This Saturday, August 11 at Madera Speedway will be a special evening as the stars of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series will share the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” with the young stars of tomorrow and their Big Wheel Bikes in the 1st Annual “Kids Night” program.
The excitement and intensity continues to build at Madera as the six-race battle for the 2007 Western Late Model “Chase to the Championship” reaches the halfway point this Saturday. In round #3, the powerful Western Late Models will get it on in a 50-lap feature, paying $1,000 to the winner.
Two very talented 21-year-old drivers - Mark Holeman of Los Altos and Ross Strmiska of Stockton - continue to top the Western Late Model point standings, but another young driver made his presence felt last Saturday. Trevor Schlundt, age 17 of Clovis, put together a brilliant drive, going wheel to wheel with former two-time Stockton 99 track champion David Philpott for much of the event, to pick up his first career Western Late Model victory and vault into third place in the standings.
“We made some pretty good headway in the points tonight,” said Schlundt following his win last Saturday. “The new points structure has helped us big time. Without it we would still be struggling.”
The young guns had better beware though. Several wily veterans including Dave Philpott, Stockton’s Joey Stearns, Fremont’s Glen Cook, Turlock’s Chris Monez and Modesto’s Harry Belletto continue to lurk right behind them like a pack of starving sharks following the smell of fresh chum.
Chase to the Championship Top Ten Drivers thru August 4, 2007 Chase
Rank Driver Hometown Points
1 Mark Holeman Los Altos 153
2 Ross Strmiska Stockton 140
3 Trevor Schlundt Clovis 126
4 Joey Stearns Stockton 111
5 Harry Belletto Modesto 102
6 Justin Philpott Tracy 97
7 Glen Cook Fremont 86
8 Matt Erickson Don Pedro 85
9 Chris Monez Turlock 82
10 David Philpott Tracy 63
Strmiska’s fifth place finish last Saturday was good enough to leap frog him past Irwindale Raceway regular Rip Michels and into first place NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing series standings for California with 462 points. Strmiska continues to climb in the nationally rankings as well, moving into the 73rd spot this week.
In addition, Mark Holeman made his debut in the NASCAR rankings. His 360 points are good enough for eighth in the California rankings and 165th nationally.
Also racing on this Saturday’s action packed card will be the American Limited Stock Cars (ALSC), 360 Super Modifieds, Toyota Sedans and the Hornets.
Stockton’s Donny Darter has been almost unbeatable in the ALSC class with 10 wins in just 11 starts and holds a huge advantage over his rivals in the standings. Thanks to his win last Saturday, Madera’s Lance Tatro has taken a narrow 146 to 143 point lead over Bakersfield’s David Tuey in the 360 Super Modifieds while both Stan Hankins, of Fresno and Miles Humphreys, of Clovis, continue to hold comfortable leads in the Toyota Sedan and Hornet divisions.
Show me the money! Following this Saturday’s program Madera Speedway will surpass the $250,000 mark in total prize money and point fund payouts this season.
The kids won’t be sharing in the prize fund, but they will get to share center stage with the drivers this Saturday when they compete on the front straightaway in Big Wheel Bike races. All kids ages 2-10 who enter the Big Wheel race will receive a free hot dog and soft drink courtesy of Joe’s Grill plus T-shirts and plaques will be awarded to the winners. There is no entry fee and signups are now being accepted.
Ticket prices Saturday, August 11 are only $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. A family pack ticket (two adults and up to two kids 12 years old and under) is also available for the bargain price of $30.00. Adult fans with a sales receipt from any Save Mart Supermarket store receive a $5 discount at the gate on race days. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.
This Saturday, August 4 the Madera Speedway pit gates will open at noon, practice begins at 1:30 PM, the grandstands open at 2:00 PM and the first green flag will wave kick off the evening’s racing at approximately 5:00 PM.
The Madera Speedway is located at the Madera County Fairgrounds just off to the west side of Highway 99 at the Cleveland Avenue exit.
For more Madera Speedway information go to www.racemadera.com on the web or call the Info/Race Line at (559) 673-RACE.
