Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Madera Speedway Roars Back Into Action This Saturday Night

Dylan Zampa leads the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model points (Photo Courtesy Jason Wedehase)
Via Madera Speedway Media

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (August 21, 2018) – MAVTV-televised Late Model racing returns to Madera Speedway on Saturday night with the seventh rounds of the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series and 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model Series ready to roll. Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros, Legends of the Pacific, and Toyota Sedans are also competing on the one-third mile asphalt oval north of Fresno.

The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model championship in 2018 has stolen the show with the drivers ages 10-16 years old rising to the occasion in their 70 lap races. 11 year-old Tyler Reif of Las Vegas, NV became the youngest winner ever when he won the closest finish in series history in July. Ironically the victory came against his older brother Tanner.

Both Reif brothers are chasing down Dylan Zampa of Napa with two wins in 2018. Zampa leads 2017 champion Jesse Love of Menlo Park – also with two wins – by just three points in the championship. Love is in the middle of a busy week participating in a combine with Toyota Racing Development before the race weekend. Bakersfield’s Kabe McClenny rounds out the top-five in the standings.

16 year-old Austin Herzog continues to lead the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series points while still in search of his first victory. Herzog has put together four consecutive podium finishes including a runner-up finish in the $5,000 to win Summer Speedfest in July.

2016 champion Matt Erickson has three wins this year and ranks third in the points after a third place performance at the Summer Speedfest. His scant 19 point deficit means the championship is still very much in reach in a series that has averaged 30 cars per event.

The rest of the field looks to be battling for third, with that group led by Modesto’s Garland Tyler. Tyler enjoys a 15 point advantage over Dos Palos’ Ryan Hart with Bakersfield’s Racin Vernon only 16 points out of third as well.

Hollister’s Adam Lemke leads a strong crop of rookies from sixth in the points while Dillon Tucker overcame engine issues in the first round to move up to seventh overall.

The RPM Pro Late Models race for 80 laps over two segments and also stage a two-segment, 25 lap B Main. The first 15 laps determine who will transfer to the feature with the remaining ten laps staged by the non-qualifiers. The winner receives a $500 cash prize. Multi-time MST champion Kevin Thompson leads the B Main standings.

Bakersfield’s Kale McClenny continues to lead the Mini Cups portion of the Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros ahead of Madera’s Joseph Holliday and Napa’s Aaron Thomas. Bakersfield’s Riley Massey is on top in the Bando class followed by Zachary Ginn and Kercie Jung. A 20 lap main event is on tap for Saturday.

Legends of the Pacific is a regional touring series that always brings strong competition to Madera. Bakersfield’s Colton Page avoided a crash involving the top-two cars on the final lap to win the main on August 11th. LoP will race for 35 laps on Saturday night.

A resurgent Toyota Sedans division returns after a couple of weeks off, still led by 2016 champion Jillaun Holden. Rookie Greg Tyler won on August 4th to have a solid position in second in the standings. Manny Gonzales, Jr., Thomas Magray, and 2017 champion Mike Marley make up the rest of the top-five. 25 laps of racing are scheduled for the Sedans on Saturday.

Action gets started on Friday evening with practice from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday’s program begins with pit gates opening at 11:30 a.m. Practices run from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. with qualifying and heat races to follow. The first set of main events starts at 5:15 including the Mini Cup feature and the Late Model B Main. Opening ceremonies are at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets for this great night of racing are just $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $7 for youth ages 6-12, and kids five and under are free!

For more information about Madera Racing on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or www.mavtv.com. For more information on RPM Mortgage and to obtain loan information please visit www.rpmwins.com and for more information about 51FIFTY Energy Drink visit www.51fiftyenergydrink.com

Madera Speedway is presented by major partners RPM Mortgage, 51FIFTY Energy Drink, Nut Up Industries, NICERIDE, iPull-uPull, and Color Fast Industries.


Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Thursdays re-runs of the 2017 season every week. The show airs at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PST and is also available on the Lucas Oil Racing TV app. Round #4 of the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series from May airs on Thursday August 30th.


Madera Speedway 2018 Schedule Celebrating 47 years of Racing!

August 25th - Race # 7 of the MAVTV Televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Model Series 80 laps (50 then 30), Race #7 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series , Legends of the Pacific, Toyota Sedans

September 1st - Hampton Inn and Suites Night at the Speedway, Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST's, Toyota Sedans, F4 Beater Cross, and the Jr, Late Model 30 lap exhibition race

September 8th - Closed for the Madera Fair

September 14th - 46th Annual Harvest Classic Night #1 presented by ($5 Ticket Night!) for everyone on night one. Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, F4 Beater Cross , MST, Toyota Sedans, USAC Western Midgets and Modified Truck Pulls!

September 15th - 46th Annual Harvest Classic presented by Midland Tractor and John Deere! The Western Winged Super Sprint Series, BCRA Midgets, USAC Western Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of Kearney Bowl, California Hard Tops, Plus the Blown, Injected multi engine Pulling Tractors!

September 22nd - Race #8 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then 30), Race #8 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, the 30 laps), MST, Toyota Sedans, Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

September 29th – Spears SRL Southwest Tour 125, the USAC Western Midgets, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of the Pacific, Madera Hobby Stocks, and the Legends of Kearney Bowl

October 5th -Practice for the RPM Mortgage Short Track "Best of the West" $10,000.00 to win Shootout Event open to Lucas Oil Modifieds, Late Models, Jr. Late Models, and the Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

October 6th - 150 Lap $10,000.00 to WIN “NUT UP SHORT TRACK SHOOTOUT” for the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 150 laps! (race #9 of the televised championship), Lucas Oil Modifieds 75 lap TV race! Race #9 of the 80 lap 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series and the Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

October 13th - Closed, NO RACES /

October 20th - 11th Annual iPull-uPull Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash and Blow Up and Monster Trucks!, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST's, Toyota Sedans, $2,000 to Win 200 lap Enduro, the Extreme Barrel Racing Series, a Trick or Treat thru the Pits and on Track PUMPKIN SMASH for the KIDS!

October 27th - Closed

November 10th - 2018 Championship Awards Banquet