Summer is officially still a few weeks off, but the action at the Madera Speedway will be hot – acetylene torch hot – when the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” returns to action this Saturday, June 6th featuring another fantastic NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series program that will include the Western Late Models, American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans and Hornets.
Third generation driver Ross Strmiska continued to close in on the points lead in the Western Late Model standings by posting his second consecutive win, and third overall this season, in last Saturday’s exciting 50-lap feature. As a result, Strmiska, age 22 of Stockton, has closed to within 16 points of second generation driver Kyle Gottula, age 22 of Modesto, at 173 to 157. The “Young Guns” have a stranglehold on the top of the standings as Trevor Schlundt, age 19 of Clovis, holds down the third position with 130 points.
The lead in the ultra competitive American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) division has flipped flopped between rivals Jason Aguirre, of Atwater, and Dennis Saunders Jr., of Modesto, all season long. Aguirre reclaimed the top spot last Saturday after he posted an improbable third place finish after surviving bone jarring, multi car accident half way through the race. He now holds a 17 point (137-120) advantage on Saunders heading into this week’s event.
However, Aguirre and Saunders have both been looking over their shoulders of late and trying to figure out how to slow the momentum of Matt Erickson, of Lake Don Pedro, who has posted impressive victories in each of his last three starts including the last two Saturdays. Despite having run only a partial schedule, Erickson has suddenly bolted into third place in the ALSC standings with 93 points. Erickson, who has also competed in the Western Late Models, credits his success to hard work stating simply, “We work on the cars from Sunday to Saturday.”
The Toyota Sedans produced another entertaining race last Saturday when Fresno’s Jason Kerns beat season points Chris Lewis, of Sanger, to the checkers for his second win of the season. The win also enabled Kerns to leapfrog both Cody Stout of Clovis, and defending champion Stan Hankins, of Fresno, in the standings. He now trails Lewis by a 142 to 111 point margin with Stout and Hankins log jammed just behind him at 109 and 104 points, respectively.
Chowchilla’s John Bowersox quickly jumped into the early lead in the Modified Super Toyota standings by winning the first two races of the season, but Stockton’s John McCollum Jr. has found the Midas touch by posting three straight wins to take over the division lead by a single point at 117 to 116. Making McCollum’s hot streak even more impressive is the fact that those three victories are the first and only ones of his seven year racing career.
After 68-year-old great grandpa Miles Humphreys, of Clovis, clinched his second consecutive Hornet championship last season, he promptly announced that he would only run a part time schedule in 2009 and help nurture fresh talent. It appears he has found his new protégé in 67-year-old rookie sensation Dean Davison, of Kingsburg, who pulled off a daring last lap pass on veteran Justin Petz, age 18 of Fresno, last Saturday night to notch his first career victory in only his fourth start.
Modesto’s Richard Hull continues to lead the Hornet standings, but Petz has pulled to within 20 points of him at 97 to 77 while Davison and Humphreys move into the third and fourth spots with 68 and 46 points respectively.
With Super Saturday #3 scheduled for Saturday June 13th and a bye weekend to follow for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Infineon Speedway on June 18-20 this will be the last chance to see all of these great drivers and teams in action until June 26th so head on out for USG Night this Saturday, June 6th for some Short Track Thunder.
Ticket prices for this Saturday’s program are only $15.00 for adults, $13.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $10.00 for students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 while kids age 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 $35.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.
On Saturday, June 6th, the Madera Speedway pit gates will open at 2:00 PM, the grandstands open at 4:00 PM, heats and dashes begin at 5:45 PM and the evening’s opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 6:30 PM.
There will also be an open practice session at Madera Speedway on Friday, June 5. The pit gates will open at 3:00 PM and the track will be hot from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Admission is free to the grandstands and the pit concession stands will be open.For additional information on the test session contact Track Manager Pat Patnaude at (209) 983-1689 (track), (209) 479-0056 (cell), (209) 983-0967 (fax) or email to ppatnaude@racemadera.com.
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.
