MADERA, California -- When it’s down to the last lap between two racers for first place, the pedals are pushed harder, the turns are sharper, and the competitiveness is at its highest ‹ that’s what racing is all about. Three out of five races were decided on the final, photo-finish laps at the Madera Speedway Saturday night. It had been two weeks since the Speedway had opened the gates for the fans to watch, which seemed worth the wait as it hosted the Madera Late Models series featuring the Late Model Sportsman, 360 Supermodifieds, Street Stocks, Toyota Sedans, and the Hornets. For Late Model Sportsman driver Ric Thompson, he said he wouldn’t want it any other way. “It puts on a better show for the fans,” Thompson said.
In the 50-lap race, Thompson narrowly beat out Richard Herzog, a driver he’s been racing against for 12 years. Herzog and Thompson were battling for the first place when Herzog apparently spun out and a caution was issued. At the onset it seemed Herzog was going to be sent to the back of the race, costing him a shot at the win. But before Herzog’s car spun, the yellow flag was actually for Patrick Selsor, who spun out seconds before Herzog. Herzog was given his spot back, setting up the crowd pleasing finish. On lap 48, Herzog and Thompson were side by side on the restart. After they were given the green flag, Herzog took a brief lead over Thompson. On the last lap, Thompson took the outside on the final turn and just nudged out Herzog for the win. “I’m glad we got to race side by side for 50 laps,” Thompson said. “I wouldn¹t have been mad if I got second because it was against Richard.” In the race that virtually belonged to Thompson and Herzog most of the time, Howard Holden and Dallas Glenn got off to a fast start. Those two were battling it out in the beginning and seemed that it would come down to them. Glenn won the first race of the season, while Holden has been very close to winning. Both were trailing Byran Herzog at the start the race, but Herzog’s car slowed in the first lap with Leroy Capote and Larry Zunino trying to avoid hitting him. Herzog left after the first lap and didn’t return. That gave way to Holden and Glenn leading from the first lap to lap 7, where Richard Herzog passed both of them to claim the front. Three laps later, Thompson passed Herzog and would lead the rest of the way, though it wasn’t a smooth ride With Thompson in the lead, Larry Zunino and Trevor Schlundt crashed into each other, forcing another caution to slow the race. On lap 15, Cory Petro clipped Mike Copeland, forcing David Landers’ car 62 into the wall. During the restart, Leroy Capote, who lost a tire, and Larry McDonald made trips to the infield along with Amy Rotella, who was given a black flag. The stoppage of the race didn’t seem to have an effect on Thompson, who continued to lead after lap 15 with Herzog not too far behind. Thompson was out in front of Herzog on lap 33 when another crash happened, this time between Chris Lewis and Jim Woods.
This restart was huge for Herzog and Thompson because neither one would give any space. Thompson pulled ahead on lap 38, but Woods and Zunino ran into each other, causing another caution. Thompson and Herzog were back even with each other and on lap 40, Herzog was about to take the lead before Thompson got it back and continued to stay on course. Thompson stayed on the outside near the wall, while Herzog was on the inside near the infield. They would stay in those spots until lap 48 where the yellow flag was waved for Selsor. Thompson pulled through for the win, while Herzog came in second with Howard Holden finishing third. It was Thompson’s second straight win of the season, giving him two wins out of three races. Last season, after winning the first race of the season, Thompson couldn’t catch a break.
He appeared to have several races in his pocket before a crash ended his night with damage to his car. Thompson hopes to change his luck this season with new preparations to the car. “It’s different this year because we set car up to handle better on the outside,” Thompson said. “Hopefully, we can keep the momentum up. I expect a championship but it’s going to take a lot of work, I’m 30 points behind the first-place leader.” Thompson’s win was the grand finale of classic racing on the night. In the race before the Late Model Sportsman, the 360 Supermodifieds also had a heart-stopping race between David Gassett and Dave Tuey. Gassett stormed to the lead on lap 10 and never gave it up for the win. Gassett just beat Dave Tuey in one of the most memorable races at the Speedway. After the 30-lap race, Gassett was pent up with emotion and climbed the fence. Gassett, however, had a motivation that goes beyond autoracing. He was racing for his young son Chase, who is battling Leukemia. With “Race for Chase² shirts worn by friends and family of Gassett in the stands, it seemed there was no stopping Gassett. “I won for him,” Gassett said in the winner’s circle after the race, carrying Chase. “I’m just glad he was here to watch. This race wouldn’t have meant much if he wasn’t here. He’s part of the reason I got back into racing.” Gassett also summed up what it took to accomplish the emotional win. ‘It was the first race with the new motor, I had to skip the first race of the season because my son was in the hospital. Came back and then I had an accident in the heat race. The pit crew did a great job getting the car ready for the race and I won it.” Before leading the race, Gassett, of Kerman, trailed Donnie Large Jr. for the first nine laps. Large, of Clovis, got out to a huge lead before his car stopped and went into the infield not returning. From Gassett took over and had a tight grip on the lead over Tuey. But Tuey by far didn’t give it away as he pursued the win. On the last lap Tuey and Gassett were right next to each other when it seemed Gassett stretched out just before the finish line to beat Tuey by a yard. That left Tuey in with a close second place. Jim Tartaglia, who had won the first 360 Supermodified race of the season and all of his races last season at the Madera Speedway, came in third. The third barnburner of the night was in the Toyota Sedans race. Randy Fleming Jr. almost had his streak broken when Jason Kerns nearly toppled it. Fleming appeared to have the 25-lap raced locked after he busted the lead wide open on lap eight. He was being followed by Steve Nugent and Kerns. Kerns passed Nugent on lap 11 and was heading for Fleming. Nugent, meanwhile, was slightly ahead of James Bennett. After lapping drivers, Fleming was still ahead but his cushioned lead was getting tighter, as Kerns was right behind. On lap 19, Kerns and Fleming were dead even. After a caution was called after Bennett spun out, Kerns and Fleming were lined up next to each other. Kerns took the lead on lap 21 before Fleming got it back. On the last lap, Fleming won by a hood, while it was the closet Kerns had got to first so far. Nugent, of Madera, joined Fleming and Kerns in the winners circle, with a third-place finish. The only two races that didn’t quite have the drama of the other were the Hornets and Street Stocks. In the 25 laps Street Stock race Tony Schmitz, led right off the bat as he sped from the pack. Schmitz led for all 25 laps with Chuck Aguirre following. Schmitz won his second race of the season, while Aguirre finished second. Aguirre beat out Schmitz in the previous race but couldn’t overtake him in this race. Donald Selsor came in third to round out the top three. In the Hornets division, Andy Aguirre won after he took the lead from Joe Garcia on lap three. Aguirre was closely followed by Rick Minor, Sue Hannah, and Garcia. Aguirre pulled away on lap 7, while Sue Hannah’s car was knocked out of the way. On lap 8, Minor took the lead on Garcia, but Aguirre was way ahead. After 15 laps, it was Aguirre with the first place trophy, while Minor came in second, with Garcia third.
The Madera Auto Center pace car paces steadily into this Saturday’s (May 27th) Annual SMOKEY HANOIAN CLASSIC Featuring the SRL Wild West Late Model Shootout 100, Street Stocks, Toyota Sedans and our entertaining Hornets. The Bounc’n Bins Kids Zone and Armed Forces Showcase will add to the traditional Speedway excitement. A holiday racing weekend you won’t want to miss!
For further details, make MaderaSpeedway.net your pit stop or call the race line, (559) 673-RACE (7223).
