WASHINGTON’S ARMSTRONG PROVES TO STRONG IN DREAM 100

 

MADERA, Calif. (August 29th, 2021) – The 2nd running of Olga’s California Dream 100 for Pro Mini Stocks roared to life Saturday night and the race was an intense, fast-paced event filmed for MAVTV. A blistering pace was set for the 100 lap event and when the double checkered flags went high in the sky it was Washington’s Terry Armstrong that was victorious with a $2,000 check for his efforts.

 

With watering eyes in victory lane Armstrong said “It’s been a year in the making and we worked hard the entire year to take that trophy and check home”.  Armstrong faltered with mechanical issues in 2020 at the inaugural running of the Olga’s California Dream 100, but that would not be the case for the 2021 version of the Dream 100.

 

Armstrong’s path to victory lane was not an easy one, when the race started it was Jeff Durant that led the first ten laps until he was overtaken by Oregon’s Karl Smith with the rest of the pack three and four wide behind them. Then on lap eleven the second-place car of John Soares broke and he went from a potential race winner to parked in the pits.

 

Just a few laps later Justin Carson ran down the race leader Smith in traffic and it was game on when the third-place car of Terry Armstrong entered the picture as the leaders where nose to tail in traffic. Smith made a wrong move in traffic and that allowed Justin Carson and Terry Armstrong to slip by for first and second.

 

Lap 20 to lap 46 was filled with nose to tail and side by side action from the three leaders and Armstrong took a shot at the lead but Carson was able to hold off many attempts for the front spot, but on a restart on lap 45 Carson’s car broke giving Armstrong the lead for the halfway break.

 

After interviews and mechanical adjustments the leaders picked up right where they left as the second half of the race started, but a new player emerged and his name was Fred Vigil, aka Fast Freddie from Idaho and he had a strategy to save his car for the first half and then go hammer down for the win in the second half. That plan nearly worked out as he hounded Armstrong for lead the entire second half with Karl Smith right in the mix as well.

 

There was a final restart with just a few laps remaining and it looked as though we would have a three-way battle for the top spot but Vigil and Smith got together fighting tooth and nail for the second spot and Armstrong slipped off to the $2,000.00 victory on television with Vigil second and Smith third.

 

“Olga's California Dream 100 is one of my favorite events we have hosted,” Madera Speedway promoter Kenny Shepherd said. “Bob Coply and the teams are among the nicest people we have ever met and they worked hard to help us produce a high quality event. I'm proud that we will show off their high caliber brand of racing to the nation.”

 

In other action on Saturday night, the West Coast Sports Compacts returned to Madera for a 35-lap feature with Greg Baronian earning the win. Scott Glenn, Danny Myrick, Jeff Durant and Shawn Depriest made up the top five.

 

In the Madera Late Model action Jason Aguirre and Kyle Keller had an intense battle for the top spot and when the smoke cleared it was Aguirre that added another notch in his victory lane belt with Keller, Shelden Cooper, Aaron Mullins and Ryan Reynolds making up the top five finishers.

 

Donnie Large Jr kept his winning ways going in the Hobby Stocks with a victory over Manny Gonzales Jr followed by Nick Rowe, Harley Kennealy and Drew Ries for the top five.

 

Ryan Reynolds edged out a fast-driving Patrick Geiger followed by Chris Earls, Nick Thompson and Shaun Reynolds for the top five in the MST’s.

 

Madera Speedway continues September 18th with the Nut Up Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models. This is also our final night of our Nut Up/Madera Speedway Valley Children’s fundraising month.

 

For information about Madera Speedway, visit www.RaceMadera.com The 2021 season would not be possible without the support of Nut Up Industries, 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier, 805, and Sunoco Race Fuel.

 

Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 7pm EST with new 2021 episodes now airing.

 

 

WALBRIDGE BECOMES FIRST REPEAT WINNER IN NUT UP LATE MODELS AT MADERA

 

MADERA, CALIF. (August 21, 2021) – Vancouver, Wash.’s Jadan Walbridge became the first repeat winner of 2021 in the Nut Up Pro Late Models at Madera Speedway, taking round seven of the MAVTV-televised series in a $2,000-to-win 80-lap contest. The 16-year-old 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model graduate extended his points lead in the process after leading wire-to-wire.

 

Walbridge took several months off racing in the second half of 2020 before returning this season to contend for the championship. He attributed the off time to fueling his success.

 

“To be the first repeat winner and we’re leading the points, man I’m hungrier than ever. I cannot thank these guys enough and the lord for all these blessings. Racing is definitely a humbling sport and anything can happen. Have to thank my guys and my grandma and grandpa for making this possible,” Walbridge said.

