SCHLUNDT AND PETTIT CELEBRATE HOTWOOD LATE MODEL VICTORIES AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

You could not blame the late model stock car racing fans in attendance at Madera Speedway on Saturday night, September 1 for thinking that they had died and gone to heaven with a special HotWood Tri-Holiday program that featured twin 50-lap mains for the NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series Western Late Models and a 100-lap race for the SRL Wild West Shootout touring series.

The huge field of 26 Western Late Models that crowded into the pits on Saturday was trimmed down to 20 cars for the twin A Mains with a single 15-lap B Main for the eveningʼs 10 slowest qualifiers. Fremontʼs Glen Cook grabbed the B Main win while Rick Thompson, of Clovis, Tim Spurgeon, of San Ramon and Ernie Cappo, of Clovis, also earned transfer spots into the nightʼs two feature races.

The invert draw for the Western Late Models put 64-year-old veteran Harry Belletto, of Modesto and Turlockʼs Chris Monez on the front row for the first A Main.

Belletto turned into the alpha dog by quickly jumped to the front of the pack and he looked to be on his way to his first win of the season when Rick Thompson blew his engine on lap 23, spilling oil across turn one. Unable to steer in the black ice like conditions, several cars accordioned into each other, including Stocktonʼs Ross Strmiska, who entered the evening just 11 points in back of Mark Holeman, of Los Altos, in the battle for the 2007 track championship.

The race restarted with 17-year-old Trevor Schlundt, of Clovis, in hot pursuit of Belletto. Schlundt was able to get under Belletto for the lead when another yellow caution flag whipped out on lap 33. Unfortunately, the anticipated age versus youth rematch never materialized when Belletto was forced to limp to the pits with a broken rear suspension just as the when the green flag came back out.

Schlundt cruised on to his second victory of the year while Holeman made a pass underneath of Modestoʼs Mike Beeler with one lap to go to grab second place and solidify his season points lead over Strmiska, who was able to return minus most of his left side bodywork, to finish in twelfth.

The second Western Late Model main was nearly a carbon copy of the first race. For the first 20 laps Schlundt tried to chase down Stocktonʼs Joey Stearns who had grabbed the lead on the opening lap green flag. Schlundt hung on his bumper until the first yellow caution of the race came out on lap 20.

Taking full advantage of his front row birth along side of Stearns on the restart, Schlundt powered into the lead as the rest of the group jostled for position behind him. Holeman and Strmiska were also able to get by Stearns over the next couple of laps, but despite their best efforts, they were never able to get past Schlundt and were forced to settle for the place and show positions behind him.

"We knew it was going to be a tough field tonight, but we really had a strong car for both races," said Schlundt, who started the day third in the standings. "We really helped ourselves tonight in the points, especially against Strmiska."

Holemanʼs twin second place finishes strengthened his points lead heading into the season finale in the "Chase for the Championship" on September 29.

"It was a good night overall. After starting twelfth in the first race we were real happy to take second in that one," said Holeman with a big smile. "I gained a little more distance on Ross. Now we just have to wait for the final and we will be ready."

There were no smiles in the Strmiska pit.

"I hit that oil and just slid right into him. It was pretty frustrating and a bad points night for us," said Strmiska. "Luckily, we were able to scrap the car back together and get a third place finish in the second race."

The first 20 laps of the 100-lap SRL Wild West Shootout race resembled a demolition derby as numerous crashes and mechanical failures plagued the 21 car field, former two-time Madera track champion and fan favorite Jim Pettit II, of Prunedale, patiently lay in wait in the middle of the pack. The early race casualties included SRL season points Dave Byrd, of San Jose and Fremontʼs Troy Ermish, who started the evening third in the points, in a grinding crash on the front straight.

"We had a great race car tonight, just perfect. I thought had a chance to check out on the field, but we never got the chance," said Byrd in disgust. "The damage is extreme so we have a lot of work to do."

When things finally calmed down Pettit began to weave his way to the front, finally snaring the top spot following a caution restart on lap 59. Pettit then cruised to the checkered flag with Tracy Bolin, of Valley Springs and MK Kanke, of Frazier Park, in tow.

"We were set up for the long haul and kind of just waited early on and took care of the race car," explained Pettit, who also won the June SRL race at Madera. "I have a great team and our experience here really paid off tonight."

After winning the trophy dash earlier in the evening, Modestoʼs Steve Belletto, who entered the evening second in the standings, struggled throughout the race and finished a distant ninth. Nevertheless, thanks to Byrdʼs woes he picked up valuable championship points and will be well within striking distance of Byrd heading into the SRL finale at Shasta Speedway.

"It was a very eventful night. I am just grateful to pick up some points and bring the car home in one piece," laughed Belletto. "I thought we had something for the leaders, but we picked up a flat."

To no ones surprise Stocktonʼs Donny Darter continued his total mastery of the American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) division.

Starting from row four in the 12 car race, Darter quickly worked his way up to the front before bolting past Howard Holden, of Clovis, for the lead on lap 6 of the 30-lap race. As Darter rode off into the sunset, Stocktonʼs Pete Anderson Sr. held off Modestoʼs Dennis Saunders Jr. in a spirited battle for second.

Darter, who posted his 13th win of the season in 14 starts, also earned fast time in qualifying, plus wins in the dash and his heat for another clean sweep of his nightʼs ALSC activities.

"The officials made us add 75 pounds of weight tonight to try and slow us down," revealed Darter after the race. "It didnʼt slow us down any so thank you very much."

The Toyota Sedans and Modified Super Toyotas (MST) were once again run as a single combined 21-car field. The crowded track produced some exciting and intense racing without any major problems.

When the dust settled on the 20-lap feature, MST season points leader Shon "Woody" Woods of Madera and Toyota Sedan points leader Stan Hankins, of Fresno, both extended their leads by taking victories in their respective classes. Stocktonʼs John McCollum Sr. and Maderaʼs Randy Fleming Sr. rounded out the top three in the Sedans while Chowchillaʼs John Bowersox and Casey Nydahl completed the MST podium.

"That was a fun, exciting race and we are glad to get the win," said Hankins. "I want to thank all the fans for coming out and I hope they had a good time."

Fresno drivers Mike Gardner and Don Smith took the checkered flag in the two Sedan heat races while Hankins captured the trophy dash.

"I always get a funny feeling in my stomach when we have to run with the Sedans because there is always a lot of traffic and passing," stated Woods. "I just wanted to get through it without any problems."

Woods had the MST quick qualifying time of the night and was top dog in the trophy dash, but missed out on a sweep when Chowchillaʼs Jason Bowersox seized the win in the heat race.

The full field invert proved to be nothing more than a nuisance to Miles Humphreys, of Clovis and CJ Dizney, of Madera, the nightʼs top two qualifiers in the wild Hornet division. Both quickly made it to the front of the 10-car field in the 20-lap main and battled it out for the win. The 16-year-old Dizney had a little too much for his 67-year-old rival and cruised to his fourth win of the season in only six starts.

Earlier in the evening Humphreys grabbed the win in the Hornet heat race while Dizney snagged the victory in the dash.

Looking ahead, Madera Speedway will go dark next weekend for the county fair and return to action on Saturday, September 15 with the Annual Harvest Classic featuring the Super Modifieds, USAC/CASA Sprints & Midgets, 360 Super Modifieds and the Legends.

The track will go dark again on Saturday, September 22 before returning with the final NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series event of the season on Saturday, September 29 with a big program that will include the Western Late Models, American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, Hornets and Mini Cup.

Madera Speedway will conclude the 2007 season with the 1st Annual Pumpkin Smash 400 Enduro and Demolition Derby on Saturday, October 20.

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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