Source: Madera Speedway Media Relations
Date: 06/28/2007

After going dark last weekend for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway, the “Fastest 1/3 mile in the West” will roar back to life this Saturday, June 30 with round #2 of the HotWood Tri-Holiday Series.

This special program will feature the SRL Wild West Shootout Late Models and the NASCAR Whelen Racing Series Western Late Models, American Limited Stock Cars, Toyota Sedans and the always exciting Hornets. Plus a huge fireworks display will light up the evening sky in an early 4th of July celebration before the night’s final event.

This Saturday’s 100-lap race will be the third of ten events on the SRL Wild West Shootout schedule. Other 2007 stops for the western region touring series include Shasta Raceway, Colorado National, Las Vegas Bullring and Altamont Motorsports Park.

Former NASCAR Winston Pacific Coast Regional Champion Dave Byrd, of Pacific Grove, picked up a hard earned victory over Fremont’s Troy Ermish when the SRL Wild West Shootout rode into Madera for round #1of the HotWood Tri-Holiday Series back on May 26. Salida’s Jeff Belletto leads both Byrd and his older brother Steve Belletto, of Modesto, by a narrow 93 to 91 margin in the latest SRL points standings.

Summer may be only a few days old but the action in the Western Late Model division at the Madera Speedway has been hotter than July since the beginning of the season. The action should get even more furious as the drivers and teams of the Western Late Model division scramble to get position within the top 20 in points during the “Race to the Chase" in order to qualify for "Chase for the Championship" that will take place over the final six races of the season.

With a $2,000 purse going to the winner of this Saturday’s Western Late Model 100-lap feature, the car count is expected to swell well beyond the solid 18 car average during the first eight races this season.

Mark Holeman, age 21 of Los Gatos, is currently leading the Western division by a 340 to 286 point margin over third generation driver Ross Strmiska, of Stockton while Joey Stearns, also of Stockton, sits in third just 15 points in back of Strmiska.

Holeman, a junior majoring in engineering at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo, celebrated the end of finals two weeks ago by posting his fourth win in eight starts this season in a wild 50-lap race that saw multiple lead changes and several accidents.

Stockton’s Donny Darter sits atop the American Limited Stock Car standings, Stan Hankins leads the way in the Toyota Sedans and Fresno’s Miles Humphreys is creating a lot of buzz thanks to his early season domination of the Hornet division.

If you are a fan of the late model stocks and fireworks – and who isn’t? – than you don’t want to miss round #2 of the HotWood Tri-Holiday Series. So come out early this Saturday, June 30, to make sure you get your favorite spot in the grandstands as the short track thunder continues at Madera Speedway.

The pit gates will open at 9:00 PM on Saturday June 30, the grandstands open at 2:00 PM, qualifying begins at 3:30 PM and the first green flag will wave to begin the evening’s racing at approximately 5:00 PM.

Ticket prices this Saturday are only $25.00 for adults, $20.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $18.00 for students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 and 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 $55.00. Adult fans with a sales receipt from any Save Mart Supermarket store receive a $5 discount at the gate on race days.

The Madera Speedway is located at the Madera County Fairgrounds just off to the west side of Highway 99 at the West Cleveland Avenue exit.

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