Source: Madera Speedway Media Relations/db
Date: 09/26/2007

The Madera Speedway will close out its 2007 regular season racing schedule with an exciting NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series event this Saturday, September 29. The huge program, dubbed the “Bent Fender” Classic, will feature “twin 50s” each paying $1,000 to win for the Western Late Models plus the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans, Hornets and WSRA Mini Cup.

The hard, fought season long battle for the track championship in the Western Late Model division has narrowed down to three drivers. Mark Holeman, age 22 of Los Altos, enters this Saturday’s doubleheader with an uneasy 337 to 311 point lead in the “Chase to the Championship” standings over third generation pilot Ross Strmiska, age 21 of Stockton. Another young driver Trevor Schlundt, age 17 of Clovis, sits in third with 297 points after sweeping the previous two events for the Western Late Models back on September 1.

“I am excited to not have to wait anymore,” said Holeman, who is beginning his senior year as an engineering major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. “Our goal at the start of the year was to win the championship at Madera and this Saturday we plan to just keep doing the same things we have done all season.”

Strmiska hopes that the twin bill format will work to his advantage this Saturday. He expects to have to do well in both features to have a real shot at making a charge to the top of the standings.

“The twin race format is probably going to help me more than it can hurt me since it gives me two chances to make up points,” explained Strmiska, who has posted three victories this season. “I feel confident that we are going to be running up front. It is going to be hard, but I think we still have a real chance to win it all.”

Holeman, who has posted five feature wins in 2007, professes to not be overly concerned about the points situation and does not foresee any change in the way he and his team will approach this Saturday’s finale - at least not yet.

“Our goal is to finish every race and the standings won’t change what we try to do in the first race,” said Holeman of his strategy. “What happens in the first one might make a difference in how we run the second race. Of course, out front is always the best place to be.”

The situation is reversed in the NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series standings for California where Strmiska continues to cling to a narrow 638 to 628 point lead over Irwindale Raceway’s Rip Michels heading into the final weekend of the national competition and Holeman, who sits in third with 612 points, will be playing catch-up.

“I am real excited to be leading in the NASCAR state standings, but that one is going to be close and come down to who does well this weekend also,” said Strmiska. “I am really shooting to win the state championship because I think it will really help my career a lot. I would love to win both titles.”

One driver who is not the least bit concerned with points is Donny Darter. The Stockton ace has already wrapped up the American Limited Stock Cars (ALSC) championship thanks to his incredible 13 wins in 14 starts at Madera this season. He will be looking to cap off his near perfect season with one final ALSC victory before departing for the late model ranks in 2008.

Three other division crowns will also be decided this Saturday night as hometown favorite Shon “Woody” Woods in the Modified Super Toyota division, Fresno’s Stan Hankins of the Toyota Sedans and Clovis pilot Miles Humphreys from the wild and crazy Hornet division will all be looking to seal the deal in their respective classes.

Come out this Saturday, September 29 for an action packed night to remember at the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” and find out which drivers and teams will earn the honor to be called a 2007 Madera Speedway champion!

Ticket prices for Saturday, September 29 are only $18.00 for adults, $15.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $12.00 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 $40.00. Adult fans with a sales receipt from any Save Mart Supermarket store receive a $5 discount at the gate on race days. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.

For the Saturday, September 29 program, the Madera Speedway pit gates will swing open at 11:00 AM, the grandstands open at 2:00 PM, qualifying will commence at 3:00 PM and the first green flag will fly to begin the evening’s racing at approximately 5:00 PM.

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 Awards banquet will take place on Friday, October 19 at Hatfield Hall on the Madera Fairgrounds. Drivers, sponsors and fans are all welcome at the event. The cost is $35, which will include a buffet dinner, dancing and door prizes. For more information on the banquet contact track director Pat Patnaude by phone at (209) 983-1689 or by email at ppatnaude@racemadera.com.

The Madera Speedway is 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 call the Info/Race Line at (559) 673-RACE.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend