. The green flag flew and the action was intense as Bogart and Edwards came forward while Jones held off Cutler. When the twin checkers went into the air on the final lap is was Parker picking up his first victory at Madera followed by Bogart, Cutler, Edwards and Youngren making up the top five.
The Nut Up Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models will return to action on August 8th for round number four of the nine race championship. The events will be streamed live to Short Track TV on YouTube as we are filming the MAVTV production, free of charge thanks to Nut Up Industries.
For information about Madera Speedway, visit www.RaceMadera.com The 2020 season would not be possible without the support of Nut Up Industries, 51FIFTY, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio and Sunoco Race Fuel.
DOSS CLAIMS RACE 2B DRUG FREE CASH WITH LUCRATIVE VICTORY AT MADERA
MADERA, CALIF. (July 25, 2020) – Jeremy Doss of Upper Lake, CA added another major event trophy to his growing collection, grabbing the $5,000 round one of the Race 2B Drug Free Big3 at Madera Speedway on Saturday night. Doss outfoxed multi-time NASCAR California State Champion Trevor Huddleston and two-time Nut Up Pro Late Model Champion Buddy Shepherd of Bakersfield for the victory.
The event served as round three of the Nut Up Pro Late Model Series as well and was streamed live for free to race fans due to the COVID-19 Pandemic closing the grandstands. The event will be telecast later this fall on MAVTV as well.
The initial start of the 100-lap feature saw a multi-car skirmish into turn one. On the next attempt, 2019 Nut Up Pro Late Model champion Austin Herzog of Clovis led the opening lap. Shepherd went around the outside of Napa’s Logan Zampa to take third on lap eight. Doss clamped down on Herzog and looked inside for the lead on the front stretch on lap 14. Doss took over the top spot on lap 15.
Shepherd then attacked Herzog, with the pair running side-by-side before contact into turn one on lap 18. Both Shepherd and Huddleston passed Herzog as a result. Herzog eventually drifted to seventh in front of Bakersfield’s Racin Vernon.
A caution flew on lap 38 for Michael Mitchell and Shelden Cooper making contact in turn four. On the restart, Shepherd and Huddleston had contact on the front stretch but managed to keep going. Ross Strmiska and Logan Zampa went side-by-side for fourth with Dylan Zampa also entering the discussion for the position.
The Zampa cars made contact coming to the halfway break, with Logan spinning one lap early with 49 laps officially scored complete.
Doss picked the inside on the restart out of the break for MAVTV interviews and adjustments. The decision went in Huddleston’s favor with the Irwindale champion charging past Shepherd in turn two to lead lap 50. Huddleston’s teammate Dean Thompson emerged on the restart in fifth after starting ninth.
Mtichell’s night ended with a hard crash that involved Oklahoma’s Holley Hollan on lap 65. Racin Vernon retired to the pits with a broken rear end as well. Huddleston, despite taking the lead on the outside, picked the inside for the upcoming restart. Doss took advantage to drive past Huddleston in an identical maneuver. Huddleston fell into a great battle with Buddy Shepherd that went back-and-forth on several occasions. Huddleston and Shepherd even made contact on lap 83 but Shepherd drove away.
Shepherd ran his best lap of the main event on lap 87 but it was too little too late as Jeremy Doss claimed the $5,000 Race 2B Drug Free Big3 100-lap feature win. Doss, Huddleston, Ross Strmiska, and Carlos Vieira rounded out the top-five.
The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series featured a first-time winner who also became the new points leader. 14-year-old Bradley Erickson of Phoenix, AZ claimed fast-time and the 70-lap main event win over a field of 20 drivers ages 10-16 years old.
An all-female front row saw Colorado’s Holly Clark lead Bakersfield’s Kercie Jung after lap one. Jung found herself mired back in fifth early on after getting hung out on the top.
Erickson started to challenge Clark for the lead before a caution flew. Incoming points leader Seth Wise of Bakersfield had contact with Idaho’s Jody Moen, with Wise suffering some front-end damage.
Wise continued on while Erickson started outside Clark on the restart. Erickson used the top to his advantage to take the lead. Erickson picked the outside on each successive restart, while Jung took over third from Jake Bollman on lap 23. Jung then inherited second when Clark slid into turn one on lap 30. A lap later, Cody Kiemele’s night ended in a hard crash on the backstretch.
