BELLETTO AND STEARNS WIN AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

It was "Elvis Night at the Races" at the Madera Speedway on Saturday, August 16th.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series program included the Western Late Models, American Limited Stock Cars, Toyota Sedans, Hornets, Modified Super Toyotas and the Western Racing Association Vintage Sprints and Midgets.

Highlighting the show was the long awaited return of "The King" himself Elvis Presley, who serenaded the crowd with a couple of his classic songs including "I Can’t Help Falling In Love with You" on the front straight before the main events.

"I am glad to be back from where I was at, because where I was at is no place to be," exclaimed Elvis, referring to his place of residence for the past 31 years following his death on August 16, 1977.

After Elvis left the building and returned to his duties up in the booth as track announcer extraordinaire Wayne Pierce, the straight was cleared for the start of a great summer night of racing action under the light of a full moon.

After four of eleven rounds of the Western Late Model Chase for the Championship the battle for the 2008 Madera track champion has quickly boiled down to two drivers – current leader Joey Stearns of Stockton and Modesto’s Jeff Belletto, who entered Saturday night just five points behind Stearns.

Rick Thompson, of Clovis, took the lead at the start of Saturday’s Western Late Model 50-lap feature at Madera Speedway and held it for the next 48 laps, but it was Stockton’s Joey Stearns led when it counted the most – at the checkered flag.

While Thompson had clear sailing at the front of the pack, Stearns had to claw his way past several drivers including Modesto’s Harry Belletto, Mentone’s Ron Daniel and Austin Murphy, age 16 of Lanchaster.

Stearns had an easier time getting past Jeff Belletto, the night’s fast qualifier, when Belletto lost control of his car in turn three of lap 18 and spun. Belletto was able to keep his car off the wall and continue, but his hopes for picking up the win were gone.

Stearns finally pulled behind Thompson at the mid point of the race began to hound him for the lead, but despite his best efforts their cars were evenly matched and Stearns was not able to get past Thompson.

With the laps quickly winding down, Stearns tapped Thompson just hard enough to cause him to bobble. Thompson had to slow in order to regain control and that was just enough to allow Stearns to slide past him on lap 49 for the victory. Belletto was able to recover from a mid race mishap to salvage third.

"I could have won it if I hadn’t received a little help from Joey, but that happens in racing. I like him and I just hope next time he gives me a little more consideration," said the disappointed Thompson, who was looking for his first win of the season. "We have been struggling this year and it feels good to be back in front."

After the race Stearns climbed out of his car to a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd.

"I hated to have that happen with Rick. He ran a great race and I had to rough him up a bit to get by, but we are in a points battle and this is short track racing," said Stearns without remorse. "We are out here to win and not finish second."

While Howard Holden, of Clovis, remains in firm control of the American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) points, the division could not be more competitive. In the previous five ALSC races, five different drivers - Holden, Modesto’s Dennis Saunders Jr., Coulterville’s Matt Erickson, Stockton’s Donny Darter and Atwater’s Jason Aguirre – have all taken turns going to victory lane.

That streak was extended to six on Saturday when third generation driven Nic Belletto, age 18 of Modesto, blasted out of the middle of the pack like a rocket ship at the drop of the green flag to take the early lead.

Belletto, the son of two-time Stockton 99 Speedway champion Steve Belletto and grandson of three-time Stockton champion Harry Belletto, remained in total command of the lead for the entire distance. Aguirre turned in another strong performance with his second place finish and 2006 Stockton 99 Speedway ALSC champion Mark Holeman, of Stockton, completed the top three.

The 30-lap race ran caution free in a snappy 8 minutes and 16 seconds.

"I was thinking about it the whole race. After seeing my grandpa and dad do this all these years to finally do this myself is just unbelievable. It was great," gushed Belletto. "I kept looking in my mirror in case someone was coming. My dad was talking to me and giving me lap times just like I used to do for him."

Standing right beside his son with a huge smile was one very proud dad.

"He has never driven anything competitively before this year, but I will tell you what, he has probably watched more races than any other kid his age," said Steve Belletto. "He has come a long way this year. This feels pretty darn good."

Fresno’s Jed Gilman jumped out to the early lead in a very entertaining Toyota Sedan 20-lap race. He was challenged and ultimately passed by fellow Fresno driver Steve Trusner on lap 8.

At mid race defending Toyota Sedan champion Stan Hankins, also of Fresno, began to fill his rear view mirror. Hankins, who entered the night with five wins this season, slipped by Trusner on lap 11, but the stubborn Trusner refused to give in as the two battled it out wheel-to-wheel for the remainder of the race.

After multiple lead changes, Hankins was finally able to take gain a small advantage over Trusner on the closing lap to grab the victory by about a single car length over his determined rival.

"Wow, what a fun race. I enjoyed every minute of it," smiled Hankins, who also set fast time and won the dash for a clean sweep of the Sedan events. "I thought he had me three or four times. That is what racing is all about."

Fresno’s Jason Kerns had stated all season that he was not running for points and he proved to be a man of his word on Saturday. Despite having four wins and sitting a strong second in the points behind Hankins, Kerns stepped out of his car for the main and turned it over to his good friend Don Smith, of Fresno of course, who finished the race in third.

After having his seven race winning streak snapped last Saturday by Madera’s Jeff Dizney, Hornet division points leader Miles Humphreys, the 68-year-old racing great grandpa out of Clovis, returned the favor on Saturday.

Humphreys grabbed the lead in the 20-lap Hornet main on lap 5 from Fresno’s Justin Petz. A few laps later his friend Dizney began to challenge him and the two went at it in an exciting side-by-side fight that continued throughout the rest of the event.

Despite Dizney’s best efforts, Humphreys was able to hold off his determined rival by about a car length at the checkered flag to earn his eighth win of the season. Earlier in the night Humphreys also captured the trophy dash and his heat race for a clean sweep of his Hornet activities.

Humphreys, who carries a passenger seat in his car, had a special guest along for the ride in the main event – Dizney’s daughter Kelsey.

"When I was going wheel-to-wheel with her dad, Kelsey turned to me and said ‘kick his butt,’" laughed Humphreys.

Casey Nydahl held a comfortable lead in the early stages of the 20-lap Modified Super Toyota (MST) feature when the race was suddenly red flagged after Fresno’s Gene Adams got loose in turn two and was tagged by Donnie Large Jr., also of Fresno. Adams was shaken, but otherwise unharmed, although his car was too damaged to continue.

When the race resumed CJ Dizney, the 17 year old son of Jeff Dizney, Chowchilla’s John Bowersox and Madera’s Randy Fleming Jr. all began to a battle it out for the lead. The three went side-by-side-by-side on several occasions before Dizney finally emerged on top to take his first main event win in the MST class.

Bowersox, who was also seeking his first career MST win, had to settle for well-earned second just ahead of Fleming.

"We came out strong today and the car was just amazing. It was really fun mixing it up with John," said Dizney, who posted several wins in the Hornet class last season.

Also on hand Saturday to entertain the crowd were the Western Racing Association Vintage Midgets and Sprints, making their third appearance of the season in Madera. The beautiful vintage cars, celebrating the glory days of Midget racing in the 1940’s and 1950’s, ran a pair of exhibition events.

Madera Speedway will be dark next weekend before returning to action on Saturday, August 30th, with a big NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series program featuring twin 75-lap mains for the Western Late Models in Round #5 of the HotWood 750 Series. In addition, the American Limited Stock Cars, Toyota Sedans, Hornets, Modified Super Toyotas and Spectator Racing Series will all be taking on the "Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West."

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.