USAC/CASA SPRINTS, BCRA MIDGETS AND MODIFIEDS IN HARVEST CLASSIC OPEN-WHEEL EXTRAVAGANZA AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

Saturday’s program will be an evening of pure open-wheel muscle and speed. The powerful USAC/CASA Sprints run 360 cubic inch, V-8s that are capable of producing an amazing 750 horsepower while the versatile BCRA Midgets run four or six cylinder, 166 to 184 cubic inch engines that produce upwards of 350 horsepower. Both are capable of reaching speeds in excess of 130 mph at Madera!

Only 43 points separate the top three drivers in the latest standings of a scorching battle for the 2007 Lucas Oil USAC Western Sprint Car championship. Chico’s Ryan Kaplan holds a narrow 548 to 515 point lead over Rohnert Park’s Jo-Jo Helberg while Tony Hunt, of Lincoln, sits right behind them with 505 points. Helberg leads in the CASA point standings over Jim Kaiser and Hunt.

Hunt, the three-time defending (2001, ‘04 and ‘06) Sprint series champion also won USAC’s 1992 Russell Pro crown and a 2002 Western Regional Sprint Car championship. Only seven drivers in USAC’s 52-year history have more titles than Hunt including the legendary A.J. Foyt who won an incredible record 13 USAC championships.

Hunt and Kaplan finished 1-2 in the 50-lap USAC Sprint feature held on July 7 at Madera. The race ended with a spectacular crash after Placerville’s Richard Bailey got into the rear of Helberg’s car going into turn one. Bailey’s car went end over end multiple times, tearing through the turn one cyclone fencing before finally coming to rest on its side in the pit area outside of the track. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt in the accident.

The BCRA Midgets will be making their first appearance on the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” since 16-year-old sensation Justin Grant, of Ione, picked up his first BCRA feature win during the Vukovich Classic back on April 28.

The ultra competitive BCRA Midgets have produced 12 different winning drivers in 14 events thus far on the 2007 schedule. Justin “Future Legend” Grant holds a 1,425 to 1,285 edge in the current BCRA standings over 72-year-old “Living Legend” Floyd Alvis, the seven-time BCRA champion out of San Carlos. Alvis won his first BCRA title in 1978, 13 years before Grant was born!

The fire breathing, winged 410 Supermodifieds pack as much or more horsepower than their Sprint Car brethren. Drivers and teams from all over the Western United States will be descending on Madera for this Saturday’s race including Troy Regier, of Dinuba, who took the checkers in the 410 Supermodified main at the Vukovich Classic. Regier also triumphed in last September’s Harvest Classic.

As was the case in the spring race, the 410 Supermodifieds will once again be joined by Madera’s 360 Modified division, which will be competing in their final points paying event of the 2007 season. Hometown driver Lance Tatro holds a slim 179 to 170 lead over Bakerfield’s David Tuey, the two-time defending track champion, heading into this Saturday’s final showdown.

This is one special night of open-wheel racing excitement you do not want to miss!

Ticket prices for Saturday, September 15 are only $25.00 for adults, $20.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $18.00 for 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 $55.00. 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.

The Madera Speedway pit gates will open at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 15, the grandstands open at 2:00 PM, qualifying begins at 3:30 PM and the first green flag will wave to begin the evening’s racing at approximately 5:00 PM.

Madera speedway will go dark again on Saturday, September 22 before returning with the final NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series event of the season on Saturday, September 29 with a program that will include the Western Late Models, American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, Hornets and Mini Cup.

Madera Speedway will conclude the 2007 season with the 1st Annual Pumpkin Smash 400 Enduro and Demolition Derby on Saturday, October 20.

The Madera Speedway is located at the Madera County Fairgrounds just off to the west side of Highway 99 at the Cleveland Avenue exit.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend