The much anticipated Harvest Classic weekend returns to Madera Speedway September 18th and 19th with a full slate of racing action that will satisfy any racing fan.
On Friday night, September 18th, race fans will pay just $5.00 to see American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans , Hornets plus a 410/360 Super Modified Practice session. Also on tap: Hot Rod and Burnout Show plus the final round of the Two Track Challenge.
Grandstands open at 5pm for the Harvest Classic Friday Night Show Presented by Madera Auto Center; Heat Races and Trophy Dashes will kick off at 6pm and the Burnout show will start at 7:15pm.. Opening Ceremonies and Main Events will start at 7:50pm.
The Harvest Classic resumes on Saturday the 19th of September with another exciting Super Saturday Open Wheel Event presented by Coors Light. On Saturday night fans will be entertained by the 410/360 Super Modifieds, USAC Sprint Cars, USAC/BCRA Midgets, and the Legends of the Pacific.
Indy racing legend Davey Hamilton is scheduled to appear on Saturday night to pilot a Sprint car and a Supermodified. Hamilton was runner up in the competitive IRL series twice and competed in the Indianapolis 500 this season, finishing 29th. Hamilton has extensive Supermodified experience and his many fans in the Central Valley will not want to miss the action on Saturday night!
The 410 Super Modifieds are making their final California appearance of the 2009 season at Madera Speedway on Saturday night. Fans will not want to miss this show as the 360 and 410 Supermodified 2009 Track Champions will be crowned.
The winged SMRA 410 Supermodifieds produce upwards of 750 horsepower and can reach speeds in excess of 130 mph at “the Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West”. 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.
Dinuba's Troy Reiger currently leads the 410 Supermodified points battle. Reiger has two wins at Madera this season with his last win coming at the last Super Saturday Event on August 15th. SMRA 410 driver Jim Birges of Fresno has also had success at Madera with an impressive three wins this season.
360 Supermodified driver Willie Northammer of Sanger was the first 360 across the stripe at the last Super Saturday event. The first place position was Northammer’s first of the season. Madera ’s David Tuey currently leads the 360 Supermodified points battle, four points ahead of Lance Tatro, also of Madera . With that narrow of a lead and the 360 champion to be crowned on Saturday night you will be able to cut the tension on the track with a knife!
Open wheeled excitement will be enhanced as the United States Auto Club (USAC) brings their popular Western Sprints and Midgets to Madera on Saturday night. The Midgets will be racing in a combined feature with the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) Midgets.
Tanner and Kody Swanson, the 18 and 21 year old sons of nine-time Madera track champion Mike Swanson, have dominated the USAC Western Sprint division this season with three victories each in eight races.
Tanner notched his third USAC Sprint win at Madera on the last Super Saturday event, beating his brother Kody to the stripe in a closely fought battle.
Tanner also won the Ford Focus Midget race on August 15th, pulling double duty with double victories that evening.
Tanner currently leads the USAC Western Sprint points battle with Garrett Hansen, of Manhattan Beach , leading in the USAC Western Midget points race.
The Legends of the Pacific will return to the track for the fifth time this season. The Legends of the Pacific are known for bringing an impressive line up of little hot rods to “the Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West”. Their last appearance at the track saw a car count of 16 Legends. Rockland ’s Robby Czub took the checkers of the 35 lap event that evening.
For the Harvest Classic Friday Night Show Presented by Madera Auto Center , fans will see if Modesto ’s Dennis Saunders can gain any more points on Atwater ’s Jason Aguirre for the American Limited Stock Car championship title. With a win in his last ALSC appearance, Saunders closed the gap between himself and Aguirre to a mere 13 points.
Similarly, Fresno ’s Jason Kerns with a win in his last outing crept within 10 points of Toyota Sedan leader, Chris Lewis of Sanger, to make the Toyota Sedan race on Saturday night a feature race fans will not want to miss.
Also on tap for the five dollar Friday night show are the Modified Super Toyotas and the fan favorite Hornets.
In addition, Friday night’s show marks the final race event for the 2009 4-Banger Two Track Challenge. The series began back in April at the Chowchilla Speedway and will have competed three races on pavement and three races on dirt once complete. All six of the race events where staged on big shows to give the drivers the maximum exposure possible.
Fighting for the number one spot on the stage during the 2009 banquet in November in the Two Track Challenge Series is Miles Humphreys and Grant Koontz. Humphreys has 208 points to Koontz's 194 points going into this Friday night's championship.
Next year, in 2010 the series will consist of eight races, four on pavement and four on dirt with a back and fourth schedule, meaning one pavement race and then one dirt race. The series will have plenty of time between races to allow the teams a comfortable schedule.
Friday night is also the Hot Rod Show and Burnout Contest, and we are not talking old hippies here, were are talking tire blazing hot rods burning rubber down the front stretch of the Madera Speedway!
Don’t forget, Friday’s show will cost you just $5.00 to get in. Grandstands open at 5pm, Heat Races and Trophy Dashes will kick off at 6pm and the Burnout show will start at 7:15pm. Opening Ceremonies and Main Events start at 7:50pm.
Ticket prices for Saturday, September 19th, 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, September 19th, the Madera Speedway pit gates will swing open at 12:00 AM, the grandstands open at 4:00 PM, heats and dashes begin at 5:30 PM and the evening’s opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 7:00 PM.
Please Note: there will be a Test ‘n Tune session on Friday the 18th of September 2009. Pits open for sign in at 11am and the track will be hot from noon to 4pm. Concessions will be open.
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.
