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BUDDY SHEPHERD ADDS TO POINTS LEAD WITH FOURTH PRO WIN OF 2020 AT MADERA
MADERA, CALIF. (September 19, 2020) – Two-time Nut Up Pro Late Model champion Buddy Shepherd of Bakersfield earned his fourth win of the season, eclipsing 300 laps led for the year in the process, taking round #7 at Madera Speedway. The MAVTV-televised action also saw Bradley Erickson win his fourth 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series feature as well.
Blaine Rocha led the opening circuit of the 80-lap race from the outside pole before the first caution flew on lap three. Wyoming’s Lance Elliott spun in turn one and suffered race-ending front end damage.
2019 Madera Late Model champion Jason Aguirre spun in turn four for the next caution. Shepherd looked inside Rocha for the lead on several occasions after that restart, while Dylan Zampa of Napa battled with 2019 Nut Up Pro Late Model champion Austin Herzog of Clovis for fourth.
Herzog broke a radiator hose, covering turn one in fluid that collected 2019 Jr. Late Model champion Joey Iest, Seth Wise, and Ross Strmiska in a grinding crash. All three cars collected were eliminated, while Herzog attempted to continue after adding fluid.
Rocha picked the outside on the restart and ran side-by-side with Shepherd for numerous laps. Shepherd then tucked in on the outside behind Rocha for a pair of laps, before diving inside one more. Shepherd’s resilience paid off when he cleared Rocha on lap 25 for the lead.
Herzog slowed on lap 42 and exited the event with mechanical issues. Shepherd led Rocha, Zampa, Glen Cook and Shelden Cooper into the Mission Racing Style Tortilla Chips break on lap 50.
Emerging from the break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews, Shepherd charged ahead while Rocha fought off a challenge from Zampa. Zampa then battled with Cook for third throughout the closing stages of the race. Shepherd won his 13th televised Late Model race at Madera and extended his points lead, leading Rocha across the finish by 2.812 seconds. Cook, Zampa, and Ryan Philpott of Livermore rounded out the top-five.
Bradley Erickson of Phoenix moved closer to the championship in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series with his fourth win of the year. Ukiah’s Cole Brown paced time trials with a new track record at 14.937 seconds, lining up alongside Erickson on the third row for the 70-lap affair.
Jake Bollman led the way while outside pole sitter Holly Clark of Colorado fell back to fifth. The first caution on lap three saw both Hailey Liles and Washington’s Kasey Kleyn suffer damage in turn four. On the restart, Clark battled fellow Colorado driver Cassidy Hinds. The battle ended with a significant crash on the backstretch that sent Clark into the wall. She was uninjured but done for the night.
Brown beat Bollman to the line on the ensuing restart, with Brown penalized to the infield for a stop and go penalty. Erickson navigated through the action up to the second position, diamonding the corner as the looked for a way around Bollman. Erickson used a maneuver in turns three and four to take the lead on lap 39, leading the field into the lap 40 break.
Erickson led the rest of the race while battling continued behind him. Kale McClenny of Bakersfield went around the outside of Bollman for second with Bollman backpedaling to fourth. Brown got back on the lead lap and charged past Bollman and Kercie Jung in succession to take over fourth by lap 58.
Kabe McClenny fought a loose handling race car, opening the bottom for Brown to take third. McClenny and Hinds then collided for position to bring out the caution on lap 67.
Erickson drove ahead of Kale McClenny on the final three-lap shootout for the win, with Brown finishing third. Bollman finished fourth after a late battle with Jung, followed by Kleyn.
Jeffrey Erickson continued a perfect seven-for-seven season in the Bandolero portion of the Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros, taking the 25-lap event ahead of Bakersfield’s Caden Cordova and Joey Kennealy. Rebecca Dubie of Tracy won her sixth Mini Cup event in seven tries in 2020 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, Mission Foods, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 4pm Pacific with new 2020 episodes now airing. Round #3 of the Nut Up Pro Late Model Series airs on September 28th.
AGUIRRE AND SECORD TAKE WINS IN DOUBLE HEADER
Madera, CA. (9.12.20) – The club races at the Madera Speedway have gained a reputation for high quality racing and for the 2020 season we have added a little spice to our club events by including a traveling act or two in each date. The idea for this is to give our fans on Short Track TV some extra entertainment.
The extra in this club race was a contest of the newly formed Pro/Spec Modified series that will grow into something pretty serious in October. Watch for an upcoming announcement about a big winning prize for both the Pro Mods and Madera Late Model season finally at the end of October.
The other half of this club race headliner was the Madera Late Models, and Jason Aguirre made his comeback race count after a long absence from driving due to a surgery he had to recover from.
Aguirre took the race lead early and fought of several challengers in the 40 lap main event to collect the winner’s trophy giving him a comeback celebration that excited his fans watching on ShortTrack TV.
