(Photo Courtesy Rachel Cam)

LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA (September 26, 2016) – 11 year-old Ben Silliker drove the #24 Jr. Late Model to victory on Saturday night at LoanMart Madera Speedway, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models division that airs on MAVTV. Silliker, the Team Silco Racing development driver from Northern Alberta, Canada, is solidly in the battle for second in the series standings with one race left to go.

Silliker drove into victory lane with his Bryan Clauson "BC Tribute" on the hood in front of an appreciative crowd at the one-third mile asphalt oval, located north of Fresno. The 50 lap feature, spread over a pair of 25 lap segments, was one of the most intense races of the inaugural series. The Jr. Late Models are the world's first division for full-sized stock cars for drivers ages 10-16.

After a full day of testing on Friday night, Silliker went to work on Saturday by leading the first practice session with a 15.372 second lap. He was fourth in the second practice before a slight hiccup in qualifying where he timed in sixth. The nearly 100 degree temperatures cooled by race time and Silliker drew the pole after the redraw of the top-eight qualifiers.

Silliker battled in lockstep with fellow Outlaw Kart racer Kolby Berry, age 15, as part of a closely wound lead pack. Silliker took over the lead on lap 14 and held that top position into the halfway break on lap 25 good for a five point bonus. The halfway break takes place on the frontstretch of the speedway where the teams can make adjustments and add fuel, but must continue on their original set of tires.

With the five minute break concluded the racing action continued with Silliker defending the lead against 12 year-old Kyle Keller from Las Vegas, NV. Silliker, Keller, and second in points Austin Herzog put on a great show for the fans with Silliker leading all the way to the finish for a narrow .361 second win. The top four finishers were separated by less than a second at the finish.

Silliker's win will air on MAVTV and on the Lucas Oil Racing app in October. It was the driver's fourth top-three in seven starts in the televised races and he also won an exhibition race earlier in the year as well. He has accumulated eight victories this season across dirt and asphalt, from Late Models to Outlaw Karts and Micro Sprints.

He ranks in the top-five in the USAC National Restricted Micro Sprints points and made the feature for the Kyle Larson Outlaw Kart Showcase. By all metrics, this has been a career-year for ambitious driver who races more than 70 times each season.

His 2016 campaign continues into October where he will race Micro Sprints throughout the month, with the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model season finale on October 8th mixed in. That race is tentatively scheduled for live coverage with more details available soon. A $10,000 Open Late Model race augments the October 8th program making it one of the biggest races in California for the year.

October's schedule also includes the 16th running of the Turkey Bowl at Delta, while two day shows at Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia, CA and Dixon Speedway make up the November schedule.

Race fans can follow Ben Silliker's progress from Madera on MAVTV every Thursday night or on the LucasOilRacing.TV app. Many of his major Outlaw Kart and Micro Sprint races are streamed on FastFourMedia.com Check the website for dates and times.

More information on Team Silco Racing can be found at www.TeamSilco.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Team Silco Racing is presented by Hamblin Motorsports, Micro Blue Bearings, Evolution Racing Products, Blakesley Sports Media, CSI Shocks, Vahlco Wheels, and Motion Media Wraps.