VIDOVICH CAPTURES WIN AS SRL SOUTHWEST TOUR RETURNS TO MADERA SPEEDWAY

Madera Speedway returned to action on Saturday, May 23rd with round #1 of the annual Holiday Classic Series presented by Performance Electrical. The six-division program included the SRL Southwest Tour along with the NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series Western Late Models, American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas and the WSRA Mini-Cup & Baby Grands.

A six-car invert put Fremont’s Troy Ermish and Sacramento’s Josh Combs on the front row for the start of the 110-lap SRL Southwest Tour feature. On the opening lap Ermish quickly charged to the lead ahead of Lakeside’s Auggie Vidovich, Combs and Cottonwood’s Craig Raudman, the night’s fast qualifier.

The lead pack soon shuffled when Combs spun on lap three and Ermish suddenly pulled into the pits on lap seven with an engine problem allowing Vidovich to inherit the lead. Vidovich, the former 2003 NASCAR Southwest Tour champion who was making his first start in the SRL after taking over Bob Strandwold’s #1 Chevrolet only a week earlier, would never relinquish the top spot for the rest of the race.

Raudman remained on Vidovich’s tail until Frazier Park’s MK Kanke slipped under him for the second spot on lap 46. A short time later Raudman’s car would grind to a halt in a shower of flames and sparks when something broke underneath his car causing him to retire for the night.

Kanke tried every trick in the book to get past the determined Vidovich only to be rebuffed on every occasion. In the latter stages of the race Vidovich was flawless as he threaded his way through traffic without giving Kanke any opening to make a pass.

"This is a technical track and we had a technical setup and it took a lot of patience on the throttle tonight," said Vidovich. "It is exciting to win in the first time out for Bob Strandwold Racing and in my first race in this series since 2006."

Kanke was disappointed after failing to make it to victory lane for the first time in three starts this season, but nevertheless he was pleased with his performance.

"We had a great race car. It was really fast, but we just never found the room to pass," commented Kanke. "It been a great season so far and I think we had the best car tonight so it has been good."

Prunedale’s Jim Pettit II, the 2008 defending series champion and former Madera track champion who was back in action following a very scary incident at Las Vegas three weeks ago in which he suffered smoke inhalation after his car caught fire, rounded out the podium. Although he was never able to contend for the lead Pettit had a strong run after starting the race in the seventh position.

"We got a little to close to the back wall and I think I knocked the tow out. The two guys in front of us were definitely better than us today. We had a third place car and that is what we got," said Pettit. "It is always an honor to be here. I have spent a lot of Saturday nights here."

The SRL Southwest Tour will return to headline the remaining two rounds of the 2009 Holiday Classic Series on July 4 and September 5.

Starting along side of Stockton’s Ross Strmiska in the front row, Trevor Schlundt, of Clovis, outdueled the third generation driver to take the early lead in the 40-lap Western Late Model feature. Schlundt looked all but unbeatable until a yellow caution flag popped out for debris on lap 20 and changed his fortunes.

Making the most of his second chance, Strmiska got the jump on Schlundt when the race was restarted. A few laps later 2006 track champion Rick Thompson, of Clovis, was also able to slide under Schlundt to take second place from him and that is how they stayed to the finish.

"He kind of got away from me at the beginning and so I was just biding my time hoping for a caution and when we got it I was able to take advantage of it," explained Strmiska of his second win of the season. "We pretty much ruined this car in a wreck a couple of weeks ago so I feels great to come back with a win."

The first half of the 30-lap American Limited Stock Car feature turned into a real barnburner as Modesto’s Garland Tyler jumped into the lead. Right behind me a pack of cars - including Fresno’s Larry Pasquale, Coulterville’s Matt Erickson, Atwater’s Jason Aguirre and Modesto’s Dennis Saunders – who were all trying to chase him down like a pride of lions after a wounded wildebeest.

On lap seven Erickson was able to take the lead while the others continued to jockey for position behind me. Following a lap 15 caution Erickson began to pull away from the rest of the field as Saunders and Aguirre slugged it out for second. The pair went side-by-side throughout the last third of the race until Aguirre was able to use some lapped traffic on the last lap to gain the upper hand and take second.

"I had to work for it early, but it was pretty easy after that" said Erickson, who also set fast time but finished second to Saunders in the trophy dash. "The car is still not quite right from opening day. We have a bad vibration on the top end so hopefully we can go even faster once we get that fixed."

After winning the opening two Modified Super Toyota mains of the season, Chowchilla’s John Bowersox has seen Stockton’s John McCollum Jr. suddenly emerge to be his prime competition as the Stockton driver captured the checkers in the last two events, the first wins of his seven year racing career.

In Saturday’s 25-lap feature McCollum quickly charged to the lead by overtaking Fresno’s Donnie Large on the second lap while Bowersox slowly worked his way through the field from his third row starting position. On lap nine, Bowersox finally cleared Large for second and tried to close the 10-car length gap on the leader when a yellow flag gave him his opportunity on lap 16.

When the race resumed a determined McCollum would not budge as he continued to hold the inside line and as Bowersox continued to try the outside Sanger’s Chris Lewis was able to slip under him for second. The three drivers remained bumper to bumper to bumper over the closing laps as McCollum held them off his determined challengers for his third consecutive win of the season.

"Both of those guys are really tough and I knew I had to hit all my marks to hold them off," said a smiling McCollum. "I am really loving being in this winner’s circle and I hope I can continue to be here all season."

Patrick Hill, age 12 of Brentwood, continued his season long domination of the WSRA Mini Cup division by posting his third straight victory at Madera. Hill started the 25-lap main from the pole and was never seriously challenged in the race. Following Hill across the finish line were brothers Cameron and Kyle Wininger of Fremont.

"It was a tough race early on. I would like to congratulate Kyle and Cameron for finishing in the top three in only their third race out here," said the gracious winner.

Lincoln’s Danny Allen was the Mini Cup fast qualifier and dash winner, but he was ordered to the infield for the night early in the race after he was deemed to be at fault in an incident that saw Eric Hamilton, of Hanford, spin into the wall on the back straight.

Like Hill, Dillon Hutchison of Citrus Heights, was also gunning for his third straight win at Madera in the WSRA Baby Grands, but his task was much more difficult after he found himself ninth in the 13 car field at the start of the 30-lap race.

Manteca’s Michael Sandoval held the lead on the opening lap and that was the place to be as there were numerous incidents behind him which brought out several yellow cautions and one red flag in the first half of the race. The problems played right into Hutchison’s hands as he avoided trouble and steadily moved through the field while other drivers spun and crashed their way to the back.

Following another restart on lap 14, Hutchison dove under Sandoval for the lead, which he held over Sandoval for the remaining distance. Sacramento’s Robbie Roy finished in third.

"I was towards the back, but I stayed patient and I started to pick them off lap by lap and I got the lead and kept it," said Hutchison.

Madera Speedway will be back in action next Saturday, May 30th with Hoosier Tire Night featuring the NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series 360 Super Modifieds, Western Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, American Limited Stock Cars, Hornets and Toyota Sedans.

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.