The Pombo Classic returns to Madera Speedway this Saturday night, July 18th with round #4 of the crowd pleasing Super Saturday Series, presented by Inside Lines Apparel & Graphics. The open-wheel program will feature SMRA 410 Supermodifieds in a combined feature with Madera’s 360 Modifieds, plus the Bay Area Racing Association (BCRA) and United States Auto Club (USAC) Midgets, Legends of the Pacific, USAC Ford Focus Series and NCMA Sprint Cars.
This special event honors racing legend Al Pombo of nearby Fresno. During his extensive racing career, which began in the 1940’s and stretched into 1970’s, Pombo earned more than 500 main event victories, seven NASCAR super-modified titles, and numerous championships at tracks throughout California including the San Jose Speedway, Kearney Bowl and Clovis Speedway.
The winged SMRA 410 Supermodifieds are lean, mean, earth shaking racing machines that produce upwards of 750 horsepower and can reach speeds in excess of 130 mph at Madera. The pavement rattling 410s will once again run in a combined feature with the 360 Modifieds in a format designed to produce large fields and exciting racing.
Legendary veteran Troy Regier, of Dinuba, recently picked up the 77th and 78th main event wins of his illustrious career by taking checkered flags at Las Vegas Bullring on July 2nd and Rocky Mountain Raceway in Colorado on July 4th to increase his lead in the 2009 SMRA standings by a healthy 1293 to 1091 over AJ Russell, of nearby Clovis. However, at Madera Speedway Fresno’s Jim Birges, leads Regier by 10 points (89 – 79) in the Supermodified standings on the strength of his pair of wins April 4th and June 13th at Madera. Regier has the remaining Super Saturday victory coming in the 32nd Annual Vukovich Classic on May 9th.
Birges and Regier will have plenty of other competition this Saturday as drivers from throughout the Western United States will be making the trek to the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” this weekend including Jeff Russell of Boise, ID, Lonnie Adamson of Salt Lake City, UT, Bobby Whittet of Ketchan, ID, Bobby Dalton of San Martin, Kenny White of Fresno, George Greenway of Tollhouse and Bryan Warf of Meridian, ID.
Defending division champion David Tuey is undefeated in four races this season at Madera in the ground pounding 360 Modifieds. The popular Bakersfield pilot will be looking to maintain his winning streak and extend his 103 to 77 point advantage over hometown ace Lance Tatro in the Madera season standings this Saturday. Other drivers that will be looking to rain on Tuey’s parade include Madera’s own Kenny Kinchen, Kingsburg’s Lance Jackson, Sanger’s Willie Northammer and Fresno pair Larry Hinz and Kyle Vanderpool.
The versatile USAC and BCRA Midgets, which compete on both asphalt and dirt, will be competing in their fifth of six joint appearances at Madera this season. Kingsburg’s Tanner and Kody Swanson, the 18 and 21 year old sons of nine-time Madera track champion Mike Swanson, have dominated the Midget action this season at Madera with two victories each.
The popular Swanson boys will once again have plenty of worthy competition this Saturday including BCRA defending champion Nick Foster Jr., of San Jose, five time USAC champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Scott Pierovich of Alamo, Chad Nichols of Colma, Marco DeGeorge of Manteca, Fresno’s David Prickett, El Monte’s Jermone Rodela and Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen.
Madera fans have come to expect large fields, wheel-to-wheel action and wild finishes whenever the exciting Legends of the Pacific pay a visit to the high banked oval. Once again, a field of 20 plus cars is expected to take the green flag this Saturday’s Legends main including Ripon’s Angelo Queirolo a two time winner at Madera this season, plus Rocklin’s Robby Czub, Tracy’s Jeremy Wood, Modesto’s Dylan Albani and Santa Rosa’s James Gilliland.
The USAC Ford Focus Midgets and powerful NCMA Sprints complete this fantastic open-wheel program. Both Jeff Oleen, of Bethesda, MD, in the Ford Focus division and Napa’s David Goodwill in the NCMA Sprints lead the charge in their respective classes with a pair of wins each at Madera this season.
The place will be rockin’ so don’t bother knockin’ just come on out to the home of Short Track Thunder as Madera Speedway hosts the Pombo Classic with SUPER SATURDAY #4, presented by Inside Lines Apparel & Graphics, this Saturday night, July 18th.
Ticket prices for Saturday, July 18th, are only $25.00 for adults, $23.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $20.00 for active duty military, students and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 while kids 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 just $55.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.
Fans can also receive a $5 discount off an adult ticket via email for this Saturday’s program by joining the Madera Speedway Fan Club and filling out the form available on the Madera Speedway website at www.racemadera.com. Fans who sign up will receive their discount plus other special items for future events.
On Saturday, July 18th, the Madera Speedway pit gates will swing open at 10:30 AM, the grandstands open at 2:30 PM, heats and dashes begin at 5:00 PM and the evening’s opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 7:00 PM.
Madera Speedway will also host a Test N Tune practice session on Friday, July 17th. The pit gates will open at 2:00 PM and the cars will be allowed on the track from 3:00 to 8:00 PM. Admission to the grandstands is free and the pit concession stands will be open. There will also be a presale of pit passes for Saturday’s Pombo Classic program. For additional information 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.
