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MATT ERICKSON STAGES COMEBACK DRIVE TO WIN MISSION PRO LATE MODELS IN MADERA
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (April 5, 2025) – Multi-time Madera Speedway Mission Pro Late Model champion Matt Erickson of La Grange put on a driving clinic on Saturday night, soaring through the pack to win the 80-lap round two for the RACER Network-televised series. Erickson’s win on the one-third mile oval paid $2,000 to win.
Erickson led time trials by just .002 seconds over San Jose’s Jay Juleson, but stretched out his lead to much more than that in the second half of Saturday’s feature.
“Surprising how good and how maneuverable the car was on old tires,” Erickson said. “Car was pretty good and I could put it anywhere I wanted to. I didn’t want to see that last caution. Restarts are almost everything.”
Juleson drew the pole after the redraw while Erickson had to work from sixth on the grid. Erickson used the outside to make quick work of several drivers, advancing to third by just the fourth lap.
A restart on lap six gave Erickson an opportunity to challenge Will Martyn of Coarsegold for second. Martyn then spun in turn one on lap 12, with Erickson having to stop to avoid him. Both drivers had to restart at the back of the field.
Jason Aguirre of Atwater drove to the outside of Juleson for the lead, leading lap 13 by just .013 seconds. Mike Hensley of Bass Lake then spun on the backstretch to bring out the caution. Aguirre went inside of Juleson on the restart to maintain the top spot. Fresno’s Rick Thompson then drove into second past Juleson as well.
Juleson clawed back to Thompson, taking second on lap 21. Erickson methodically drove through the pack, passing Thompson for third on lap 31. Agurire and Juleson ran nose to tail with a 2.5 second advantage at that stage of the race.
By lap 43, Erickson had tracked down the leaders already and the trio ran in lockstep. Erickson was not content to ride into the lap 50 break. He drove past Juleson for second on lap 46, using a lapped car as a pick. He then executed a slidejob off of turn four to top Aguirre at the line for the break. Juleson was third followed by Martyn and Thomspon.
On the lap 50 restart, Aguirre and Erickson made contact heading into turn one. Erickson stayed in the gas and motored away down the backstretch. Juleson and Thompson battled side-by-side for third for 14 laps. A caution on lap 64 allowed Rick Thompson a shot on the outside of Aguirre for second.
Erickson won by 1.949 seconds followed by Aguirre, Juleson, Thompson, and Martyn.
Clovis’ Skyler Schoppe, age 14, won his first career 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series race. Schoppe won the 70-lap feature after withstanding several challengers.
Oregon City, Oregon’s James Hamlin led time trials to start on the pole position. Third starting Eli Black of Santa Rosa, the 12-year-old opening night winner, passed Schoppe for second on lap four. Black challenged Hamlin in a closely matched battle. The battle boiled over on lap 25 when Black and Hamlin collided in turn one, sending Hamlin for a spin and relegating both drivers to restart at the rear.
The incident placed Schoppe into the lead but he was not without challenges. A series of cautions allowed Hamlin to use the choose cone to advance to the outside of the front row. Hamlin drove around the outside of Schoppe to lead lap 29 but was called for jumping the start. Hamlin fell back to fourth while relinquishing the lead. Hamlin then collided with Washington’s Hunter Gates for third on lap 32.
The race went into its scheduled lap 40 break early after Bristol Borneman of Ramona spun from third on lap 37. Schoppe led the field into the break over Black, Gates, Hamlin, and Byron Borneman.
On the restart Schoppe continued to hold the lead. A caution on lap 51 gave Eli Black an opportunity to challenge for the lead but Schoppe kept the point. Skyler Schoppe topped the 70-lap feature, followed by Black, Gates, Hamlin, and Bristol Borneman.
Logan Chambers won his second consecutive INEX Legends 30-lap feature at Madera Speedway. Chambers won a Bakersfield battle between Chambers and Colton Page. Page tried multiple attempts to take the lead to no avail. Bakersfield’s Eddie Garone finished third.
The Pro Sportsman division made their first appearance of the season with Madera’s Joseph Holiday leading wire-to-wire in the 30-lap event. Steve Schermerhorn and Joseph Reichmuth rounded out the podium finishers.
The televised Madera Speedway action resumes on May 3 for round three of the RACER-televised series.
The 2025 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Sealmaster.
Madera Racing on RACER Network airs Monday nights. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.
AUSTIN HERZOG WITHSTANDS CHALLENGES FOR $5,000 MADERA SPEEDFEST VICTORY
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (March 22, 2025) – 2019 Mission Pro Late Model champion Austin Herzog of Clovis swept around the outside of 2022 series champion Kyle Keller, then fended off Ethan Nascimento, to win the season-opening $5,000 to win, 100-lap feature at Madera Speedway.
“It feels awesome. We were struggling with the car...a little bit yesterday. Huge thank you to this group of guys,” Herzog said. “(The top) was just where the car liked it. I was just a little snug there on the bottom all weekend.”
The Madera SpeedFest saw Keller claim quick time and grab the pole position against a 15-car field of Pro Late Models.
