It will be déjà vu all over again this Saturday evening, May 31st at the Madera Speedway when the "Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West" will host HotWood 750 Series twin 75-lap main events for the Western Late Models. The big NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series program will also include the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, Spectator Racing Series, Western Racing Association Vintage Sprints and Midgets and the always wild and crazy Hornets
The twin HotWood 750 Series races were originally scheduled for last Saturday evening, but some very unseasonable weather forced track officials to alter the program and limit the Western Late Models (WLM) to a single 50-lap race plus a very crowd pleasing seven car, eight lap dash that paid $1,000 to win in honor of retiring NASCAR race promoter Humpy Wheeler.
Kyle Gottula, age 21 of Modesto, picked up his second victory of the season last Saturday to extend his WLM points lead over Stockton Joey Stearns by a 23 point (219-197) margin. Plenty of other hot shoes remain in the championship hunt including three time 2008 winner Trevor Schlundt, age 18 of Clovis, Stockton’s Ross Strmiska, Modesto’s Jeff Belletto and Stockton rookie sensation Vito Ranuio.
A $1,500 purse will go 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 spread over six nights throughout the 2008 season at the Madera Speedway. Mark Holeman, of Los Altos, won the opening round of the HotWood 750 Series on March 29th and holds a 10-point edge over Strmiska and Stearns in the dash for the bonus cash.
As always in the HotWood 750 events, only green flag laps will count in the mains, guaranteeing 150 laps of WLM solid racing action. In fact, fans attending this Saturday’s program will enjoy a total of 275 laps of green flag racing excitement!
The American Limited Stock Cars (ALSC) division will be going pedal to the metal this Saturday in a special 50-lap feature. Howard Holden, of Clovis, extended his early season points lead in the ALSC class by picking up his third win of the season in last Saturday’s race. Stockton’s Brian Vosburg and Modesto’s Dennis Saunders Jr. remain well within striking distance of Holden and both will have plenty of say in the championship fight before it is decided.
The battles in the other divisions racing on Saturday are equally as tight. Madera’s Randy Fleming Jr. in the Modified Super Toyotas, Fresno’s Stan Hankins in the Toyota Sedans and Madera’s Jeff Dizney in the Hornets all hold narrow leads in their respective divisions.
The Western Racing Association Vintage Midgets and Sprints are some of the actual racecars that were built and raced from the glory days of Midget racing in the 1940’s. These beautiful vintage cars - also known as the "Moving Museum" - average about 60 years in age and are powered by Offenhousers, V-8 Ford 60’s, Mercurys and other exotic engines of yesteryear.
The drivers of these historic cars average 70 plus years old including 85-year-old Walt James, of Acton, driving the 1948 Ford V-8 flat head engine Sprint and 84-year-old Bill Gerrard, of Santa Ana, driving the Crager Wire Wheels Sprint Car. Fans are encouraged to bring their cameras and visit with the drivers in the pits following the races to learn more about this fabulous by-gone era of motorsports. Also, children are invited to sit behind the wheel of these beautiful classic machines, an experience they will forever cherish.
This weekend fans will once again have the opportunity to test their racing skills in the Madera Spectator Racing program, which allows any aspiring driver, even without any prior racing experience, the opportunity to drive a racecar at the Madera Speedway and compete in an actual event as part of a Saturday night program. The Madera Speedway will provide all the equipment including helmet, fire suit, neck brace and of course the car!
The cost for hitting the track in one of the special Sunday afternoon sessions is only $49.95 and full participation in a Saturday night event - including practice, qualifying and a 15-lap race – is only $299.95. Group, private events and 6 Race Championship Series rates are also available.
HotWood sponsorship has enabled Madera Speedway president Kenny Shepherd to lower ticket prices on four major stock car races this season including this Saturday’s event plus August 2nd, August 30th, and September 26th. The price of tickets for these events has been dropped by $5.00 for adults and $10.00 for family packs.
As a result, the new ticket prices for this Saturday’s, May 31st program 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 10:00 AM, the pit gates will open at 11:00 AM, 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 visit the track’s website at www.racemadera.com or call the Info/Race Line phone number at (559) 673-RACE and for information on the Madera Speedway Spectator Racing Series program go to www.spectatorracing.com on the web or call (209) 476-8123.
