Madera Speedway helped celebrate our nation’s birthday on Saturday night, July 4th with Round #2 of the SRL Southwest Tour Holiday Classic, presented by Performance Electric. The program also featured the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series Western Late Models, American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans and Hornets.
In a special salute to the good old USA, before the start of the main events all of the cars racing during the evening’s program lined up on the front straightaway and logged a couple of laps in a four abreast formation with American flags waving from their cockpits. Later in the evening the fans were entertained with a spectacular fireworks show sponsored by Pacific Mobile Structures.
Cottonwood’s Craig Raudman, driving the Bob Strandwold Racing #1 Chevrolet, was the quickest qualifier for the 120-lap SRL Southwest Tour main, but an invert draw of eight landed Lakeside’s Auggie Vidovich on the pole of the 19-car field. Vidovich grabbed the lead on the opening lap from Frazier Park’s MK Kanke, who started beside him on the outside of the front row, setting up a rematch of their epic battle for the lead in the previous SRL race at Madera on May 23.
For the first half of the race Kanke, driving his familiar red #33 RPM Motorsports Chevrolet, tried every trick in his vast arsenal to get past the stubborn Vidovich only to be rebuffed on each and every occasion. Finally on lap 60 Kanke was able to edge underneath of Vidovich and make it stick to take over the top spot. Kanke would never be seriously challenged in the last half of the race as he slowly pulled away from the rest of the field to earn his third win in just four starts this season.
"We really had a great car. It was tough to get by Auggie, but he is a class act and he raced me clean the whole time," remarked Kanke. "The tires were great tonight. I could drive where ever I wanted to and I finally found a way to get past Auggie."
Behind Kanke a variety of cars fought it out to earn top five honors including Raudman, Sacramento’s Josh Combs, Santee’s Mike Mendenhall, Bakersfield’s Kevin Callahan, Goleta’s Greg Voight and 2008 series champion Jim Pettit II of Prunedale. Unfortunately, a cut tire would do in Raudman and Mendenhall’s night would come to an early end after he was touched by Pettit and spun out while fighting for third.
When the smoke cleared the final order across the finish line was Kanke, Callahan, Voight, Vidovich and Pettit, who made a miraculous recovery after he was sent to the back of the field for spinning Mendenhall. Vidovich would later be dropped five positions for a post tech violation elevating Pettit to fourth and Combs to fifth.
"It is really amazing to be racing with these guys and I am having a great time doing it," said the 21-year-old Callahan. "I have been watching MK since I was a kid and he has always been great so I wasn’t surprised by how well he ran tonight."
This Saturday’s race was the second of three stops at Madera on the 10-race SRL Southwest Tour schedule this season. The SRL will return for the final time in 2009 with a 130-lap feature on Saturday, September 5th.
The American Limited Stock Cars went at it in a 40-lap feature with Fresno’s Rusty Robertson leading the 10-car field to the green flag. Modesto’s Garland Tyler quickly passed Robertson on lap two to assume the lead, but Tyler’s stay at the front would not last much longer as defending division champion Howard Holden, of Clovis, quickly knifed through the field from his eighth position starting spot to take the lead on lap seven.
Howard gradually stretched out his advantage as Tyler, Madera’s CJ Dizney, Coulterville’s Matt Erickson, Atwater’s Jason Aguirre and Modesto’s Dennis Saunders, the night’s trophy dash winner, all fought for position behind him. Dizney eventually would get the best of that battle and was slowly reeling in Holden in the final laps, but he could not get close enough to make a serious attempt at the lead before the checkered flag waved as Holden earned second win of the season.
"We put on some new tires since the first race this year and that really helped," said Holden. "In the last laps my guys were telling me that the #15 (Dizney) was coming and I used everything I had left to stay ahead of him."
A special best of three, five lap match race for Western Late Model drivers Rick Thompson and Matt Erickson preceded the American Limited Stock Car 40-lap feature.
