KELLER TAKES $10K NUT UP SHORT TRACK SHOOTOUT JACKPOT AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

 

MADERA, CALIF. (October 2, 2021) – Las Vegas’ Kyle Keller scored the biggest jackpot of his career, leading 148-laps of the 9th Annual Nut Up Short Track Shootout for the $10,000 victory. The season finale for the Pro Late Model Series saw Vancouver, Wash’s Jadan Walbridge win the championship at the one-third mile oval as well.

 

Keller started alongside Bakersfield’s Seth Wise for the 150-lap affair. The field of 26 starters was narrowed from 31 qualifiers through a 30-lap B-Main event.

 

Wise led the opening two circuits from the inside groove before Keller drove past on the outside to lead lap three. Walbridge and Matt Erickson were some of the few cars trying to make progress from the inside line in the early stages. Erickson eventually drifted from his fifth starting position to ninth. F

 

Fast-time qualifier Racin Vernon of Bakersfield drew the nine card in the redraw, but had advanced to fifth by lap 19. Keller and Wise ran nose-to-tail as they approached traffic on lap 21. Erickson tried to reload as he looked inside Jason Aguirre for seventh behind them.

 

Wise showed his nose to Keller before the first caution on lap 44 for Glen Cook spinning in turn three. Keller restarted outside of Wise, allowing Vernon to charge into second on the outside line as well. 14-year-old Ethan Nascimento of Manteca also looked outside Wise, but Wise successfully defended third.

 

Bakersfield’s Kercie Jung went up in sparks with a flat right front for a caution on lap 49 in turn three. The restart saw a mad scramble as Vernon went up the race track. Walbridge spun around backwards on the front stretch after contact from Howard Holden. Walbridge completed a 360-degree spin in front of the field yet was never contacted, dropping back to tenth position while the race remained green.

 

Carlos Vieira and Nascimento suffered a hard crash in turn three to end their evenings for the next caution flag on lap 74. The outside line was rolling on the restart, with Wise slipping back to fourth behind Keller, Howard Holden, and Erickson. $1,000 B-Main winner Brody Moore of Colorado emerged in fifth after starting 17th.

 

A caution for Cook spinning on lap 97 brought the race to its scheduled break three laps early with Keller leading Holden, Erickson, Wise, and Moore. Texan Barrett Polhemus spun on the restart after the break and collected Aguirre, ending both of their races with damage. Wise ended up sliding into the infield in turn one after jostling for position but rejoined the field at the tail of the order.

 

Erickson tried to pass Holden on several different occasions for second, allowing Keller to pull ahead by a large margin. Erickson cleared Holden in turn two on lap 117 with a 2.2 second gap to make up on the leader. Linny White collided with Vernon exiting turn four in a three-wide battle for third on lap 130 requiring a caution. The caution erased Keller’s advantage, giving Erickson a look inside on the restart. Erickson spun the tires however and fell to third behind Moore as the green flag flew.

 

Keller was never opposed again in the closing laps, taking the coveted $10,000 victory in the Nut Up Short Track Shootout. Moore finished second with Erickson third. Wise passed Holden for fourth with 11-to-go. A seventh-place finish clinched the championship for Jadan Walbridge as well.

 

Madera Robbie Kennealy became the latest winner in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series while Smartsville’s Brody Armtrout pulled off a come from behind championship on Saturday night. The 70-lap race for drivers ages 10-16 years old had drama to the last lap with Armtrout and incoming points leader Jacob Smith of Eagle, Idaho.

 

Loomis Kenna Mitchell led the first three circuits from the pole position before Kennealy took over. A fast-paced opening 40-laps saw Kennealy leading at the break. Mitchell held off Bakersfield’s Kercie Jung for second while Armtrout showed patience in his battle with Riverside’s Cody Kiemele for fourth. Smith’s lead over Armtrout was just two points after the break as he ran seventh at the conclusion of the segment.

 

Kennealy and Kiemele used the outside line on the restart to run first and second. An extended red flag came out for water on the track in turn two. When action resumed, Kennealy picked the outside of Kiemele to maintain the lead. Barrett Polhemus used the outside to take over second. Armtrout battled with Mitchell for third while Smith battled with Jung for seventh in a battle for who would win the championship. A multi-car crash in turn one involving Ethan Nascimento, 2020 Bandolero champion Jeffrey Erickson of Phoenix, and Colorado’s Holly Clark set up a green-white-checkered finish. The points leaders were tied in the standings as they drove to the green flag.

 

The top spot belonged to Kennealy again while Armtrout made a bid on the outside to take over the second position. The exciting shuffling of the deck saw Smith knocked back to ninth at the checkered flag. Kennealy grabbed his maiden win in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series and Brody Armtrout won the championship from second position. Mitchell earned a career-best third followed by Polhemus and Jung.

 

Bakersfield’s Logan Chambers won his seventh INEX Bandolero feature to claim the series championship. Madera’s Joey Kennealy finished second for second in the standings while Bakersfield’s Caden Cordova finished third for third in the series as well.

 

Madera Speedway will stage the second annual Turkey Triple Open non-points races for MAVTV on October 16. The event includes the Open Late Models, 602 Spec/Pro Modifeds, Open Hobby Stocks, and the Challenge Cup Series.

