Dave Byrd and his Kenny Whalen owned Madera Auto Center Western Late Model started the weekend at Madera Speedway in Madera California on Saturday, September 13th for twin main events on “Fan Appreciation Night”.
The grandstands were filled to near capacity with appreciative fans, as Dave tried to give the fans what they tend to appreciate the most. With some hard charging, Dave made a couple of slick moves, getting through traffic and up towards the front of the field. It looked as though Dave would be challenging for the victory, until he got “jacked up” from behind, by a not so appreciative competitor, going into the corner. While Dave was steering like a mad man, to save the sideways car from spinning, he unknowingly hit the kill button on the steering wheel. Dave was able to keep from spinning and came out of the corner with the car straight, but without the engine running. As Dave worked to refire the engine, the cars he had passed got back by him. The main event went nonstop from there, but Dave was able to work with what he had, to finish in eighth position.
During the time between main events, the crew discovered a bent upper control arm in the front suspension. Repairs were made and the second main event for the night was on!
The second main event seemed to carry even more of a combatative nature, with mayhem breaking out regularly. With the new found handling and smoother steering, Dave was able to weave his way to the front of the field once again. The leader had checked out by this time, but Dave was able to run down the next couple of cars and finished in a very close third position.
The third race in Dave’s triple weekend came on Sunday, September 14, when Dave drove Mike Sargent’s IMCA Modified at Ocean Speedway's dirt track in Watsonville, California. The special Sunday “Fair Race” drew 28 modifieds. Following IMCA rules Dave was required to start at the rear of his qualifying heat race, due to not accumulating IMCA points during the current year. Dave had a good run in the heat and finished in the second position, qualifying him for the main event. After adding the transfers from the B-main, the field was set for the 22 car main event, with Dave starting in the tenth position. The track conditions were good and the car was on the move right from the green flag. Dave advanced to the sixth position and was running in a tight pack with the leaders when he received a flattened right rear tire. Dave dashed to the pits on the ensuing yellow flag for a tire change and was able to made it back out in time to restart at the rear of the remaining 20 car field. The lap 16 restart and the short 9 laps left of the scheduled 25 lap main, only left enough time to race through the field to finish in the eighth position.
“This is the best way to cap a racing weekend,” a smiling Dave Byrd commented. “Sunny, but cool weather and a little dirt track racing!”
Dave Byrd is partnered with: Performance Electrical, Strandwold Properties, Jack McCoy Enterprises, Freight Train Peters Racing Engines, Ringers Gloves, Team Chevrolet, Foletta Bros, Inc., Swendeman Hardware, Bob Strandwold Racing, Madera Auto Center, Madera Toyota, Toyota Certified Used Vehicles, Madera Chevrolet, Country Club Auto Body, MTD Farms, Foletta Bros, Inc., Madera Mobile, Perko’s Café & Grill, Robert V. Jensen, Inc., Central Valley P & S, Schroeder Torsion Bars, Jason’s Mobile Graphics & Decal, Kragen Auto Parts, Electronic Sorting Service, Schoettler Tire, Inc., AmeriPride Uniform Service, BG, Jim & Pam Garcia, Kenny Whalen Racing, Sargent Racing, Webster Motorsports, Country Builders and Construction, Pro-Chassis by Kellen Chadwick.