Aguirre was followed by Tim Skoglund, Aaron Mullins, Trevor Schlundt and Mike Shipero for the top five drivers.
The Pro/Spec Modified main event was set for 50 laps on the fastest 1/3 mile in the west and when the green flag dropped Secord quickly picked up where he left off at his last visit to the Madera Speedway by leading the race. Behind the smooth driving Secord there was a battle for pretty much all positions but it was all Secord, all night up front.
When the checkers flew it was Eddie Secord taking home the winner’s trophy followed Doug Hamm, Peyton Bell, Jaron Giannini, and Kayli Barber for the top five positions.
Ty Jacks picked up the win in the hobby stock main event follow by the hard charging Billy Maddox, Manny Gonzales Jr., Nick Rowe, James Bradburn and Tyler Rodgers that broke a rear suspension component.
Ryan and Shaun Reynolds battled all 30 laps of the MST/Sedan main event and it was Ryan that got the win when the checkers flew with brother Shaun, Hailie Bugg, Thomas Magray, and Wyatt Cantrell chasing him across the finish line.
The Nut Up Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr Late Models will compete in their seventh race of the nine-race campaign on September 19th. Due to no fans being allowed in our grandstands 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, 51FIFTY and Mission Foods. To say thank you to Nut Up for providing the sponsorship that allows us to provide a free livestream, please visit www.nutup.com and place an order today. Use the code MAVTV20 at checkout and receive a 20% discount.
For information about Madera Speedway, visit www.RaceMadera.com The 2020 season would not be possible without the support of Nut Up Industries, 51FIFTY, Mission Foods, Franks Radio, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
MADERA SPEEDWAY ADDS MISSION FOODS AS A MAJOR PARTNER FOR MAVTV-TELEVISED RACING
MADERA, CALIF. (August 18, 2020) – Mission Foods, one of the world’s largest producers of tortillas, has joined forces with Madera Speedway to promote grassroots racing through Madera Racing on MAVTV. Mission’s Racing Style Tortilla Chips will be prominently featured throughout the series, which airs Mondays at 5pm and 6pm on MAVTV.
Mission will have trackside billboards promoting their chips and the hashtag #2FAST2TASTY. Each 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series and Nut Up Pro Late Model Series race broadcast will include the Mission halftime show. Each episode of Madera Racing on MAVTV will also include two onboard cameras. The Mission Foods cameras will help talented drivers gain more exposure and will rotate onto different cars each race.
“We are very excited to partner with Madera Speedway and support short track Racing,” Juan Gonzalez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mission Foods, said. “This gives us a great opportunity to not only interact with our consumers in a fun and exciting environment but also support young talented racers to build a career in the motorsports industry. I strongly believe that our partnership will create unforgettable moments for all race fans.”
Madera Speedway, located in the central valley community of Madera, Calif., has been the launching pad for many drivers making a significant impact on the motorsports world. NASCAR Cup Series race winner Cole Custer, NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ryan Vargas, three-time ARCA Menards Series West race winner Hailie Deegan, and current 2020 ARCA Menards Series West points leader Jesse Love are among the alumni of Madera’s Late Model divisions.
The speedway pioneered the Jr. Late Model concept in 2016, bringing drivers ages 10-16 years old to a national television audience in full size stock cars for the first time. Partnerships with industry-leading companies such as Mission Foods allow Madera Speedway to further its goal of being one of the best farm systems in the nation for young racing talent.
“Our passion is Short Track Racing and our ‘Mission’ is building stars from it,” Kenny Shepherd, President of Short Track Management, said. “I’m extremely excited to have Mission Foods join our program at Madera Speedway. They were one of the first major brands onboard my race car 26 years ago as I joined the NASCAR Southwest Tour. They are passionate about helping us in our efforts to help young talent grow in motorsports, while at the same time provide a fun short track racing platform for their consumers to enjoy in person and on national television.”
The 2020 racing season at Madera Speedway has already included several groundbreaking achievements, despite the global pandemic taking place. The speedway is hosting a three-race Pro Late Model series for drug awareness under the Race 2B Drug Free Big3 moniker, offering the largest purses and bonuses in track history.
Regional community partnerships such as those with the Carlos Vieira Foundation and the Valley Children’s Hospital are enhanced as the speedway grows through national sponsorship and notoriety. The MAVTV program began at Madera in 2015 with eight, 30-minute episodes. It has since grown to encompass a weekly show in prime time that features a new episode every two weeks with more than twenty hours of programming from the one-third mile oval each year.
The remaining dates for the Madera Racing on MAVTV Late Model filming schedule include events on August 22, September 5, September 19, October 3, and October 17. Two special events and several documentaries are also planned for broadcast. New episodes air every other week in tape delay for a primetime television format.
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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