Veteran driver Rick Thompson of Fresno drew the third position and held it throughout the opening green flag run. A lap 16 restart undid Thompson’s night when his car stumbled, collecting Jason Aguirre to bring out a caution flag.
Eighth-starting Herzog and tenth-starting Nascimento started to make progress, overhauling Mariposa’s Glen Cook for fourth and fifth. Matt Erickson ran second throughout the first half of the race. Erickson chose the outside line for a lap 44 restart, working the outside of Keller to take the lead.
Erickson led Keller, Shelden Cooper, Nascimento, and Herzog at the lap 50 break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews.
Keller used the inside line on a lap 54 restart to retake the top position from Erickson. Erickson then battled hard with Nascimento for second. Nascimento and Erickson collided in turns one and two, sending Erickson into a spin on the exit of the corner for a lap 64 caution. Both drivers had to restart at the rear. Erickson then tagged Nascimento for a subsequent spin and caution on lap 69.
A lap 74 restart presented the opportunity for Herzog to take the lead from Keller. Herzog started outside of Keller with Bubba Nascimento on the inside of row two. Nascimento and Keller collided, allowing Herzog to sweep around the outside to lead lap 75. A quick caution gave Keller a chance to battle back on the inside to lead lap 76 before Herzog had the lead in hand on lap 77.
Glen Cook spun battling with Erickson for sixth, requiring a caution flag on lap 91. Ethan Nascimento built up a head of steam on the outside to drive past Keller for second. Herzog fended off Nascimento for the narrow victory followed by Keller in third. Bubba Nascimento and Matt Erickson rounded out the top-five.
Santa Rosa’s Eli Black won his first career 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series feature, leading the field of drivers ages 10-16 years old in a flag-to-flag performance after 70-laps of racing. Five drivers made their series debut and none of the feature starters had a career victory.
The race was started straight up off time trials, placing Black on the pole. Fourth starting Skyler Schoppe immediately jumped into second. Schoppe hounded Black throughout the non-stop opening 40-lap segment. Tight quarters racing in lapped traffic did not deter the young drivers, with Black leading Schoppe into the race break. Oregon’s James Hamlin, Madera’s Kellen Keller, and Washington’s Hunter Gates were the top-five at the break.
Schoppe continued to challenge Black in the second segment. The race’s only caution flew when 11-year-old Byron Borneman of Ramona, Calif. spun on the backstretch on lap 55. Black maintained the lead over Schoppe with Hamlin successfully winning third over Keller. Gates rounded out the top-five.
Logan Chambers of Bakersfield won the INEX Legends 30-lap feature after starting seventh. Kyle Labrie led the first two laps before Chad Nascimento took the lead on lap three. Chambers advanced up third by lap four. Nascimento slowed with a mechanical issue, allowing Bakersfield’s Colton Page to lead lap ten.
Page himself suffered a surprising loss of pace coming out of turn two, thrusting Chambers into the lead on lap 19. Chambers topped Tracy’s Brenden Ruzbarsky, Page, Bakersfield’s Eddie Garone, and pole sitter Daniel Shamoon of Clovis at the finish.
Madera Speedway returns on April 5th with the second rounds for the MAVTV-televised Mission Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models plus INEX Legends, INEX Bandoleros, and Pro Sportsman competing.
The 2025 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Sealmaster.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 6pm Pacific and 9pm Eastern. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.
MADERA SPEEDWAY READY FOR 54TH SEASON OF RACING ACTION WITH 2025 SCHEDULE
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (December 13, 2024) – Madera Speedway has released its 2025 schedule of events, with the fastest one-third mile in the west gearing up for a 54th season of racing. The MAVTV-televised Madera Pro Late Model Series and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series return for a nine race engagement, surrounded by several special annual events as well.
The MAVTV-televised Late Model slate kicks off with the Speed Fest on March 15 featuring 200 laps of Pro Late Model action along with INEX Legends and INEX Bandoleros in their first points-paying action of the year. The INEX Legends will participate in eight of the nine televised events while Bandoleros will be featured in all nine rounds.
Additional Pro and Jr. Late Model events are on April 5, May 3, May 31, June 21, July 19, August 23, and September 20, leading into the championship finale on October 18 for the 14th Annual Short Track Shootout 250.
The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series for drivers ages 10-16 continues its tradition of developing the next great generation of stock car racers. Series graduates are making their mark, with Jesse Love claiming the NASCAR XFINITY Series Rookie of the Year, Sean Hingorani claiming his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series West title, and Hailie Deegan set for a full-time run in the Indy NXT Series.
Race fans will be treated to the all-new Mission Modifieds Series for three engagements on May 31, July 19, and August 23.
Track championships will also be awarded in the Club Late Models, Pro Sportsman, and Mini Super Toyotas.
Other special events include the 52nd Annual Harvest Classic on September 27 with the ARCA Menards Series West and Speed Tour Super Modifieds competing. The Olga’s California Dream 100 brings the best Mini Stock racers in the west to the speedway on August 16. The 19th Annual Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash Enduro is set for October 25 with the Golden State Invitational Truck and Tractor Pulls ending the season on November 7 and 8.
