Madera Speedway returned to action with for Madera Valley Inn Night on Saturday, March 28th with a huge six-division program featuring the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series Western Late Models in Twin-50 lap mains. Also racing were the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans and Hornets plus the WSRA Baby Grands and Mini Cup.
In the first of two feature races for the Western Late Models, third generation driver Ross Strmiska, age 22 of Stockton, grabbed the early lead from polesitter Trevor Schlundt, of Clovis, on lap 5 and proceeded to build a solid lead over last Saturday’s opening night winner Kyle Gottula. Two yellow caution restarts gave Gottula, age 22 of Modesto, a chance at the top spot, but on each occasion Strmiska fought off Gottula and would gradually pull away.
Strmiska held a solid lead when a third caution came out on lap 30 after Schlundt came to a stop on the front straightaway. The third try proved to be the charm as Gottula got the jump on Strmiska when the green flag fell and stayed in front to the end. Roseville’s Eric Schmidt, the night’s fast qualifier, completed the top three.
"On these twin 50 nights you have to take it easy to save your tires so I was holding back a bit and letting him (Strmiska) burn his tires down," explained Gottula. "I figured there will be another caution and when there was that gave me my chance. I was beginning to get worried though because I wasn’t going to catch him without one."
The same two young guns went at it again in the second feature that shaped up to be a carbon copy of the first race. Strmiska grabbed the lead on the third lap from polesitter Jacob Gomes, of Manteca, and began to pull away from the field with Gottula again in pursuit.
A caution restart on lap 30 allowed Gottula to slip past Strmiska for the lead, but this time Strmiska would have none of it. He battled back to retake the lead by going outside of Gottula on lap 35 and cruised to the checkered flag for his first win of the young season.
Gomes, a rookie who dominated in the WSRA Baby Grands the last couple of seasons, held on for third, just ahead of Schmidt, to earn his first podium of his bright late model career.
"We were real fast in both races, but the car went away a little bit in the first race and he snookered me for the win on that restart. I wasn’t going to let that happen twice in one night," said Strmiska. "He used me up in the first race and I got a little revenge by returning the favor in the second. Kyle is a good friend and I think we have a little rivalry going."
In addition to their late model, the Strmiska family is also busy preparing a car for the upcoming NASCAR Camping World Grand National Series featuring NAPA Auto Parts/Toyota 150 at Madera Speedway on Saturday, April 25th and Ross, a third generation driver, talked about what his family’s help means to him.
"My dad (Ron Strmiska Jr.) being on my side is the biggest thing I have going for me. He works his tail off to help me. If it wasn’t for him and my grandpa (Ron Strmiska Sr.) I wouldn’t be out here. I love having all the family support and I can’t thank them enough."
Atwater’s Jason Aguirre ran the table in the competitive American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) division with wins in the 30-lap main and dash to go with his night’s fast qualifying effort.
Starting the main from the second row, Aguirre jumped to the lead on the third lap with last Saturday’s opening night winner Dennis Saunders Jr. of Modesto hot on his tail. The two pulled away from the rest of the pack, but try as he might, Saunders was never able to make a serious strike at the lead.
"I knew Dennis would be tough to beat, but I was able to hold him off. He was saying some stuff in the pits so I am happy to kick his butt tonight," stated Aguirre, in what looks to be a budding rivalry this season.
The 20-lap feature for the Toyota Sedans had the crowd off their seats from beginning to end.
Polesitter Cody Stout, of Clovis, locked horns with defending division champion Stan Hankins, of Fresno, from the drop of the green flag in an exciting side by side fight that lasted until lap 8 when Hankins finally edged ahead to take the lead.
Fresno’s Jason Kerns and Chris Lewis joined the fray at that point. The four driver sparring match culminated with Kerns, Hankins and Lewis going three wide on lap 16. Kerns and Hankins touched and bobbled, allowing Lewis to inch into the lead, which he held to the checkers just ahead of Kerns, Hankins and Stout.
"That race was something else. It was one of the hardest wins I have ever had in my life," said a jubilant Lewis, who set fast time, but missed on a sweep with Hankins victory in the dash. "Over the radio they kept yelling at me three ‘Its three wide, its three wide,’ but I didn’t care because we were racing for the win."
Stockton’s John McCollum Jr. jumped out to an early lead in the Modified Super Toyota 20-lap main. Chowchilla’s John Bowersox was the only car able to hang close, but he seemed incapable of catching McCollum until the leader suddenly slowed and pulled off the track on lap 13, handing the lead and win to Bowersox.
"I am just trying to stay consistent and so far we are off to a good start," said Bowersox, who also won last Saturday’s opening night race.
Fresno’s Justin Petz started the Hornet main from the fourth position, but he quickly streaked to the lead by the end of the second lap. Last Saturday’s Hornet winner, Richard Hull of Modesto, gave chase, but was never able to close in enough on Petz to make a serious pass attempt for the lead. Stockton’s Dawn Darter finished in third.
Earlier in the evening Petz also took the checkers in the Hornet dash and his heat race for a perfect night. Hull captured the win in the other Hornet heat.
Dillon Hutchison, age 14 of Citrus Heights, held off the hard charging Josh Gomes, of Manteca, to capture the victory in a caution marred 25-lap WSRA Baby Grand main. Modesto’s Michael Ray held the lead for the first half of the race, but succumbed to Hutchison following a lap 13 restart.
"It was tiring out there, but we had a good car all day and we just got everything right," said Hutchison. "The car was perfect at the end and we were able to pull away. It was our day!"
Tyler Johnson, of Dos Palos and Eric Hamilton, of Hanford, traded the top spot in the early stages of the WSRA Mini Cup feature before Brentwood’s Patrick Hill blew past them both by lap #4. Hill cruised to the victory ahead of Danny Allen of Lincoln and Tommy McCarphy of Mountain View to complete a clean sweep - fast qualifier, heat and race – of the evening’s Mini Cup activities.
"It was a tough race, but the leaders fanned out a little and I just started picking them off one by one," said Hill of his first ever main event victory in Mini Cup. "I knew I had a good car and I was confident I could win if I just hit my marks and didn’t make any mistakes."
The "Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West" will be back in action next Saturday March 28th with the first of six SUPER SATURDAY events on the 2009 schedule. Next Saturday’s open-wheel program, Presented by Inside Lines Apparel & Graphics, will include the powerful 410/360 Super Modifieds, USAC Sprint Cars, USAC/BCRA Midgets, Legends of the Pacific, NCMA Sprint Cars and WRA Vintage Cars.
On April 11 the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series returns with the opening round of the "HotWood 333" Series for the Western Late Models. The three-race "HotWood 333" Series will have a separate prize fund of $21,000 and also count toward the Madera track championship.
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.
