Source: Madera Speedway PR/db
Date: 05/04/2008

The NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series had the weekend off as the Madera Speedway played host on Saturday night, May 3 to the Four Banger Spring Nationals and a 200-lap Enduro. The special program provided an evening’s worth of fun and entertainment to those in attendance.

On the drop of the green flag Fresno’s Dave Boyco jumped out to the lead in the 30-lap Four Banger race and held the point with hometown pilot Dan Evans in hot pursuit. Boyco had his mirrors full of Evans’ yellow car when the event was red flagged for a major oil spill in turn three late in the race.

Following a major cleanup effort from the crack Madera safety crew, the race was finally able to resume. Boyco again out raced the pack going into turn one for the lead and held off the hard charging Evans for the victory. Jamie Sickler, of Clovis and Joe Petz completed the top four.

"It was really fun out there, you couldn’t ask for a nicer night and it was a great time," exclaimed Boyco as he held his winners trophy aloft.

Evans, who was racing for the first time in 2008, was pleased with his runner up position. He was a regular in the Hornet division last season, but turned the ride over to his wife Kathy this year.

"This was a lot of fun, no doubt about it. Running right behind Boyco in second the whole race was exciting," said Evans. "Anytime you have something special like this I am going to be involved."

Following the Four Banger Nationals race the "Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West" was soaked and soaped for Round #1 of the season’s three event Enduro Series.

A 20 car field took the green flag from a standing start and headed out clockwise for the first 100 laps of the 200-lap Enduro. Stockton’s David Pabst grabbed the lead on the first lap while the rest of the pack maneuvered for position hot on his tail.

Ken Winland, of Santa Clara, provided some early race excitement when he spun on the front straight, taking out two of the strategically placed barrels of soapy water, before coming to rest against the wall backwards. Miraculously, he was able to turn around and get back in the action without further incident.

A red flag brought the race to a brief halt on lap 22 when Fresno drivers Joey Salazar and Rodney Hemman had a major get together on the backstraight. Neither driver was hurt, but Salazar’s car was done for the night and although Hemman was eventually able to return after repairs, he was no longer a factor.

A Daytona like wreck involving several cars on the back straight brought out the night’s second red flag on lap 64. The battered car of Robert Daniels, of Lodi, was taken from the track on the hook while the rest of the combatants in the incident were able to continue.

When the Enduro was stopped at the 100-lap mark to turn the field around in the traditional counter clockwise direction, only Pabst and second place Ryan Strmiska, of Stockton, remained on the lead lap. A total of 14 cars took the green flag to start the second half of the race.

Pabst continued to control the field through the second 100 laps and cruised to the checkered flag one lap ahead of Strmiska. Stockton’s Ben Lewis, Lodi’s Richard Bentz and Roseville’s Larry Moniz Jr. rounded out the top five. A total of 13 cars were still on the track at the conclusion of the race.

"It was fun out there. I lot of the fast guys had flats and took them out of the running. We didn’t do anything special to our car except put new tires on it," said Pabst. "I would especially like to thank my dad who does all the mechanical work on the car and my daughters Ashley and Tiffany."

Strmiska, a third generation racer and uncle to Western Late Model regular Ross Strmiska, was pleased with his second place effort.

"We finally got a motor that stayed together and it paid off tonight," said a tired Strmiska. "I just tried to take it easy because it is a long race and stay there until the end. I am happy."

The action will get a bit more serious next Saturday, May 10, with the second of six BIG Super Saturday Events on the 2008 schedule – the Vukovich Classic. The program, presented by Madera Auto Center, will include both the powerful 410 and 360 Modifieds, Bay Area Racing Association (BCRA) Midgets, Legends of the Pacific, a Spectator Racing Series event plus the NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series Western Late Models in a 50-lap main event with a $1,000 purse to the winner and the American Limited Stock Cars.

The Super Saturday shows feature THREE main events in one big program verses the traditional single main event. They are designed at the request of the fans for a high horsepower, intense energy night of big time racing, modeled after the old Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway. Each Super Saturday show gives the fans the opportunity to watch the exciting Super Modifieds, BCRA Midgets and NASCAR Western Late Models during one visit to the speedway.

Race fans will be pleased to learn that sponsorship from the Madera Auto Center has allowed the Madera Speedway to drop the ticket prices for all Super Saturday race events by $5.00 per ticket. This excludes the child’s ticket already priced at $5.00.

"We are very excited to have a sponsor like the Madera Auto Center assist in lowering the cost of a ticket to our fans, especially on the Super Saturday nights, which are designed to give the fans the best in racing action one night per month," remarked Short Track Management President Kenny Shepherd. "I’m hoping the ticket price reduction will help the local fans that support all of our events."

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

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.

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