Madera— The “Saturday Night Thunder” featuring the USAC Western States Sprint Car series will return to Madera Speedway this Saturday May 4th. Also running this weekend are the SRL MAAX Lites – CAM Series, the Super Truck Series, and the Toyota Modifieds.
The Western States Sprint Car series is making its first visit to Madera Speedway this season. Headlining the tour will return will be three former champions of the 360 cid wingless sprints. The 2001 champion, Tony Hunt from Fair Oaks California, will be driving car number 1 for Ken and Sharon Pierson of Elk Grove, California. Todd Ellison the 2000 champion, from Salt Lake City, will return full time to the series in a new beast wearing number 11, co-entered by Todd Ellison and Mike Aaby from Phoenix Arizona. Jeff Gardner out of Fresno California, who was the 1998 champion and runner up in 2001, will be driving car number 51. All three drivers will be competing in the full 17 race series.
After the first race in 2002 at EL Cajon speedway Rick Hendricks has a slim points lead over Mike Aaby Jr. and Scott Hansen. Rick is no rookie when it comes to open wheel racing as he has been doing it for years.
Rick captured his first USAC Western States Sprint victory in 2001 which made him the first driver in USAC western States history to achieve main event wins in all three divisions (T.Q., Midget, and Sprints). Currently Rick is racing his Sprinter on the USAC traveling series hoping to lock up the championship in 2002
Darrell Herzog is still perfect on the season in the SRL MAAX Lites – CAM Series. With a win in the opener at Madera and another win last weekend at Mesa Marin, Herzog is showing the field that he is definitely a championship contender. Jim Tartaglia, who finished second last weekend at Mesa Marin, is still looking for his first win of the season, as well as 2001 SRL Lites champion Roger Galleano.
The Super Truck Series will also be making their first stop of the season at Madera Speedway. With a very strong turnout of over 25 trucks and a very competitive race the last time they came to Madera, the Super Trucks, which are based on Chevrolet S10 bodies and 350 cid small blocks, promise to put on a good show.
In the Toyota Modifieds, Don Smith leads the points after setting fast time and wining the feature in their first race of the season. A Toyota Modified is an open-wheeled version of a Toyota Sedan car, much in the same way that a Grand American Modified is based upon the chassis of a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, or another late model type car.
Ticket Prices for the second installment of Saturday Night Thunder at Madera Speedway are as follows: $18.00 for adults, $9.00 for children 6-12, $45.00 for the family ticket of two adults and two children, and as always, children five and under are free. Grandstands open at 1:00 PM and the green flag will fly at 6:00 PM. For more information please call 559-673-7223 or visit our website at www.maderaspeedway.com.
