The Madera Speedway will close out its 2009 regular season NASCAR schedule this Saturday, September 26th, with the round #3 of the “HotWood 333” Series for the Western Late Models. This Saturday’s huge seven division NASCAR Championship Night program will also include the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, Hornets and Western States Racing Association (WSRA) Mini Cup and Baby Grands.
The 111-lap “HotWood 333” feature will be the final round of this very special three race series for the NASCAR Whelen All American Western Late Models. In addition to regular season prize money, the special “HotWood 333” Series has an end of Season Series Points Fund payout to the top 12 drivers of $19,500 plus a separate Qualifying Points Fund payout to the top five drivers of $1,500 for a guaranteed series payout of $21,000 and an overall payout grand total of $50.000! The “HotWood 333” Series prize fund will be distributed at the Madera Speedway championship awards banquet on November 7.
Golden State Racing driver Eric Schmidt, the 2007 All American Speedway champion of Roseville, won the opening round of the “HotWood 333” Series on April 11th in a down to the wire thriller over the defending 2008 HotWood Series champion driver Kyle Gottula of Modesto and third generation driver Ross Strmiska, of Stockton, nipped Gottula in Round #2 on August 1st. However, Gottula enters this Saturday’s competition with a narrow 219 to 215 lead over Strmiska in the HotWood standings while Rick Thompson of Clovis (197), Carlos Vieira of Atwater (191) and Matt Erickson of Lake Don Pedro (187) round out the top five.
In addition to the prestigious HotWood title, five 2009 Madera track champions will also be crowned this Saturday, joining Dinuba’s Troy Regier and Madera’s own Lance Tatro, who earned titles last Saturday evening in the Supermodified and 360 Modified divisions, respectively.
Kyle Gottula also leads the way in the Madera “Chase for the Championship” which consists of the final four Western Late Model races of the season. Gottula has posted seven wins this season, including two in the previous three Chase races, to lead the championship standings by a narrow 385 to 376 point margin over Carlos Vieira. Also still solidly in the championship hunt are Matt Erickson (375), Rick Thompson (357), Ross Strmiska (353) and Clovis ace Trevor Schlundt (343).
In the competitive American Limited Stock Car division Atwater’s Jason Aguirre is looking to put the finishing touches on the 2009 championship. Aguirre has posted three wins and numerous top fives to build a comfortable 318 to 279 point lead over Lake Don Pedro’s Matt Erickson heading into the finale.
Chowchilla’s John Bowersox clings to a narrow 351 to 345 point lead over Fresno veteran Donnie “Mr. Excitement” Large in the Modified Super Toyota class. Large, who missed the first three races of the season, has won eight of the last nine features to make his late season run on Bowersox.
Sanger’s Chris Lewis has held down the top spot in the Toyota Sedan division for most of the year, but a determined Jason Kerns of Fresno, posted his sixth win of the season last weekend to pass Lewis in the season standings. With fields ranging from 12 to 16 cars in recent weeks, Kerns will have his hands full as he tries to protect his slim 419 to 406 lead over Lewis on Saturday.
Like Lewis, after leading the Hornet class for much of the year 67-year-old rookie driver Dean Davison of Kingsburg saw his lead disappear last weekend as two-time defending class champion Miles Humphreys, age 69 of Clovis, notched his fourth win of the season. Humphreys, who has mentored Davison this season, heads into Saturday’s finale with a narrow 296 to 286 advantage over his young student.
The WSRA Mini Cup and Baby Grands are 1/2 and 2/3rds scale stock car replicas for drivers as young as eight years of age that can reach speeds of over 70 miles per hour. These two series are a showcase for the racing stars of the future such as Dylan Hutchison in the Baby Grands or Brentwood’s Patrick Hill in Mini Cup who will both be trying for their fifth win in seven starts at Madera this season. Double points will be on the line in both divisions.
So come out this Saturday, September 26th as the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” caps off an exciting season of racing and find out which drivers will earn the coveted honor to be called a 2009 Madera Speedway HotWood or NASCAR track champion!
Ticket prices for this Saturday’s, September 26th “HotWood 333” Series/NASCAR Championship Night 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 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 $35.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.
This Saturday the Madera Speedway pit gates will open at noon for the Western Late Models and 1:30 PM for the remaining classes, practice will begin at 3:00 PM, the grandstands open at 3:45 PM, qualifying will commence at 4:00 PM, trophy dashes will begin at 6:20 PM and the evening’s opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 6:40 PM.
There will also be an open practice/test session at Madera Speedway on Friday, September 29th when the pit gates will open at 2:00 PM and the track will be hot from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. Admission is free to the grandstands and the pit concession stands will be open. For additional information on the Friday 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.
Also, mark your calendars for Saturday, October 24th when Madera Speedway will draw the curtains on the 2009 season with the 3rd Annual Pumpkin Smash Halloween Crash, Bash and Blow Up!!! This wild show will include the powerful USAC Sprint Cars, USAC Focus Midgets, a 200-lap Enduro, a Demolition Derby, an Open Comp race for the American Limited Stock Cars, the Drag Boat Nationals and a spectacular end of the season FIREWORKS show!
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.
