CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN THIS SATURDAY AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

Source: Madera Speedway Media Relations/db
Date: 09/24/2008

The Madera Speedway will close out the 2008 NASCAR regular season this Saturday, September 27, with the 2nd Annual “Bent Fender” Classic. This exciting NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series program will feature the Western Late Models for a 100-lap race in the season’s final round of the popular HotWood 750 Series, plus the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, Hornets and Western States Racing Association (WSRA) Mini Cup and Baby Grands.

Last weekend Dinuba’s Troy Regier and Bakersfield’s David Tuey captured the season titles for the Super Modifieds and 360 Modifieds divisions, respectively. This Saturday five more drivers will earn the coveted title of 2008 Madera Speedway track champion.

In addition, the winner of this season’s HotWood 750 Series championship will also be determined this Saturday. The HotWood 750 Series consists of ten designated races over six dates this season at Madera and the winner will receive a lion’s share of the $6,000 bonus prize fund.

The battle for the Western Late Model championship has come down to Stockton’s Joey Stearns and Modesto’s Jeff Belletto. Stearns has held the lead in points for several weeks, but a series of steady finishes, capped off by his first main event win of the year last Saturday, has pulled Belletto to within a dime thin two points (1030 to 1028) of Stearns in the championship standings.

“It feels good to finally get a victory. It is so hard to come out here and race against all these guys and win,” said Belletto last Saturday in victory lane. “You have the best of the best out here. You have to really be on top of your game.”

This week’s finale will not come soon enough for Belletto.

“It is going to be a long week. We will be checking every nut and bolt and then check them again.”

Jeff will have the added advantage this week of receiving guidance from his father Harry Belletto, the all time wins leader and former three time track champion at Stockton’s 99 Speedway.

“All I can tell him is run your own race, stay out of trouble and don’t take any unnecessary chances until the last few laps,” advises dad.

At the same time that Belletto and Stearns will be fighting for the Western Late Model track championship, two of the track’s “Young Guns”

will be battling for the HotWood 750 Series crown as third generation driver Ross Strmiska, age 22 of Stockton, leads second generation driver Kyle Gottula, age 21 of Modesto, by a scant three points (224 to 221) heading into this Saturday night’s 100 lapper. Stearns holds down third place in the HotWood standings with 205 points.

Although Howard Holden, of Clovis, has already locked down the track championship, no division has been more competitive or exciting than the for the American Limited Stock Car division. A total of nine different drivers have won a main event and several others have knocked on the door this season at Madera.

Three other division crowns will also be awarded this Saturday night as hometown ace Randy Fleming Jr. in the Modified Super Toyota division, Fresno’s Stan Hankins of the Toyota Sedans and Miles Humphreys, the 68-year-old racing great grandpa out of Clovis, in the wild and crazy Hornet division will all be looking to put the finishing touches on the championships in their respective classes.

The WSRA Mini Cup and Baby Grands are showcase series for the racing stars of the future. 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. The series provides Star in the making Jake Gomes, age

15 of Manteca, will be trying for his sixth consecutive win this season at Madera in the Baby Grands or Rio Linda’s Chase Grigsby, who set a new track record qualifying and won the main event in the Mini Cup division on August 9th

So come out this Saturday, September 27th as the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” caps off an exciting season of racing and find out which drivers will earn the honor to be called a 2008 Madera Speedway champion!

Ticket prices on Saturday, September 27th are only $20.00 for adults, $18.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $15.00 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 $45.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.

This Saturday, Madera Speedway registration will begin and the pits will open at 11:30 AM, the grandstands open and practice will begin at 2:00 PM, heats & trophy dashes will commence at 5:00 PM and the evening’s opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 6:00 PM.

An open practice is scheduled for Friday, September 26th. Registration begins at 2:00 PM and the track will be hot from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM.

Call (209) 983-1689 or (209) 479-0056 or contact track manager Pat Patnaude at ppatnaude@racemadera.com for costs and other details.

Also, mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25th when Madera Speedway will draw the curtains on the 2008 season with the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Smash Halloween Crash, Bash and Blow Up!!! This show will include an Enduro, a Demolition Derby, the Drag Boat Nationals, an Open Comp twin 50-lap show for the American Limited Stock Cars, an Open Comp4 banger 50-lap race, the USAC Sprint Cars, Spectator racing Series and a spectacular end of the season FIREWORKS show!

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.

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