 

Walbridge drove ahead with the lead the start, going around the outside of Texan Barrett Polhemus in his Pro Late Model debut. Polhemus drifted backwards on the inside line, with a battle for second developing between 2021 race winner Tyler Herzog and Jason Aguirre. Herzog won the side-by-side battle, giving fast-time qualifier Kyle Keller of Las Vegas an opening to go inside Aguirre for third. The duel allowed ninth-starting Matt Erickson to enter the frame, diving inside Aguirre for third. A string of lead cars ran together on the top line before a caution fell for Rick Thompson spinning on the backstretch on lap 33.

 

Walbridge maintained the lead while Erickson went past Herzog for second on the outside. Keller and Aguirre backpedaled outside the top-five from the bottom of the track. Walbridge led Erickson, Herzog, Polhemus and tenth starting Colby Potts at the lap-50 break.

 

Walbridge emerged from the break with the lead, while the drivers behind him once again lined up on the top. Polhemus spun from third in turn three for a caution lap 65. Aguirre fell out of the event on lap 71 as well to significantly derail his championship hopes. Walbridge grabbed the checkered flag followed by Herzog, Erickson, Keller, and Brody Armtrout of Smartsville.

 

Armtrout had an outstanding night in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series, winning his fourth consecutive race for the drivers ages 10-16 years old. Barrett Polhemus started the 70-lap affair on the pole and took the lead on the inside, bringing fast-time qualifier Ethan Nascimento with him to second place. Outside pole sitter Kenna Mitchell of Loomis fell to fifth before finding a spot on the bottom.

 

Second place went to Armtrout on lap 13 as he passed Nascimento. Holly Clark of Colorado advanced up to fourth position after starting seventh, while incoming points leader Jacob Smith of Eagle, ID ran as low as ninth. Polhemus led Armtrout, Nascimento, Clark, and Mitchell at the conclusion of the opening 40-lap segment.

 

Following the on-track break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews, Armtrout took his shot. Polhemus picked the inside with Armtrout promptly driving past him on the outside in turns one and two to lead lap 41. The caution fell on lap 49 when Smith and Mitchell got together in turn two, relegating both to the tail end of the lead lap. Smith then collided with Clark in turn one on lap 54, with Clark spinning and getting hit by Washington’s Kasey Kleyn. Smith again was placed at the rear.

 

Polhemus and Armtrout exchanged the lead, with Polhemus leading lap 55 before they statistically tied at a .000 second split on lap 56. Armtrout then seized the lead on lap 57. Brody Moore spun while racing on the outside of Nascimento for third for the next caution. Mitchell slowed to avoid and was tagged from behind by Smith, causing heavy front-end damage for Smith.

 

Polhemus retook the lead by .042 seconds on lap 58 but the move was nullified when Clark spun on the front stretch. Armtrout restarted as the leader but gave Polhemus the outside. Polhemus led lap 59 by just .068 seconds. Polhemus was then penalized for jumping the lap 58 restart, forcing him to pull over and fall to the rear. The final caution fell on lap 62 when Moore and Hailey Liles collided, with Smith then nosing into Liles in turn two for heavy contact. Armtrout led the final eight laps while Bakersfield’s Kercie Jung passed Nascimento for second on the backstretch on lap 64. Nascimento finished third with Clark in fourth. Smith surprised with a fifth-place finish in a wounded car to maintain his points lead.

 

Madera’s Joey Kennealy won his second Bandolero feature of the year in a cross-over filled affair with points leader Logan Chambers of Bakersfield. Kennealy led the first seven laps before Chambers led lap eight. Chambers lost the lead into turn one, turned underneath Kennealy and crossed him over to lead lap nine.

 

A caution flew for Caden Cordova spun on the backstretch. Kennealy took the lead back from Chambers on lap 11 and never relinquished it. Konnor Karsten finished third. Sam Wedehase of Kingsburg won his fifth Mini Cup main event within the 20-lap combined race, topping Las Vegas’ Kellen Keller.

 

Madera Speedway’s next event is on August 28 with the MAVTV-televised California Dream 100 for Pro Mini Stocks. CVMS Mini Stock Invasion, Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, and MSTs/Toyota Sedans will also be competing. Tickets will be available at www.RaceMadera.com or at the gate.

 

The 2021 season would not be possible without the support of Nut Up Industries, 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 4:00pm Pacific. The third round of the Nut Up Pro Late Models airs on Monday August 30th!

 

WINTERS WINS MADERA WITH NORTH STATE MODIFIEDS FOR MISSION MODIFIEDS ON MAVTV

 

MADERA, CALIF. (August 7, 2021) – Two-time Madera Speedway Modified champion Scott Winters redeemed himself after a runner-up finish in May, dominating the 75-lap North State Modified feature for Mission Modifieds on MAVTV on Saturday night. Winters’ victory extends his points lead in the North State Modified Series and paid $1,000-to-win. The 75-lap feature on the one-third mile oval was a non-stop contest.

 

Winters and new track record holder Kyle Tellstrom of Ukiah lined up on the fourth row after the invert. Winters won the chase to the front then enjoyed a 2.412 second advantage at the finish.

