Madera Speedway continues its schedule of hot summer racing excitement with “Elvis Night at the Races” this Saturday, August 16th.
Highlighting Saturday’s big NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series program will be the Western Late Models doing battle in a 50-lap feature plus the American Limited Stock Cars, Toyota Sedans, Hornets, Modified Super Toyotas and the Western Racing Association Vintage Sprints and Midgets.
In addition to this great racing program, there will also be a host of Elvis related activities to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the death of the legendary Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977.
With four of eleven rounds of the Western Late Model Chase for the Championship now in the books, the coveted title of Madera track champion looks to be coming down to two drivers – current leader Joey Stearns of Stockton and Jeff Belletto of Modesto.
Stearns and Belletto have gone at it neck and neck throughout the entire season. In the previous Western date on August 2nd, Belletto picked four valuable points in the standings to close the gap on Stearns to a mere five points at 902 to 897.
There has been no shortage of spoilers in recent weeks looking to derail the pair’s championship dreams. A duo of wily veterans in Dave Byrd, age 50 of Monterey and Jeff’s father Harry Belletto, age 65 of Modesto, along with “Young Gun” Kyle Gottula, age 21 of Modesto, have accounted for five wins in the last six races.
While Howard Holden, of Clovis, remains in firm control of the American Limited Stock Car points by a comfortable 445 to 361 margin over Modesto’s Dennis Saunders Jr., the division could not be more competitive. In the last five races, five different drivers - Holden, Saunders, Coulterville’s Matt Erickson, Stockton’s Donny Darter and Atwater’s Jason Aguirre - have all gone to victory lane.
The battle rages on between Fresno drivers Stan Hankins and Jason Kerns for the Toyota Sedan season championship. The dynamic duo has dominated the Sedans division all year long picking up the victory in all nine races this season. Hankins, the defending class champion, has posted five wins and nine top three finishes to gain a 290 to 254 advantage on Kerns in the season points.
Two impressive winning streaks were brought to an end on Saturday, August 2nd, in the Hornet and Super Modified Toyota (MST) divisions.
Defending class champion Miles Humphreys, the 68-year-old racing great grandpa out of Clovis, exchanged cars with Madera’s Jeff Dizney just before the start of the last Hornet feature. Dizney proceeded to pick up his first career victory in Humphreys’ car, breaking Humphreys’ seven race winning streak in the process. As a result, Humphrey’s will be looking to start a new streak this Saturday in a car that has won eight consecutive races.
Randy Fleming Jr. will also be looking for a return to victory lane in the Modified Super Toyota division after having his impressive six race streak snapped by Chowchilla’s Jason Bowersox. Despite the setback, Fleming remains in firm control of the division over Jason’s father John Bowersox, also of Chowchilla, by a 213 to 139 margin,
The Western Racing Association Vintage Midgets and Sprints will be making their third appearance of the season in Madera on Saturday. These beautiful vintage cars - otherwise known as the “Moving Museum” - are some of the actual racecars built and raced from the glory days of Midget racing in the 1940’s.
Fans are encouraged to bring their cameras and visit with the Vintage drivers and their cars 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 for an experience they will forever cherish.
Before the main events begin “The King” himself, Elvis Presley will make a special appearance on the front straight and serenade the crowd with a song or two accompanied by Mike Miller on keyboards. Following the King’s performance there will be an Elvis look a like contest and karaoke competition open to anyone in the grandstands that would like to do their own rendition of a favorite Elvis classic.
In honor of this very special occasion, anyone showing up this Saturday wearing an Elvis costume will be admitted to the Madera Speedway for FREE!
So don’t be cruel, get out those sunglasses, sideburns and sequin jumpsuits and drive your pink Cadillac out to the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” for a great NASCAR racing program and a hunk of burning love with Elvis himself this Saturday, August 16th.
Ticket prices Saturday, August 16th are only $15.00 for adults, $13.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $10.00 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 $35.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.
This Saturday, Madera Speedway registration will begin and the pits will open at 1:00 PM, the grandstands open at 3:00 PM, heats & trophy dashes will commence at 6:00 PM, Elvis Show and Competition at 6:40 PM and the evening’s opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 7:00 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.
