Source: Madera Speedway Media Relations
Date: 04/28/2008

On Saturday night April 26, Madera Speedway hosted the Fred Gerhardt Classic, a combination open-wheel/stock car program featuring the powerful United States Auto Club (USAC) Midgets and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series.

The 100-lap USAC Midget feature had the fans on the edge of their seats the entire distance.

Michael Faccinto, of nearby Hanford, took the early lead in the race, but was soon being stalked by Western Speed Racing teammates Billy Wease of Indianapolis, Indiana and Paul Zimmerly of Ridgefield, WA. With the precision of the Blue Angels, both were able to make the pass around Faccinto with one quick swoop to the outside on lap 41.

The two teammates had at each other for the next 40 laps. Their exciting duel was brought to a momentary stop for a yellow-caution on lap 81, but much to the disappointment of the crowd, it never resumed as Zimmerly suddenly went to the pits and parked his car for the night with a mechanical problem.

"That was a tough, fun race. I was finally able to get past the 41 (Faccinto) and then my teammate got past me. I had to really work to get by him and when I finally did, I set sail," said Wease. "This is my second time here and my second win so I really love this place."

Dallen McKenny, of Clovis, inherited second place when the race went back to green, but he was never able to mount a serious challenge to Wease in the final laps. Scott Pierovich, of Alamo, Faccinto and Daniel Bedford, of Brentwood, completed the final top five.

"I am not used to these longer runs. We were close and I was hoping to have a little more at the end, but they had us covered," explained McKenny. "They were just a little better than us tonight."

An invert draw of eight put the mid level qualifiers to the front of the 13 car starting pack for the first of two 50-lap features for the Western Late Models. Trevor Schlundt, age 18 of Clovis, took full advantage of his front row starting spot by jumping out to the race lead on the opening lap over pole sitter Rick Thompson, of Clovis.

The cars of Modesto’s Mike David and Stockton’s Ross Strmiska quickly positioned themselves behind Schlundt, but much to Schlundt’s delight, the pair spent most of the race battling each other for second as Schlundt calmly held his position at the front.

Schlundt crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of David and third place finisher Vito Ranuio, of Stockton, with an impressive wire-to-wire win. Strmiska made slight contact with Modesto’s Kyle Gottula with just two laps to go blew and limped home a disappointing ninth.

"It has been an incredible week. I can’t thank my sponsors and crew enough," said Schlundt, who became the fourth different Western Late Model winner in four races this season "Mike (David) was really pushing us. We did everything we could to hold him off."

"The car ran well, but we used it up fighting Strmiska," explained David, the defending NASCAR Camping World Grand National West Series champion, who was driving the car owned by Madera Toyota Auto Center’s Kenny Whalen.

The second half of the Western Late Model doubleheader looked much like the first. After duking it out side-by-side in the opening laps with Stockton’s Joey Stearns, Schlundt was able to take command of the race with Stearns still in hot pursuit.

Stearns fought hard to stay with Schlundt for the remainder of the event, drawing even with Schlundt on the final lap, but his efforts were in vain as Schlundt was able to hold him off by a car length at the checkered flag. Three other Madera "Young Guns" - Stockton’s Ross Strmiska, Kyle Gottula, Vito Ranuio – followed them across the stripe.

"We were on old tires and I wasn’t sure if I had enough to hold Stearns off. I did everything I could," said an exhausted and happy Schlundt. "The whole night was crazy. The invert really helped us tonight in both races."

Schlundt’s double win made him the first repeat winner in the Western ranks for 2008.

The American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) 30-lap main could basically be split up into thirds.

Stockton’s Dennis Saunders Jr. jumped to an early lead in the race before eventually succumbing to Atwater’s Jason Aguirre just after the half way point of the event. On a restart following a lap 20 caution, season points leader Howard Holden, of Clovis, sprinted to the lead over Aguirre while Stockton’s Brian Vosburg spun on the same restart, ending his chances for third victory this year.

Holden was never challenged for the remainder of the race as Aguirre and Lloyd Bamping, of Clovis, followed him to the checkers. Holden now has two wins and two-second place finishes in his four starts this season.

"We got shuffled back behind some slower cars, but my guys just kept telling me over the radio to keep going, keep going," said Holden. "It was a lot of fun out there from the beginning to the end tonight."

Holden took top time in the night’s ALSC qualifying, Vosburg triumphed in the dash while Saunders and Fresno’s Larry Pasquale each grabbed heat wins.

Fresno’s Jim Birges jumped to the lead on the opening lap of the 30-lap 360 Modified main and never looked back. David Tuey, of Bakersfield and Kenny Kinchen, of Madera, rounded out the podium. Kingsburg’s Lance Jackson had the only other car on the track at the conclusion of the race as attrition took its toll on the eight-car field.

"These guys are tough, but I got a little lucky in the opening laps and got some clear air and once you do its pretty easy to stretch out," said Birges. "This car is for sale, so if anyone is looking for a 360, this is a good one. These are a lot of fun."

Coming off a lap 2 caution, Chowchilla’s Jason Bowersox grabbed the lead on the restart from his father John Bowersox in the 25-lap Modified Super Toyota (MST) main. Bowersox held the top spot until Randy Fleming Jr., of Madera, slowly reeled him in and made the pass by him on lap 20. Bowersox was able to hold off 2007 division champion and winner of the dash earlier in the evening, Shon "Woody" Woods of Madera, for a hard-earned second place.

"I think we were using them up a bit," laughed Fleming as he inspected his smoking brakes following the race. "I thought we might have hurt it in the little tangle we go into during the dash, but it felt all right and I was able to drive it to the front."

Next Saturday night, May 3, the action returns to Madera Speedway with the Four Banger Spring Nationals and Enduro Night. The Four Bangers will race in a 125-lap feature, on a dry track, for a winning purse (based on a field of 30+ cars) of $1,000! The track will then be soaked down for Round #1 of the season’s Enduro Series. The Enduro Series is open to 4-6-8 cylinder vehicles.

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.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend