GOTTULA AND SAUNDERS GRAB OPENING NIGHT VICTORIES AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

MADERA, California — Madera Speedway kicked off its 2009 schedule on Saturday, March 21st with the 20th Annual Smokey Hanoian Classic. The opening night program featured the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series Western Late Models in Twin-50 lap features, plus the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans and the always-exciting Hornets. The fans were also treated to a spectacular fireworks extravaganza to celebrate the start of the new season.

A field of 15 cars, headed by pole sitter Ross Strmiska of Stockton, lined up to take the green flag for the first of two 50-lap features for the Western Late Models. Strmiska took the early lead, but was soon challenged by his friend and rival Kyle Gottula, the 2008 HotWood 750 Series champion and the night’s fast qualifier out of Modesto.

On lap 7 Gottula attempted to get under Strmiska in turn #1, but the two touched causing them both to wobble as they fought to regain control of their cars and stay off the wall. Roseville’s Eric Schmidt exploited their predicament by deftly slipping past both of them for the lead.

Once he was out in front Schmidt increased his lead and looked to be heading for an easy victory when much to his chagrin a back of the pack spin brought out a late race yellow caution on lap 48. When the race resumed Gottula took full advantage of his second chance by getting around Schmidt on the outside and holding him off for the win.

"That was a good one. It got a little wild at the end, but I was really happy to get another chance at Schmidt," said Gottula. "Picking up the win and being fast qualifier is great way to start the year."

Bobby Hodges, age 19 of Carson City, NV took the final spot on the podium while Brentwood’s Doff Cooksey and rookie Jacob Gomes of Manteca rounded out the top five.

Unfortunately, the second Western Late Model feature was called when a steady rain began to fall later in the evening.

The American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) 50-lap main proved to be a rematch of last season’s top two drivers as defending champion Howard Holden, of Clovis and

Dennis Saunders Jr., of Modesto, battled it out for the win.

Saunders jumped to an early lead in the race by easily getting by pole sitter Larry Pasquale, of Fresno, on the opening lap. Holden soon moved into second, but was unable to close ground on Saunders who was cruising well out in front.

Saunders huge lead suddenly disappeared when a yellow caution flag came out on lap 24.

Holden grabbed the lead on the restart, but Saunders pulled even with him a few laps later, setting up a side-by-side battle that lasted for several laps. Saunders eventually grabbed the lead just before the rain began to fall and the race was called 10 laps short of its scheduled distance.

"I said all my prayers this year and they paid off tonight," said Saunders. "My car isn’t very good on restarts, but I was finally able to get it rolling and find a good line to get past Holden."

Pole sitter Cody Stout, of Clovis, turned himself around in turn #1 of the second lap of the Toyota Sedan 20-lap main, allowing defending division champion Stan Hankins, of Fresno, to take over the lead. That was all she wrote as Hankins easily cruised to the checkered flag ahead of Fresno’s Jason Kerns and Chris Lewis.

"We struggled like crazy all morning in practice. We took out some parts, put it back together and it ran great," said Hankins. "That was really fun stuff out there."

The post race inspection was not so fun for Hankins as officials disqualified him for a rear end infraction and awarded the win to Kerns.

The Modified Super Toyota 20-lap main was decided on the opening lap as Chowchilla’s

John Bowersox swept past the front row rookie tandem of John McCollum Jr. of Stockton and Justin Kawahata of Clovis to take the lead. Bowersox was never seriously challenged for the remainder of the race while McCollum held on for second and Rick Roberts Sr. of Madera rounded out the top three.

"The car was fast at the end of last season so I just put it on blocks and left it alone until I took it off the trailer today," explained Bowersox.

With the decision by two-time defending champion Miles Humphreys to run only a limited schedule this season, the battle for the 2009 Hornet division crown should be wide open in 2009. Modesto rookie Rich Harr showed that he could be Humphreys successor with his impressive win on Saturday.

Harr started the 20-lap Hornet feature from the third position and moved past Fresno’s Justin Petz for second place on lap three. He patiently s