An incident involving Clark and Bollman brought out the scheduled break a lap early on lap 39. On the restart, a repaired Seth Wise led a train of cars past Jadan Walbridge. Walbridge ended up falling from third to sixth in the process.
Erickson used the outside throughout three additional restarts to maintain the lead over Jung en route to the victory. Jung equalled a series best finish for a female competitor with her second place effort. Wise, Bakesfield’s Kabe McClenny and Cole Brown rounded out the top-five.
Bradley Erickson’s 11-year-old brother Jeffrey Erickson won his third Bandolero main event of the 2020 season on Saturday night as well. Linden’s Wyatt Sansom managed to take the lead on several occasions during the caution-filled 30-lap feature. Erickson was able to claw back to Sansom within a lap or two on each try, however, making the final pass for the lead on lap 14.
Joey Kennealy rounded out the top-three in the Bandoleros while the Mini Cup race within a race saw Tracy’s Rebecca Dubie win her third consecutive event as well.
For information about Madera Speedway, visit www.RaceMadera.com The 2020 season would not be possible without the support of Nut Up Industries, 51FIFTY LTM, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
BAKERSFIELD DRIVERS CONTINUE TO REIGN AS SHEPHERD AND WISE REPEAT AT MADERA
MADERA, CALIF. (July 11, 2020) – The drivers from the streets of Bakersfield continue to dominate the season at Madera Speedway, with Buddy Shepherd and Seth Wise repeating for their second 2020 wins in the MAVTV-televised Late Model competition at the one-third mile oval. Shepherd, the two-time Nut Up Pro Late Model champion, recovered from bouncing off the wall to win the 80-lap contest.
“From the last time to when he ran her two weeks ago, to today, Matt (Eshleman) has improved so much crew cheifing this thing. At the halfway it wasn’t too looking too good out there after getting into the wall,” Shepherd said. “This car is really good. I never thought I would be in a crate car. This season sure has been off to a strong start but we know it can go south really quick.”
Shepherd led time trials but it was four-time 2019 winner Jeremy Doss drawing the pole after the redraw. Loomis’ Michael Mitchell used a slide job to move past Blaine Rocha for second and brought Matt Erickson with him into third.
Shepherd started eighth and bounced off the backstretch wall but continued. The caution flew on lap 14 with John McCollum Jr. spinning in turn two. Doss restarted inside Mitchell, allowing Erickson to knife into second position.
2019 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model champion Joey Iest of Madera slid into the front stretch wall, sparking a multi-car crash that also ended the race for Hans Beeler. Iest was uninjured.
Erickson used the outside line to sweep past Doss for the lead on lap 18. Shepherd advanced quickly back through the pack to take fifth on lap 33. Doss hounded Erickson, before an incident for the lead in turn one. The contact sent Erickson spinning and relegated Doss to the rear as well.
With 16 laps to go to the break, car no. 16 assumed the lead with Mitchell at the point. The lead was short lived as Shepherd clamped down. Shepherd took over the top spot on lap 39. He led the final 11 laps into the lap 50 break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews.
Coming out of the break, Dylan Zampa moved inside Mitchell but Mitchell was able to drive off the outside to maintain second. Doss moved forward to fifth position after the restart while Ryan Philpott and Mitchell battled for third. Mitchell ended up getting freight trained back to eighth in the closing laps but all the battling was far behind Buddy Shepherd. Shepherd won by 2.396 seconds over Dylan Zampa, Philpott, Doss, and Rocha.
Seth Wise outfoxed 17 of the best drivers ages 10-16 years old for his third consecutive 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series victory. Wise made the decisive pass on lap 53 for the win and remains the only active driver in the division with a victory.
The opening lap took several attempts to get into the books. Brody Armtrout and Cody Kiemele collided for a caution in turn three after a three-wide attempt. On the restart, red flags flew when Kasey Kleyn ended up parked on top of Cassidy Hinds in turn one. Both were able to return to the race, however. Wise took the lead and ran side-by-side with Arizona’s Bradley Erickson for several laps.
Their side-by-side battle resumed coming out of the lap 40 break for MAVTV interviews and adjustments before Wise edged ahead. Jadan Walbridge used the outside groove to get around Kercie Jung for third, then Walbridge approached Erickson for second. The caution waved on lap 50 for Armtrout going around in turn four. On the restart, Erickson used the outside to take over the top spot. Wise fought back, using a slingshot maneuver out of turn two to retake the lead. Wise topped Erickson, Walbridge, Jung, and Cole Brown as the top-five finishers.