After splitting the first two races the fans were allowed to choose with their applause which driver would start from the inside for the rubber match. Erickson garnered the favor of the fans, but the pole position did not help him as Thompson, of Clovis, jumped into the lead at the end of the first circuit and then held Erickson at bay over the final four laps for a two car length win.
"I actually have to thank the fans for letting Matt start on the bottom because I could not have beaten him from down there," said Thompson, the 2006 track champion. "All my car could do was handle the top."
As usual the Toyota Sedans put on an exciting show as two-time defending division champion assumed early command of the race by swooping outside of polesitter Don Davey, of Clovis, on the second lap of the 30-lap feature to take the lead. Hankins, still looking for his first win this season, began to pull away from the rest of the 13 car field until a yellow caution on lap nine reformed the pack.
Hometown driver Del McIntosh sat along side of Hankins on the front row for the restart and after a prolonged multi lap battle, McIntosh captured the lead. Despite getting intense pressure from division points leader Chris Lewis of Sanger, Fresno’s Jason Kerns, Hankins and Cody Stout of Clovis for the remainder of the race, McIntosh would never relinquish the top spot as he picked up his first win of 2009.
"Stan got a good jump on the restart, but I got a great run on him and I was able to clear him," remarked McIntosh. "I have got to thank everybody I raced with tonight because that was a good, clean and hard race. Everybody ran me clean and these guys are all fun to race around."
Polesitter Justin Kawahata, of Clovis, held the early lead in the 11 car Modified Super Toyota feature, but the real action was behind him where a hard three car crash on lap nine sent Fresno’s Gene Adams, Stockton’s John McCollum Jr. and Fresno’s Donnie Large, who was looking for his third straight win, to the pits. Large was able to return after a change of tires, while McCullom, who entered the night trailing Chowchilla’s John Bowersox by just three points for the division lead and Adams were done for the night.
With Bowersox now holding down the top spot, Large charged back through the now depleted field and was soon challenging for the lead. On lap 17 Large inched past Bowersox and though he could never shake Bowersox, Large was able to keep him on his rear bumper to complete an amazing comeback. Jason Bowersox, John’s son, joined his father on the podium with a strong third place run.
"I’m back," exclaimed Large as he climbed out of his car in victory lane. "I enjoyed racing with John and Jason tonight. They are all good guys."
The 25-lap Hornet feature also doubled as the first of three designated races at Madera in the Hornet versus 4-Banger Challenge held in conjunction with the Chowchilla Speedway.
Modesto’s Richard Hull held the advantage through the first half of the 25-lap main, but he eventually relinquished the lead to fellow Modestan JD Silva following a lengthy side by side duel on lap 14. Four laps later Silva would fall victim to 67-year-old rookie Dean Davison, of Kingsburg, who shot past him to take the lead and ultimately his third win of the season.
"I didn’t think I was going to be able to stay up with the leaders and all of a sudden I found some extra power from someplace and we just let her go," explained Davison. "Life is great."
Miles Humphreys, of Clovis, slipped past Silva on the final lap to secure second place which enabled him to take the lead in the Hornet/4-Banger Challenge over Carmel Valley’s Grant Koontz who crashed on lap nine and finished a disappointing ninth in the 11 car field.
"I wasn’t going to race this year, but when I heard about the Challenge I just couldn’t resist it," said Humphreys, who has mentored Davison this season. "I have years and years of experience on the dirt and I probably have a little advantage here over the Chowchilla drivers since I have raced here in this class the last couple of years. It has been really fun."
The Hornet/4-Banger Challenge will conclude with races at Madera on September 5th and 18th.
Following an open practice next Saturday Madera Speedway will return to action with SUPER SATURDAY #4/ POMBO CLASSIC, presented by Inside Lines Apparel &
Graphics. This great open wheel program will include the 410/360 Super Modifieds, USAC/BCRA Midgets, USAC Focus Midgets, Legends of the Pacific and NCMA Sprint Cars.
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.
