Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series point leader, Derek Thorn (Photo Courtesy Matthew J. Sullivan Racing Photography)

By Matthew J. Sullivan

For the third time in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series’ history, the super late model touring division will visit Eureka’s Redwood Acres Raceway. The SRL tour cars first visited the Acres in 2013 and returned to the 3/8-mile paved oval in 2014.

Many of the top super late model drivers on the west coast are set to participate in the 125-lap main event presented by Renner Petroleum and Bear River Hotel and Casino. Perhaps the biggest name is SRL series point leader, Derek Thorn. Though he currently resides in Bakersfield, Thorn was born in Lakeport, California. Thorn has three wins in 2016 including in the most recent SRL race at Madera Speedway on July 16th. He was the 2013 NASCAR K&N West Series champion and has 27 career wins in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series.

Thorn is no stranger to the Acres. The 30-year old driver raced IMCA modifieds at RAR in the early 00s before moving to the now defunct North State Challenge late model series. Thorn won three NSCS races at Redwood Acres Raceway between 2005 and 2006. More recently, Thorn has made a name for himself on the national stage, in particular the prestigious Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida where he has three top 10 finishes in four races including a third in 2014.

Another top driver who will be making only his second start in the SRL series this season is Upper Lake’s Jeremy Doss. At only 19-years old, Doss is making a big name for himself in super late model racing circles. Just a few weeks ago, Doss won the coveted Montana 200 at Montana Raceway Park in Kalispell, Montana. Doss is a member of the Kulwicki Driver Development program named after the 1992 NASCAR Spring Cup Series champion, Alan Kulwicki. Like Thorn, Doss also has experience taming Redwood Acres Raceway. Doss won a 2012 Pacific Challenge Series race at the Acres and currently holds the series’ fast time mark with a 15.413.

Eureka’s Brandon White will be looking for his second career win in the SRL series at his home track on Saturday night. White’s only win came in 2014 at Madera Speedway. The 2016 SRL season has not treated White so kind as it’s been a struggle for the 19-year old. White’s only top 10 so far in the season came at the season opening race at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. White hopes his victory at the Acres in the Don Graham Memorial Firecracker 100 in July will provide the momentum he needs to take a win in front of his home town fans.

Alderpoint’s Luke Hall will be making his first Spears SRL Southwest Tour start Saturday night. Hall is a regular in RAR’s late model division. Roseburg, Oregon’s Brandon Ash will also be racing as well as Stayton, Oregon’s Alan Cress. Ash finished third in the Don Graham Memorial Firecracker 100 earlier this season while Cress has numerous late model starts at Redwood Acres Raceway.

Gates open at 4:00 PM on Saturday with the qualifying for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour cars taking place at 6:00 PM. The local late model and Thunder Roadster divisions will have the night off. In between the heat races and main events, fans will have the opportunity to meet the stars of the SRL on the front straightaway. Presale tickets for this weekend’s Renner Petroleum/Bear River Hotel and Casino 125 are available at Fortuna Wheel & Brake. For more information on this weekend’s SRL race and everything going on at Redwood Acres Raceway please visit the track’s official website, www.racingtheacres.com

Via Northwest Super Late Model Series Media

Wenatchee, Wash. (August 4, 2016)–The journey to the Idaho 200 for Ryan Wells has been very long and bumpy this year but the Hingham, MT native hopes this weekend it all pays off. Wells will be one of twenty-five drivers looking to take home the hardware for the prestigious 17th NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 200 this weekend at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls, ID.

Wells has traveled further than any other driver to compete in the series on a regular basis. So far this season Wells has traveled over 5,000 miles from his eastern Montana home as the series heads into the second-half of its season. The travels have paid off as Wells sits second in the 2016 NWSLMS championship points standings behind two-time title holder, Garrett Evans.

Wells has been focused on the set up of the car this season, he noted.

“I’m putting as much time into the car as I can this year, it has been my Achilles heel so far this season (finding a good set-up). I’ve just not been getting the car prepared the way I want it. I have a great crew but they have to travel long distances as well for race days.”

Sponsors are always important to small budget team especially when that team hails from a town with a population under 200 people like Hingham. Wells is grateful for the backing he’s had all season.

“I have to thank my sponsors because there is no way we could race and travel without the support they give us. Tom with Noel Transport, Green Nugget, Bird Race Engines, Racing Dynamics and most of all my Dad for all the help this season.”

Heading into the final four races of the NWSLSM season Evans has a large lead on Wells but that’s not slowing the Montana native down, he added.

“Mr. Evans has a pretty big lead and it will be very tough to catch him but my guys and I are going to give it 110% because that’s all we can do.”

Wells is looking for strong runs and a little change of luck this weekend.