Jeffery Erickson won his second consecutive Bandolero race and Rebecca Dubie won her second straight Mini Cup main event as well in the Mini Cup vs. Bandoleros competition. Nathaniel Edwards overcame a spin to finish second in the Bandos ahead of Trenton Eurto.
Madera Speedway’s MAVTV-televised racing continues July 25th with round #1 of the Race 2B Drug Free Big3 for $5,000 to win for the Nut Up Pro Late Models. 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models and Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros will also be competing.
For information about Madera Speedway, visit www.RaceMadera.com The 2020 season would not be possible without the support of Nut Up Industries, 51FIFTY LTM, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
RACE 2B DRUG FREE BIG3 SERIES ANNOUNCED FOR MADERA SPEEDWAY
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (November 22, 2019) – The Carlos Vieira Foundation and their Race 2B Drug Free Campaign have joined forces with the Madera Speedway to support the MAVTV-televised Nut Up Pro Late Model Series. An additional $75,000 will be up for grabs during the Race 2B Drug Free BIG 3 on March 14, July 25, and October 3.
Both the season opener on March 14 and the Summer Speedfest on July 25 will pay $5,000 to win with $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. The Short Track Shootout finale on October 3 pays $10,000 to win, $5,000 for second, and $2,500 for third. Each night’s B Main event will also see exciting purse increases, with $1,500 to win followed by $750 for second and $500 for third.
Drivers in the BIG 3 will be competing for a special point fund with $5,000 for the champion, $2,500 for second, and $1,000 for third.
A $10,000 bonus has been offered if any driver can sweep all three races. A $10,000 “Triple Main Challenge” will be offered for the fast-time qualifier. If that driver can win the C Main, B Main, and feature all from the rear of the field they will win the bonus. An additional $5,000 bonus will be awarded if a driver can sweep all three fast-time awards. $5,000 bonuses have also been posted for finishing in the top-three in all three races, leading the most laps in all three BIG 3 races, and a bonus for winning all three B Mains.
“I love the sport of racing and I believe that this sport is a great way to help in deterring some kids and adults from going down the wrong path in their life. Through our foundation and our Race 2B Drug Free Campaign, we are continually supporting ways to help kids stay away from drugs,” Carlos Vieira said.
The Race 2B Drug Free sponsors motivational speakers to visit schools, speaking first-hand about the consequences associated with experimenting with drugs. The foundation also helps by providing a safe place for kids to go after school. Carlos Vieira Foundation sponsors a free, afterschool boxing and Jujitsu program where kids can positively release aggression and self-threatening behavior. They help youth replace it with learning discipline, camaraderie, and self-wellness.
“By sponsoring the BIG 3 Race Series, we are hoping to support a successful event in which kids and adults can look forward to the sport of racing, which is thrilling and exhilarating but does not involve being out in the streets and getting in trouble,” Vieira said.
“We are passionate about youth in our community and partnering with the Carlos Vieira Foundation to gain more awareness for the Race 2B Drug Free campaign is a great way to bring more people to the Madera Speedway that would otherwise not gain exposure to our sport,” Promoter Kenny Shepherd said. “I also see this as a great opportunity for us to use the platform we have with the speedway and our MAVTV show to raise awareness for the campaign. We came up with the three-race series that will create record amounts of prize money available for the drivers while at the same time promoting a great cause.”
All nine races for the Nut Up Pro Late Models are televised on MAVTV as well as the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series. $2,000 will be offered to the Pro Late Model winner on April 4, April 28, May 23, June 27, August 22, and September 19 in addition to the Race 2B Drug Free BIG 3 events.
For more information about Madera Racing on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or www.mavtv.com. For more information on Nut Up Industries please visit www.nutupindustries.com and for more information about 51FIFTY visit www.51fiftyltm.com The Carlos Vieira Foundation is online at www.carlosvieirafoundation.org
Madera Speedway is presented by major partners Nut Up Industries, 51FIFTY, iPull-uPull, and Color Fast Industries. Contingency sponsors include Five Star Bodies, Maita Motorsports, McCallister Precision Marketing, and StopTech Brakes.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Thursdays 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. The seventh round of the 2019 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series airs on December 5th!
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