 

“I love Madera Speedway. Thank you Mission Foods for putting this on. I got to call out to my crew. They’ve worked hard. Last time we were here we blew an engine. The engine that blew we put back in the car. The team rebuilt it. Worked hard to get this chassis right and it showed in this race,” Winters said.

 

Dustin DeRosier of Cloverdale lined up outside Klamath Falls, Ore.’s Rich Cobb on the start but immediately took control of the event. Tellstrom advanced from eighth into fifth by lap five in car no. 5k. The leaders ran two-by-two for the third position for several laps. Darrin Sullivan ran third before falling behind the trio of Ian Elliott, Tellstrom, and Winters.

 

Tellstrom worked to the outside of Elliott of Lakeport on lap 20 as they closed on second place Cobb. Cobb got sideways into turn one on lap 25, going up the race track into the path of Tellstrom. Tellstrom had to lift, allowing both Elliott and Winters to pass on the inside. Cobb was shuffled to fifth in the batting as well.

 

The top-four cars of DeRosier, Elliott, Winters, and Tellstrom ran nose-to-tail by lap 28 with Winters going outside Elliott to take second on lap 33. Winters then worked inside of DeRosier for the lead, grabbing the position on lap 36. Elliott and Tellstrom battled for over ten laps for the second position before Tellstrom finally earned the spot on lap 48 with an inside pass.

 

Tellstrom was already a distant second to Winters in heavy lapped traffic by that point. A caution never fell to bunch up the field and Winters drove ahead over the final 27 laps for the win. Tellstrom finished second followed by Elliott, tenth starting Keith Bloom, Jr., and DeRosier.

 

A red-hot battle for the Madera Late Model championship continued with Las Vegas’ Kyle Keller earning his first triumph of the campaign. The 40-lap feature saw Jason Aguirre and Keller line up as the front row starters while also being the top two in the standings.

 

Aguirre took the lead using the outside line with Keller using the bottom line. They ran within a few car lengths of each other for the first 26 laps of the event through lapped traffic. Aguirre was set to encounter a multi-car battle for fifth in front of him before the caution flew for third running Trevor Schlundt spinning on the front stretch.

 

Aguirre restarted on the top and maintained the top position. MST points leader Shaun Reynolds tangled with Mike Shapiro for fifth to require a caution in turn two on lap 32. Adam Coonfield spun on the first attempt for a restart.

 

On the second attempt, Aguirre and Keller could not get a clean restart. The caution waved and officials elected to give Keller the lead and drop Aguirre to second. Keller then chose the outside line that Aguirre had preferred. A strong restart for Keller allowed him to lead the final laps for the win. Aguirre finished second while Schlundt recovered for third. Ryan Reynolds and Loren Kutz rounded out the top-five.

 

Shaun Reynolds won the 30-lap Modified Super Toyota main event. Nick Thompson slowed at the start and was tagged from behind by Bill Gorden who was then hit by Ryan Reynolds. The caution flew and Thompson was unable to continue. The next caution fell on lap eight for Chris Hurles spinning in turn two.

 

Ryan Reynolds took his machine to the front, making his way to second by lap 14. He was unable to get within striking distance of Shaun at the finish, with Shaun Reynolds winning. Haley Bugg finished third over Gorden and Aaron Reaves.

 

Donny Large, Jr. led all 30-laps for the Hobby Stock victory. Large paced former champion Steve Schermerhorn for much of the main event as they darted through lapped traffic. 2020 champion Manny Gonzales, Jr. spun to set up a green-white-checkered finish. Large prevailed followed by Schermerhorn, Gonzales, and Harley Kennealy as the final finisher.

 

The Southwest Tour Trucks battled for 50-laps with points leader Curtis Burns making up for a second-place finish in June by winning in August. George Perret led the first 20-laps with Burns in pursuit. Burns took the lead, then navigated through side-by-side lapped traffic while Perret battled Schermerhorn.

 

Perret spun into turn one and collected Schermerhorn in the closing laps, with both trucks suffering heavy body damage. The race remained under green and both continued on behind Burns. Jesus Gonzalez-Quintero looked set to capitalize on their contact but slowed and pulled into the infield with four laps to go.

 

Shawn DePriest won the Mini Stock main event by leading only the final two laps. Gene Glover led the way while DePriest tried to overcome a fifth starting position. DePriest was up to second by lap two and spent much of the race trying to overhaul Glover. Glover and DePriest had a fender-bender exiting turn four with two to go, with Glover retiring to the infield while DePriest took the win. Rick Lea finished second with John Williams finishing third.

 

Madera Speedway returns on August 21 with Children’s Hospital Night featuring the Nut Up Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, and Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros. Tickets will be available at www.RaceMadera.com or at the gate.

 

The 2021 season would not be possible without the support of Nut Up Industries, 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 4:00pm Pacific. The West Coast Stock Car / Motorsports Hall of Fame banquet airs on Monday August 9!