Following last weeks exciting season opening show, the Madera Speedway returns to action this Saturday night, April 5 with the first of six BIG Super Saturday Events on the 2008 schedule. The program will include both the 410 and 360 Modifieds, Bay Area Racing Association (BCRA) Midgets, Legends of the Pacific, Western Late Models and the first Spectator Racing Series event of the season.

The winged 410 Supermodifieds pack a powerful punch measuring upwards of 750 horsepower and can reach speeds in excess of 130 mph at Madera. Drivers and teams from all over the Western United States will be descending on Madera for this Saturday’s Super Modified event, including the legendary Troy Regier, of Dinuba. Regier has an amazing 70 career victories, including wins in both the Vukovich and Harvest Classics at Madera in 2007.

The versatile BCRA Midgets, which race on both asphalt and dirt, are propelled by four or six cylinder, 166 to 184 cubic inch engines that produce upwards of 350 horsepower. In last season’s two BCRA appearances at Madera, 16-year-old sensation Justin Grant, of Ione, picked up the first BCRA feature win of his career during the Vukovich Classic and Dallen McKenney, of nearby Clovis, triumphed in the Harvest Classic.

Both the 360 Modifieds and Western Late Models put on exciting shows in last Saturday’s season opener. Jeff Gardner, the 1999 USAC Sprint champion out of Fresno, went wire to wire in the caution free 360 Modified race that took just seven minutes and six seconds to complete while NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series championship for California Mark Holeman, of Los Altos and Ross Strmiska, of Stockton, renewed their rivalry from last season with Holeman grabbing the win in another down the wire finish.

NHRA Nitro Funny Car drag racing driver Gary Scelzi, of Fresno, will be a very special guest of Madera Speedway this Saturday. He will be competing against a group of local media members and some lucky fans in the Spectator Racing Series event. Scelzi will also be donating $100 to the American Cancer Society for any of the other participants that manage to finish ahead of him in the main.

Scelzi has won four NHRA world nitro championships – three in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car – to join the legendary Kenny Bernstein as the only drivers in NHRA history to score championship in both of the nitro categories. He has amassed 43 career nitro wins and has reached the final round in 70 national events.

Scelzi’s NHRA career best speed is over 333 mph, but that was in a straight line and so the real question for this Saturday is.….can he turn left?

The Madera Spectator Racing program is brand new for 2008. The program gives fans without any racing experience the opportunity to drive a racecar at the Madera Speedway and even compete in an actual event as part of a Saturday night program. The Madera Speedway will provide all the equipment including helmet, fire suit, neck brace and of course the car!

The cost for hitting the track in one of the special Sunday afternoon sessions is only $49.95 and full participation in a Saturday night event - including practice, qualifying and a 15-lap race – is only $299.95. Group, private events and 6 Race Championship Series rates are also available.

For more information on the Madera Speedway Spectator Racing Series program go to www.spectatorracing.com on the web or call (209) 476-8123.

Ticket prices for the Saturday, April 5 show are only $30.00 for adults, $28.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $25.00 for students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 while 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 just $65.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.

On Saturday, April, the Madera Speedway pit gates will open at 10:00 AM, the grandstands open at 3:00 PM, heats and dashes begin at 5:00 PM and the evening’s opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 6:45 PM.

The Madera Speedway is conveniently 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 visit the track’s website at www.racemadera.com or call the Info/Race Line phone number at (559) 673-RACE.

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