 

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 and 7:00pm Eastern.

 

KELLER SCORES EIGHTH ROUND OF NUT UP PRO LATE MODELS AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

 

MADERA, CALIF. (September 18, 2021) – Saturday night’s Nut Up Pro Late Models featured a tumultuous night for the championship contenders while Las Vegas’ Kyle Keller earned his first career series triumph. Keller is the seventh different winner through eight rounds at Madera Speedway, taking the 80-lap feature at the one-third mile.

 

“That was amazing. It was so hard. With seven to go you feel everything. It felt so crazy,” Keller said. “(The car) was really good. From Friday night all the way to now. Overall it was a good day.”

 

Keller earned fast-time but drew the sixth starting position for the main event. Texan Barrett Polhemus started on the pole but was quickly passed on the outside by Manteca’s Eric Nascimento, Jr. The first caution flew on lap four for Brody Armtrout of Smartsville spinning in turn four. Points leader Jadan Walbridge of Vancouver, Wash. pitted under the caution with an issue with his exhaust but was able to rejoin the field.

 

Keller worked outside Matt Erickson to take over third. A three-wide battle for the lead ensued on lap 13 with Nascimento, Tyler Herzog, and Keller. The leaders then approached lapped traffic on lap 19 with Nascimento anchoring a two-by-two formation. Several cars spun on lap 21 as fluid fell around the speedway. The issue was a rear end casing on Nascimento’s car. Nascimento’s team made lengthy repairs and rejoined the action.

 

Herzog assumed the lead after an extended red flag for cleanup, going into a side-by-side fight with Keller. Keller went up the inside to lead lap 25. A lap 29 caution set up a restart where Herzog was slow on the inside. The field piled up behind them with Howard Holden spinning and getting hit head on by 2020 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model champion Bradley Erickson of Phoenix, Ariz.

 

Keller picked the outside on the following restart and maintained the lead. He led Herzog, a resurgent Armtrout, Matt Erickson, and a hard-charging Nascimento into the lap-50 break.

 

Keller and Erickson lined up on the outside line on the restart and worked into the top-two positions. Walbridge passed Armtrout on the outside to take fourth a few laps later. Walbridge and Herzog battled while Armtrout and Juleson battled for sixth behind them.

 

Walbridge spun with contact from Herzog for a caution on lap 73, relegating the incoming points leader Walbridge to the rear. Matt Erickson restarted second inside Keller, with the running order at that point swinging Erickson into the series points lead. The points lead lasted 300 feet past the start finish line. The field crashed hard on the restart as Armtrout bounced off the wall into Erickson, sending Erickson rear first into the turn one wall. Glen Cook, Pete Soto, and Holden also suffered damage. Erickson was able to return to the event but lost a lap making significant repairs.

 

Keller led the way to the finish ahead of Nascimento while Aguirre came back to finish third. Juleson and Bradley Erickson rounded out the top-five. Walbridge will lead Tyler Herzog by 19 points and Matt Erickson by 27 points heading into the series finale during the Short Track Shootout on October 2.

 

Brody Armtrout won his fifth consecutive 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 70-lap event for drivers ages 10-16 years old. Quincy, Wash.’s Kasey Kleyn drove the no. 88 Naake-Klauer Motorsports car to the front after the redraw with Armtrout in pursuit. Bakersfield’s Kercie Jung and Manteca’s Ethan Nascimento went back-and-forth for third behind them. Nascimento then cleared Jung and closed on Armtrout, but Armtrout held the position.

 

After a lap 19 caution, Kleyn picked the inside of Armtrout. Armtrout took advantage to use the outside to lead lap 21. Nascimento went underneath a sideways Kleyn to take second. Kleyn ended up having a rear end issue that relegated him to the infield on lap 34. Armtrout led Nascimento, incoming points leader Jacob Smith of Eagle, Idaho, Madera’s Robbie Kennealy, and Jung at the lap-40 break.

 

Nascimento used a slingshot down the backstretch to lead lap 41 but Armtrout fought back to keep the lead position. Kennealy tried to use the middle line around the track but eventually was passed by Smith for third. Armtrout grabbed win five on the year to tighten the championship fight, leading Nascimento, Smith, Kennealy, and Jung across the stripe.

 

Four-wide action yielded a familiar result at Bakersfield’s Logan Chambers won the 20-lap INEX Bandolero race. Chambers and Madera’s Joey Kennealy were relegated to second row starting positions after two failed attempts at a start. A four wide opening lap ensued with Kennealy going fourth to first. Chambers pursued Kennealy for the lead then passed him on lap eight. Chambers topped Kennealy, Konner Kartsen, and Bakersfield’s Caden Cordova at the finish.

 

Madera Speedway’s next event is on September 25 with the 48th Annual Harvest Classic presented by Protect the Harvest and Lucas Oil, Harvest/Vukovich Classic with a special tribute to Kenny Takeuchi. The headliner in this event will be the Donnie Large Tribute Open Comp Supers vs Winged Sprint race plus Legends of Kearney Bowl, BCRA Vintage, California Hard Tops, Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST/Toyota Sedans, Challenge Cup Series, and Madera Mini Stocks. 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 fourth round of the Nut Up Pro Late Models airs on September 27th!

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!