MADERA SPEEDWAY REVS UP FOR ROUND #1 OF TRI-HOLIDAY SERIES, FEATURING THE HOTWOOD 750 SERIES, THIS SATURDAY

The Madera Speedway will return to action this Memorial weekend in the first of three big Tri-Holiday events, featuring the HotWood 750 Series, with Whelen Engineering Night on Saturday, May 24. This special NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series program will include seven divisions of racing featuring the Western Late Models (WLM) in twin 75-lap mains plus the American Limited Stock Cars (ALSC), Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, WSRA Minicup and Baby Grands and the always wild and crazy Hornets While the weather is beginning to heat up as summer approaches, the battle for the 2008 Madera track championship has already turned red hot. Only 14 lean points separate the top four drivers in the current WLM season standings. Kyle Gottula, age 21 of Modesto, holds down the top spot in the battle for the 2008 Madera track championship with 188 points, but 18 year old Trevor Schlundt, of Clovis, has closed within four points of his lead on the strength of three straight victories. Right on their heals sit Joey Stearns and Ross Strmiska, both of Stockton, with 182 and 174 points respectively. Modesto’s Jeff Belletto and Stockton’s Vito Ranuio, the current rookie points leader, round out the top six in the WLM standings. Defending Madera track and NASCAR California State champion Mark Holeman, of Los Altos, is expected to make his first Madera appearance since winning the opening WLM race of the season back on March 29. The 22-year-old Cal Poly San Luis Obispo mechanical engineering student and car owner Ray Miller have decided to focus on the HotWood events in 2008.

“We don’t have a primary sponsor, plus I have to graduate and then find a job,” explained Holeman earlier this season. “It will be fun to race without the pressure of worrying about points. We can just go for it.”

A $1,500 purse goes to the winner of each of this Saturday’s HotWood 750 Series WLM features and the results count toward the special $6,000 bonus points fund paid at the conclusion of nine HotWood designated races on six nights at the Madera Speedway. A total of 150 laps of WLM green flag racing are guaranteed this Saturday as yellow caution laps will not count in the two 75-lap mains.

In the ALSC division, consistency has enabled Howard Holden, of Clovis, to take the early lead in the season points over Stockton drivers Dennis Saunders Jr. and Brian Vosburg. Holden has already racked up two wins and five top three finishes in five ALSC races this year.

The early points fights in the other divisions racing on Saturday are tighter than a $5 pair of shoes. In the Modified Super Toyotas Madera’s Randy Fleming Jr. holds a 48-44 edge on fellow hometown driver and defending class champion Shon “Woody” Woods; racing grandfather Miles Humphreys, of Clovis, clings to a 56-54 lead over Madera’s Jeff Dizney in the Hornets; and Fresno pilots Jason Kerns and Stan Haskins sit in a flat footed tie for the lead in the Toyota Sedans with 54 points each.

The WSRA Baby Grands and Minicup divisions are two-thirds and one-half scale replicas of NASCAR Sprint Cup race cars that provide young drivers to develop their racing skills. After three races on the 2008 WSRA schedule Jacob Gomes, age 15 of Manteca, leads the Baby Grand division and Rocklin’s John Bowman sits atop of Minicup. Both drivers scored wins in the first visit by the WSRA at Madera on April 19.

There was some great news recently for fans when Kenny Shepherd, President of the Madera Speedway, announced new sponsorship from HotWood and Inside Lines has enabled the speedway to lower ticket prices for the fans on six race events during the 2008 racing season.

HotWood sponsorship has enabled Madera to lower ticket prices on four major stock car races this season on May 24th, August 2nd, August 30th, and September 26th while Inside Lines Apparel and Graphics Company sponsorship will enable the track to reduce prices for the June 28th Summer Kick Off Party and the August 15th Elvis Night at the Races programs. The price of tickets for these events has been dropped by $5.00 for adults and $10.00 for family packs.

“I’m excited we have been able to partner with such fine companies as HotWood and Inside Lines to provide high quality events and at the same time lower the cost of tickets for our fans,” commented Shepherd. “We know the fans want a show that is of the highest level of entertainment, and it is our goal to give the fans the best value for their hard earned dollar. We are excited that we have been able to lower ticket prices on twelve race events this year thanks to strong sponsorship from our marketing partners HotWood, Inside Lines and Madera Auto Center.”

As a result, the new ticket prices for this Saturday’s, May 24, Whelen Engineering Night show are now only $20.00 for adults, $18.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $15.00 for students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 while 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 just $45.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.

This Saturday Madera Speedway registration will begin at 9:00 AM, the pit gates will open at 10:00 AM, practice begins at noon, the grandstands open at 3:00 PM, trophy dashes will commence at 5:00 PM and the evening’s opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 6:00 PM.

The Madera Speedway is conveniently 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 call the Info/Race Line phone number at (559) 673-RACE and for information on the Madera Speedway Spectator Racing Series program call (209) 476-8123.

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