BYRD, RUSSELL AND MCKENNY CLAIM VICTORIES IN THE POMBO CLASSIC AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

Madera Speedway was back in action on Saturday, July 19th, with the Pombo Classic in round #4 of the popular Super Saturday Series. The program included a tripleheader of main events for the combined 410 and 360 Supermodifieds, Bay Area Racing Association Midgets, and Western Late Models, plus the Legends of the Pacific, American Limited Stock Cars and the Spectator Racing Series.

This special event annually honors racing legend Al Pombo of nearby Fresno. During his extensive racing career, which began in the 1940’s and stretched into 1970’s, Pombo earned more than 500 main event victories, seven NASCAR super-modified titles, and numerous championships at tracks throughout California including San Jose Speedway, Kearney Bowl and Clovis Speedway.

Veteran Dave Byrd, age 50 of Monterey, has won multiple championships on both the dirt and asphalt and he used his vast array of driving skills to maximum advantage in winning the Western Late Model 50-lap feature on Saturday.

Byrd grabbed the lead on the green flag, but Harry Belletto, age 65 of Modesto, quickly blew past him and began to gallop off into the sunset until Madera’s Rick Thompson blew an engine and laid oil all over the track on lap 25. The race was red flagged for about 15 minutes as track officials labored to clean up the mess.

Following the lengthy break, Byrd was all but untouchable. Negotiating the slick track with ease, he quickly disposed of Belletto and cruised to the checkered flag well ahead of the rest of the field for his second win in two weeks.

"That red flag came into play in our favor. Up to that point Harry was the class of the field," was the word from Byrd. "I think we had the perfect setup when the track got oily. We were tight and it played right into our hands because I could flat foot it coming off the corners without any tire spin even though the track was slick."

Stockton’s Joey Stearns finished a full two seconds behind Byrd in second, track points leader Kyle Gottula, of Modesto, finished third as Belletto faded to fourth.

"They tell me when you get older you slow down, but Byrd and Belletto just seem to keep getting faster," laughed Stearns, who now trails Gottula by a 853 to 845 margin in the updated Madera "Chase to the Championship" point standings.

Following a lap six caution Bryan Warf, of Meridian, ID, got underneath early race leader Whitey Janssen, of Dayton, NV, to take the lead in the combined 410/360 Supermodified 50-lap feature. Warf, who earlier in the evening won the trophy dash and his heat, maintained the lead and looked to be heading to victory when his engine suddenly let go with just six laps remaining in the race.

Warf’s misfortune opened the door for Jeff Russell, of Boise, ID, to pick up his second feature Supermodified win of the season at Madera. Dinuba’s Troy Regier, who has the other two wins at Madera this year, finished second and San Martin’s Bobby Dalton rounded out the podium.

"We were a little lucky tonight with Bryan having trouble. I was getting the car dialed in, but I don’t think I could have caught him unless he got caught up in traffic," said Russell. "It feels great to beat Troy at this track. He is always so tough here."

Russell entered the evening trailing Regier by a single point in the Supermodified standings. He picked up a net two points on Regier on Saturday to turn the tables and take a one-point lead over Regier heading into Super Saturday #5 on Saturday, August 9th.

Madera’s Kenny Kinchen was the top finisher among the 360 Modifieds and fifth overall. As a result he moved into second place in the 360 Modified standings behind Bakersfield’s David Tuey.

"That was a good race. We tried a few different things and they seemed to pay off for us," said Kinchen. "The traffic was interesting with the 410s, but I like it with a lot of cars. You have to really shake and bake out there."

Dallen McKenny, of nearby Clovis, was the class of the field as he executed a clean sweep of all of Saturday’s BCRA Midget activities.

After setting fast qualifying time and winning the trophy dash and his heat, McKenny shot past early race leader Kyle Dickerson, of Manteca, on lap six of the 30-lap BCRA feature. Although Shannon McQueen, also of Clovis, closely hounded him throughout the remainder of the event, McKenny never faltered as he racked up his second win of the season at Madera.

"The day has just gone about as good as it possibly could. The car was just awesome all night," said McKenny. "I also have to thank my dad. He works so hard to make the car so good and it makes me look good."

Once again the ultra competitive Legends of the Pacific provided the fans with plenty of wild and exciting action as Rocklin’s Robby Czub became the first repeat winner in the class through four events at Madera this season.

Reno’s Mike Firebaugh, Elk Grove’s Chuck Scott, and Bakersfield’s Brandon Toy all took turns leading the first half of the race only to have a variety of calamities derail their efforts. Tracy’s Cody Berger took over the top spot on lap 19 with Pine Valley’s Matt Scott closely in tow.

Berger looked to be on his way to the victory when he was spun coming out of turn four of the final lap by Scott as he attempted a desperation pass. Czub followed Scott across the finish line, but was quickly declared the winner after Scott was penalized a lap for his overzealous move.

"I was happy with third and when the 63 car (Berger) went around I figured I was second. Then I heard they put Scott back," said Czub. "I hate to win that way when someone wrecks on the last lap, but a win is a win."

Atwater’s Jason Aguirre moved past early race leader Garland Tyler, of Modesto, on lap seven of the 30-lap American Limited Stock Car race and slowly began to pull away from the field when a caution flag popped out on lap 15.

Lurking on the restart was division points leader Howard Holden, of Stockton, who was in quest of his sixth win of the season. Holden inched past Aguirre on the restart, but Aguirre refused to give in as the two went side by side for several laps before Aguirre retook the lead.

Aguirre then held off Holden over the final laps to earn his first career victory. Afterward Aguirre celebrated with an impressive smoking doughnut display much to the delight of the large crowd on hand in the main grandstands.

"We were really hooked up and I didn’t think anybody had anything for me. Then the yellow came out and I thought ‘Oh boy, here we go,’" explained Aguirre. "I noticed earlier that Holden was loose on the outside so on the restart I went right to the inside and it worked."

First time racer Paul Spani survived a heart stopping mid race get together with Mike Wells that sent the rest of the field scrambling behind them, to take the win in the Spectator Racing Series event. Cowboy Bob Koop nabbed second and Wells recovered to take third.

Madera Saturday Night Thunder resumes on July 26th with the return of Hot Rod & Hog Run Car/Bike Show and Kids Night. This NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series program will include the Western Late Models, American Limited Stock Cars, Toyota Sedans, 360 Super Modifieds, Hornets, Mini Cup, Baby Grands, Spectator Racing Series and the Vintage Sprints/Midgets.

On Saturday, August 2nd, the anxiously awaited Boots and Bikini Night will be back. The Western Late Models will go at it in twin 50-lap features for Round #4 of the HotWood 750 Series. Also racing will be the grand American Modifieds, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, Hornets and Spectator Racing Series. In addition, there will be live bands, a bikini contest and - as is always the case at the "Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West" - a whole lot of fun!

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.