“I feel like the Spokane race we had a really dominant car and kind of let that one go. I really want to get that ‘W’ this year and it’s tough to do with all these fields being so stout,” he explained. “Everyone better have their game on to beat the (my No.) 5 car these last four races because its go time! Checkers or Wreckers!”

The road to victory lane won’t be easy this weekend for Wells as a he will have a huge field of competition to get through with drivers like Evans who won the Idaho Tune-Up 150 back in June and has an Idaho 200 win in his career. Also in the mix will be 2013 Idaho 200 winner Blake Williams.

With the points battle close throughout the top-10 in the championship standings drivers like Mitch Kleyn, Brittney Zamora, Braeden Havens and Ed Thomsen will all be looking to close in on Evans and Wells in the title chase. Add in a big contingent of local drivers and the 25-car field will be duking it out for 22 spots to start the 17th Annual NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 200 Saturday Night.

Action gets underway Friday beginning with qualifying and heat races with a Hobby Stock Shootout race as the night’s finale. Saturday features the Idaho 200 main event and the Outlaw Mini Stock Super Series. For a complete weekend schedule and ticket information visit Stateline Speedway’s website at raceidaho.com

The Northwest Super Late Model Series is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Northwest. The series has many valued sponsors including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Port City Race Cars, AR Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Five Star Bodies, Longacre Racing Products, Wheel Chill, KRC Power Steering, Racers Against Child Abuse, Atomic Screenprinting and Embroidery, Franks Racing Radio, BLP, Jefferson Pitts Racing and Racing Dynamics. For more information on the series visit www.nwslmseries.com or on Facebook or Twitter. To contact the series please email northwestsuperlatemodels@gmail.com

Via Northwest Super Late Model Series Media

RACE FACTS & NOTES OF INTEREST
WHAT: Idaho 200
Race No. 5 of 8

WHERE: Stateline Speedway
Post Falls, ID

WHEN: August 5 & 6, 2016

DISTANCE: 200 Laps/ 50 Miles

SANCTION: Northwest Super Late Model Series (NWSLMS)

PROMOTER: Stateline Speedway

THE RACETRACK: Stateline Stadium Speedway is a high-banked .250-mile oval with a Figure 8 track embedded as well. Elevated concrete grandstands make for amazing views of the action for spectators.

TOP 10 IN IDAHO 200
1. 100 JC Wofford
2. 24 Joey Bird
3. 73 Gary Lewis
4. 83. Braeden Havens
5. 9 Josh Roberts
6. 5 Ryan Wells
7. 05 Zach Moran
8. 96 Jake Bisset
9. 51 Glenn Knutson
10. 1 Mitch Kleyn

2016 Northwest Super Late Model Series Top 10 Points
1. Garrett Evans 208
2. Ryan Wells 160
3. Nicole Behar 152
4. Brittney Zamora 150
5. Mitch Kleyn 148
6. Ed Thomsen 146
7. Braeden Havens 144
8. Shelby Thompson 133
9. Clint Habart 112
10. Glenn Knutson 109

NOTES OF INTEREST:

The 17th Annual Idaho 200 will mark the second trip to Stateline Speedway for the 2016 season.
Big Field- Over 25 cars are expected for this weekend’s race. Only two drivers in the field have won the Idaho 200 before, Garrett Evans and Blake Williams.

Championship Watch- The series is starting the second half of the 2016 season and Garrett Evans leads the way in the championship standings after winning 3 of the first 4 races. Behind Evans there are close battles throughout the standings with many drivers looking for good finishes as the series heads into the second-half of the season.

“Watch out for the Bird on the track!!”- After a amazing performance last year and coming all the way through the field from the back of the pack to finish second, Joey Bird will be making his 2016 NWSLMS debut this weekend.

64 x 3-Yes, three cars in the field will show the 64 on the door. Two of the cars will be out of the Evans Racing stable with Garrett Evans in one and his 15 year-old son, Jan, driving the other. Montana young gun Brock Denny will be driving the other 64 car.

Momentum-Both Mitch Kleyn and Clint Habart will look to continue the success they had during the Idaho Tune Up 150 held in June where both drivers would capture there series best finishes of 3rd and 4th place.

Montana driver Ryan Wells will look for continued success at Stateline Speedway where he has captured a victory and multiple poles over the past few seasons. Wells currently sits second in the championship standings with four races remaining.

Jefferson Pitts Racing Rookie of the Year Watch- Brittney Zamora currently leads the way over Dirk Bennett. Drivers will get the opportunity to drop one race for the end of the year points.

STAT OF THE WEEK:
• It has been several seasons since an Idaho driver has won the Idaho 200. Eagle, ID native John Dillon was the last Gem State resident to win the race (2010). Could that change? Three drivers from Idaho will have a chance this weekend: Terry Armstrong Jr., Corey Allard and Trevor Cristiani.

