WARF AND WINTERS CAPTURE THE GOLD AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

Source: Madera Speedway Media Relations/db
Date: 08/10/2008

With the late models having the weekend off, the open-wheeled Modifieds took center stage at Madera Speedway in Super Saturday #5 on Saturday, August 9th.

The outstanding program included a combined feature for the ground pounding Super Modified Racing Association (SMRA) 410 roadsters and Madera’s own 360 Super Modifieds plus the Grand American Modifieds in twin 40-lap features. The Legends of the Pacific and the future stars of the WSRA Baby Grands and Mini Cup completed the program.

The pavement shaking 410s were once again racing against Madera’s 360 Super Modifieds in a combined format on the famed "Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West."

After dominating the previous four Super Modified features with two wins each, veterans Jeff Russell of Boise, ID, and Troy Regier, of Dinuba, were the drivers to beat on Saturday, but to everyone’s surprise neither driver was a factor in the outcome. Russell spun out in the early going and played catch-up for the remainder of the race while Regier limped into the pits and parked his car for the night with a broken fuel pump following a lap 16 restart.

Bryan Warf, of Meridian, ID, grabbed the lead from Martin McKeefery, of Milpitas, on lap nine of the 50-lap Super Modified feature and never relinquished it the rest of the way to earn the upset victory. McKeefery hung on for second, San Martin’s Bobby Dalton and Russell finished fourth.

"This is a great win for us. It has been a long time coming," said Ward. "We have led here three different times here including the last race when we blew a motor with four laps to go, but tonight we finally won it."

The race was red flagged for about 20 minutes on lap 16 when Whitey Janssen, of Dayton, NV, crashed into the turn three wall and flipped several times before finally coming to rest in the middle of turn four. Janssen was shaken, but luckily unharmed unlike his car, which was completely demolished and taken off the track in pieces.

"We were really loose at the start and to be honest I really didn’t think we had a chance to win," confessed Warf. "The red flag was unfortunate, but it worked in our favor because it allowed us to make a bunch of changes and improve the car."

As a result of Saturday’s race, Russell will return for the final Super Saturday event of the season, the Harvest Classic on September 20th, with a 135 to 132 lead over Regier for the 2008 Super Modified championship.

Madera’s Kenny Kinchen, who entered the night trailing Bakersfield’s David Tuey by only seven points in the 360 Modified standings, had victory slip from his grasp when he lost his drive line with only three laps left in the race. Kinchen’s misfortune opened the door for Tuey to snatch the 360 class win and expand his lead over Kinchen in the 360 Modified points to a 160 to 139 margin.

"This is a little payback for the last race when we were way ahead and busted something in the rear," suggested Tuey. "I think we had a plugged fuel filter because we were loosing power and I was just trying to hang on at the end, but I guess sometimes things even out."

The Grand American Modifieds (GAM) were making only their second appearance at Madera after a two-year absence. On June 28th, the ultra quick and versatile open-wheelers had the crowd on the edge of their seats as Sacramento’s Jason Philpot locked horns with Tracy’s Scott Winters throughout two exciting 50-lap features both won by Philpot.

The two renewed their friendly rivalry on Saturday, but this time with very different results.

Winters, the defending champion at Roseville’s All-American Raceway and a former two-time Madera champion, quickly worked his way up from his second row starting position to take the early race lead on lap four from Jeremy Grasty, of Suisun City, in the first of the night’s 40-lap features.

A few laps later, Philpot moved up behind Winters from his third row starting spot and it was game on again.

The two wrestled for the lead for the rest of the race often going side by side. Philpot was able to take the lead for a few laps just past the mid point of the race, but Winters battled back to retake the lead and despite several late race cautions, hold off the hard charging Philpot for the remaining distance to earn a very satisfying victory.

"I wanted to get a good run, but I was beginning to wonder if those yellows were ever going to stop," said Winters, who set a new track record for the GAMs in qualifying. "Jason was real tough here last time and I knew he would be again tonight. This is fantastic."

The second GAM feature was almost an exact replay of the first. Winters grabbed the lead from Philpot on lap nine and kept him at bay for the rest of the race to pull off the sweep.

"A new track record and two main events wins. My hat is off to my team. The car was just on rails tonight," commented Winters. "I hope they have us back again. This track is a lot of fun to race on."

Philpot was gracious in defeat.

"He was fast tonight and no one could touch him," explained Philpot. "I think I was as good tonight as I was last time here, he just got better."

There could very well be a rubber match between Philpot and Winters later this year. The exciting racing and overwhelmingly positive fan feedback during the two GAM dates has caused Madera track president Kenny Shepherd to work towards bringing the class back for an encore performance in September.

Polesitter Keith Clement, of Stockton, was able to hold the lead in the 30-lap Legends of the Pacific feature for the opening seven laps before he was overtaken by Modesto’s Kelly Martin. Martin retained the top spot for the next 15 laps until Pine Grove’s Matt Scott caught and overtook him with a strong outside move.

Scott stayed in front of Martin for the final laps to capture his second win of the season at Madera. Orangevale’s Frankie Marks finished in third just ahead of Stockton’s Donny Darter, last season’s American Limited Stock Car champion.

"The car was good all night, except it started to get a little tight near the end. My dad did one heck of a job setting it up for me," said Scott.

Scott also set fast time and took the checkered flag in the Legends while Cody Berger of Tracy, Cody Berger of Tracy and Mike Firebaugh of Reno, earned heat wins.

The WSRA Mini Cup and Baby Grands returned to Madera for their fifth appearance of the 2008 season. The 1/2 and 2/3rds scale stock car replicas for drivers as young as eight years of age that can reach speeds of over 70 miles per hour.

Jake Gomes, age 15 of Manteca, entered Saturday as the heavy favorite in the Baby Grands as he looked for his fifth consecutive win this season at Madera and ninth straight overall.

Manteca’s Michael Sandoval used his starting position on the pole to full advantage to take the lead in the 25-lap Baby Grand feature. Gomes, starting from the fourth spot, calmly worked his way up to second in the early laps and then began to methodically stalk his good friend for the lead.

On lap 22 Gomes saw an opportunity to get the nose of his car under Sandoval’s entering turn three. With position on the inside he was able to slip past Sandoval coming out of turn four for the lead and ultimately the win.

"I knew I could catch him, but I wanted to be careful because he is my friend. It was a lot of fun to race him like that," said Gomes, who hopes to join the late model ranks next season.

Frankie Guerrini, of San Rafael, led the first 20 laps of the Mini Cup race as several drivers scrambled for position behind him. Rio Linda’s Chase Grigsby, who had been in fifth place only six laps earlier, snatched the lead from Guerrini on lap 21 and cruised to the victory. John Bowman, of Rocklin and Shane Lawrence, of Galt, completed the Mini Cup podium while a disappointed Guerrini fell to fourth.

Elvis will be in the building on Saturday, August 16th for Elvis Night at the Races. The program will include the Western Late Models in twin 50-lap features, the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, Hornets and Western Racing Association Vintage Sprints/Midgets. There will also be a host of Elvis related activities, including Elvis look alike and singing contests, in honor of 31st anniversary of the "The King’s" death on August 16, 1977.

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.

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