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 2025 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Sealmaster.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 6pm Pacific and 9pm Eastern. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.
2025 Tentative Major Event Schedule (complete schedule at www.RaceMadera.com)
March 15 - Speed Fest 200 MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros
April 5 - MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros, Sportsman, MST
May 3 - MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros, Sportsman, MST
May 31 - MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Bandoleros, Mission Modifieds, Sportsman, MST
June 21 - MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros, Sportsman, MST
July 19 - MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros, Mission Modifieds, Sportsman, MST
August 16 - MAVTV Olga's California Dream Pro Mini Stock 100, Sportsman, MST
August 23 - MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros, Mission Modifieds
September 20 - MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros, Sportsman, MST
September 27 - 52nd Harvest Classic ARCA Menards Series, West and SpeedTour Super Modifieds
October 18 - 13th Annual Short Track Shootout 250 MAVTV Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Legends, Bandoleros
October 25 - 19th Annual Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash MAVTV Enduro
WASHINGTON’S ANDY BROWN TAKES THE FIFTH ANNUAL OLGAS CALIFORNIA DREAM 100
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (August 17, 2024) – Spokane, Washington’s Andy Brown won fast-time, overcame a 20-car inversion, and stormed to victory lane in the MAVTV-televised Olga’s California Dream on Saturday night at Madera Speedway. The fifth annual event attracted over 40 Mini Stock participants to the pit area for the 100-lap grind on the one-third mile speedway.
“This is awesome. I’ve won a couple late model races in the Northwest but this awesome,” Brown said. “Can’t thank everybody enough. I’ve got the best friends and family. I can’t believe it!”
“I was getting tired; I’m not going to lie. It’s pretty good when the car is good like that,” Brown said.
The 20-lap Chad’s Quick Auto C-Main was claimed by Chris Moloso of North Bend, Oregon while the Impel Motorsports B-Main went to Mitchell Mohler of Valley Center, CA.
2023 runner-up Cody Parenteau of Lakeside led the opening lap of the 24-car feature. 2023 winner Drew Crenshaw of Nampa, ID took the lead on lap two. Colton Schultz of Spokane, winner of the fast-dash, went up in smoke for a caution on lap eight.
Joe Flower of Stockton got sideways in front of the pack on the restart but everyone avoided him with the race staying green. Crenshaw led the field into lapped traffic on lap 16. Casey Jeske of Spokane led the Jeske three-car assault when he advanced to second. Jeske then seized the lead on lap 32.
Crenshaw suffered a flat right front tire and lost laps in the infield. Terry Armstrong of Spokane faltered from fourth position. The No. 168 of Mitch Jeske closed in on his son Casey and took the lead on lap 42. A huge fire underneath the hood of Idaho’s Mike Anderson brought out a red flag on lap 44 and brought the race to its scheduled halfway break six laps early. Andy Brown had advanced to fifth by that point.
Casey Jeske retook the lead on lap 46 before a caution for Flower’s car suffering a fire. Justin Carson of Utah and Parenteau tangled in turn one for a caution on lap 49.
Brown started rolling the outside line and took over third on lap 52. Then Mitch Jeske dropped out of the race on lap 56. Brown continued to roll, sweeping past Casey Jeske to lead lap 59. Parenteau and fifth-running Bryce Rupert clashed in turn one to set up a shootout final 28 lap segment for the feature.
Despite a furious challenge from Brad Rhoads of Pasco, Washington, Brown held the lead as they darted in and out of lapped traffic. Brown won by a car length followed by Rhoads, Camron Jeske of Spokane, Gary Cagle of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Rupert.
Chase Hand earned his first career Pro Late Model victory when he led wire-to-wire in the Madera Late Model feature. The event was shortened after several incidents, including a multi-car crash in turn four. Olivia Manke and Matt Erickson collided in the fourth turn, gobbling up over half of the field. Jason Aguirre of Atwater darted to the right to avoid and hit the wall to end his event.
Hand topped Will Martyn of Coarsegold who debuted a new race car to finish second. Trevor Schlundt, Rick Thompson, and birthday boy Loren Kutz rounded out the top-five.
“Super” Steve Schermerhorn dominated all 30-laps of the Pro Sportsman feature ahead of “Wingnut” Brian Taylor and Drew Ries. Schermerhorn extended his points lead as well.
Patrick Geiger won his fifth Mini Super Toyota feature of the season, taking the 30-lap contest. A caution fell on lap 18 for Joseph Holliday going up in smoke on the front stretch and stopping at the start finish line. Geiger and Ryan Reynolds lined up alongside of each other with 12 laps to go. Geiger motored ahead of Reynolds while Reynolds topped Shay Gouldy for second position. Gouldy settled for third.
Madera Speedway races again on Saturday August 24th with the MAVTV-televised Pro Late Model Series powered by Mission Foods and the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series in action for round seven of their championships. INEX Legends, INEX Bandoleros, Pro Sportsman, and Mini Super Toyotas will also be 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 2024 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Sealmaster.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 6pm Pacific and 9pm Eastern. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.