ROSS STRMISKA CAPTURES FIRST LATE MODEL WIN AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

Source: Dale J Bosowski
Date: 07/23/2007

With the fastest qualifiers starting near the rear of the 19-car Western Late Model 100-lap feature, the action was intense from the opening lap drop of the green flag.

Although he qualified only 16th, Ricky Thompson of Clovis used his pole position to grab the race lead through the first 29 laps before finally succumbing to the hard charging Mike Beeler of Modesto. Beeler remained in control of the top spot for the next 63 laps while the rest of the field feverishly shuffled and reshuffled behind him.

Ross Strmiska, the 21-year-old third generation driver out of Stockton, lined up beside Beeler on two occasions following yellow cautions late in the race, but was unable to get the best of Beeler on each occasion.

Strmiska continued to lurk right behind Beeler looking for any opportunity to make a move on the leader and he finally got his chance on lap 92 when the leaders encountered some back markers. With the daring of youth on his side, Strmiska made a dramatic plunge underneath Beeler to take the lead coming out of turn four as the crowd roared its approval.

"I tried to set him up and he hesitated just a bit getting on the gas and I got a run on him," explained Strmiska after the race. "I knew that this was the perfect time to try so I dove under him and it worked out."

Once in the lead, Strmiska would not be denied as he triumphantly took the checkered flag for the first time ever in a late model.

"Oh man, this feels good. I have wanted to do this all my life," said Strmiska in between hugs from his grandfather Ron Strmiska Sr. and father Ron Junior. "I donʼt have enough experience yet to be in victory lane every time out, but they say the first one is the hardest so I hope there are more of these to come."

Beeler would hold on to finish in a bittersweet second and Stocktonʼs Greg Potts captured third place.

"It is a little frustrating to finish second, but it was my fault for not making a decision on that lapped traffic," said Beeler. "I blinked for just a second and that was enough for Ross to get by me. It was still an enjoyable race though."

Stocktonʼs Donny Darter once again looked almost invincible as he cruised to his eighth win in nine starts this season in the American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) division.

After colliding with another car at the start of the ALSC feature three weeks ago, which also featured a full field invert, Darter kept his distance at the back of the pack in the early stages of this Saturdayʼs 50-lap race until the 13-car field sorted itself out. Darter started his crusade for the top spot on lap four and grabbed the top spot five laps later by diving under Modestoʼs Dennis Saunders Jr. on the back stretch. Saunders hung on for second place and Atwaterʼs Jason Aguirre completed the top three.

"I donʼt mind starting in the back. It is not great for me, but it is great for the fans and I think we should do a full invert every week," said Darter, who is planning to sell his ALSC car and moving into the late model ranks in 2008. "The last time out we got in a crash at the start so tonight I knew we had a fast car so I laid back until things settle down a bit."

Darter took fast qualifying time and the dash, but missed perfection when he came home behind Aguirre in his heat race. Dennis Saunders Jr. took the checkered in the other ALSC heat race.

Sacramentoʼs Randy Fellman used his pole position to the maximum advantage by going wire-to-wire for his first career victory in the Legends of the Pacific 35-lap feature.

While Fellman stayed on the point, the remainder of the huge 24-car field looked and sounded like a stirred up waspʼs nest as they sliced and diced for position behind him. Orangevaleʼs Frankie Marks pushed Fellman hard near the end of the race, but fell just short of catching him and settled for second place ahead of Mackena Bell of Carson City, NV.

"I lost my brakes with about 15 laps to go. Frankie had me worried, but I just hung on," said the ecstatic Fellman. "I am so happy and excited right now. We will be partying tonight."

Success was wide spread in the evenly matched Legends ranks as Modestoʼs Kelly Martin, Stocktonʼs Fred Clement and Dustin Ash, of Las Vegas, scored wins in the heats, Mackena Bell in the dash and Cottonwoodʼs earned fast time in qualifying.

After running separate heats and dashes, the Toyota Sedans and Modified Super Toyotas (MST) were run in one combined 19-car field for their 20-lap feature. The format provided plenty of thrills and spills throughout the entire race.

Fresnoʼs Don Smith bested the Stockton son-father team of John McCollum Jr. and

Senior in the Toyota Sedans while Shon Woods, of Madera, outraced Chowchillaʼs John and Jason Bowersox for the MST victory.

Coming of victories in both the MST dash and heat race, Maderaʼs Jeff Doran looked to be in control of the MST main until he spun coming out of turn four of lap 11. Doran recovered to salvage fourth place.

Besides his main event victory, Don Smith also captured fast qualifying time and the dash in the Toyota Sedans while John McCollum Jr. and Fresnoʼs Steve Trusner scored the heat wins.

Miles Humphreys, the 67-year-old grandfather out of Clovis, continued his season long domination of the wild and wooly Toyota Hornet division with a clean sweep of the eveningʼs qualifying, heat, dash and 20-lap main.

In the Hornet feature, Humphreys worked his way from the back of the nine-car field to take the lead from newcomer CJ Dizney, of Madera, on lap 11. Dizney did not give up, pressing Humphreys to the checkered flag, only to fall about one car length short of pulling off the upset.

"He (Dizney) was doing real well and stayed on my tail," said Humphreys. "I guess I need to try and drive a little harder."

There was plenty of action off the track as well with the First Annual Madera Speedway Hawaiian Beach Party entertaining the fans all night long. The festivities included a Hot Rod and Harley Motorcycle show, the Miller Lite girls, a Hawaiian shirt contest and a dance performance by track officials that cannot be adequately described here.

The fun and excitement will continue with USG Event Night next Saturday, July 28 at Madera Speedway. Highlighting the huge six division NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series program will be a 75 lap, $1,500 to win feature for the Western Late Models in the first of six big "Chase for the Championship" races that will determine the 2007 Madera track champion. Also racing will be the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Grand American Modifieds, 360 Super Modifieds and Toyota/Hornets.

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

For Madera Speedway information call the Info/Race Line at (559) 673-RACE

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