UPCOMING ON THE NORTHWEST SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES:
The Northwest Super Late Model Series takes few weeks off but stays in the inland Northwest for Spokane Super Oval August 20th. The Northwest Super Late Model Series is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Northwest. The series has many great sponsors including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Port City Race Cars, AR Bodies, Joes Racing Products, KRC Power Steering, Five Star Bodies, Longacre Racing Products, Wheel Chill, Racers Against Child Abuse, Atomic Screenprinting and Embroidery, Franks Racing Radio, BLP and Racing Dynamics. For more information on the series visit www.nwslmseries.com or visit the series on Facebook or Twitter. To contact the series please email northwestsuperlatemodels@gmail.com

VIA SRL Media

THINGS TO KNOW:

THIRD TIME: This Saturday, August 6th will be only the third time the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series has competed at Redwood Acres Raceway.

FIRST START: Saturday will mark Derek Thorn’s first SPEARS Southwest Tour Series start at Redwood Acres Raceway. The current series point leader’s hometown is Lakeport, California, three hours south of Eureka.

TRACK RECORD: Defending SPEARS Southwest Tour Series champion, Jacob Gomes is the current one lap track record holder at Redwood Acres Raceway, at 15.478 seconds, average speed 87.22 mph, set on Saturday, June 1, 2013.

WINS: Three-time SPEARS Southwest Tour Series champion, Jim Pettit II, won the two previous SPEARS Southwest Tour Series events at Redwood Acres Raceway.

DOSS RETURNS: Jeremy Doss will return to the track for the first time since winning the Montana 200 at Montana Raceway Park.

LOCALS: Hometown driver Brandon White tops the list of local drivers competing this weekend in the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series event in Eureka. Other local drivers include; Luke Hall, and Roseburg, Oregon’s, Brandon Ash.

LONG HAULS: Mike Mendenhall and his team from Santee, California will travel 768 miles one way. Andre Prescott and his team are a close second, towing 750 miles one way from Palm Springs, California to Redwood Acres Raceway.

CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 10: The current top ten drivers in the 2016 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series point standings: Derek Thorn 860 points, Christian McGhee 810, Ryan Cansdale 809, Jacob Gomes 732, Bobby Hodges 722, Carlos Vieira 714, Blaine Rocha 649, Keith Spangler 646, Parker Stephens 630 and Brandon White 512.

TOP FIVE FROM 2015: The top five drivers from last year’s SPEARS Southwest Tour Series event at Redwood Acres Raceway were; Pettit 1st, Parker Stephens 2nd, Blaine Rocha 3rd, Bobby Hodges 4th and Craig Raudman 5th.

TOP ROOKIES: Christian McGhee of Claremont, California leads all 2016 Rookie-of-the-Year Challengers. Andre Prescott is second, followed by Trevor Huddleston, Matthew Meech and Dennis Furden.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Following this weekend’s Eureka event, where the high temperature should be in the low 60’s, the next race on the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series schedule is Tucson Speedway on September 17th.
EVENT 411: Saturday, August 6th, Redwood Acres Raceway - Located at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds – 3750 Harris St., Eureka, CA. Phone 707-500-5016. Spectator gates open at 4 pm, SPEARS Southwest Tour Series qualifying at 6 pm, followed by Opening Ceremonies. The event will feature the following divisions; Roadrunners, Bombers, Mini Stocks, Legends and the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series.

For more event information, go to www.SRLSouthwestTour.com or www.racingtheacres.com.

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About SPEARS MANUFACTURING: Spears Manufacturing is a world leader in plastic piping products. SPEARS’ maintains over one million square feet of manufacturing facilities in four states and nine distribution centers across the USA for worldwide distribution. For more information go to http://www.spearsmfg.com. 



About the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series:
Celebrating its sixteenth season in 2016, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. http://www.srlsouthwesttour.com. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.

By Dave Grayson

I HATE TO START A NEW COLUMN WITH A RETRACTION BUT..............

In the July 31st edition of LCRS I reported that driver Chris Cook was injured in a crash during a Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series event held at the Utah based Rocky Mountain Speedway. It turned out that the injured driver was, in fact, William Camara driver of the #57 modified for Garcia racing. Here's what happened :

When I learned of the crash and the injuries, that included a level 3, severe, concussion I began the process of searching for details. I found a photo of the crash, taken by racing photographer Howard Twadell, featuring the cars driven and Cook and Camara. By the way Howard, great job on the photo. I next looked up Cook's "Facebook" page and began reading about the extent of the injuries. What I failed to notice was the fact that Cook was sharing a "Facebook" post originally written and posted by Camara.

To Chris Cook, his family, friends and fans I apologize for any concern the error may have caused.

I'm now asking my fellow racing fans to join me in re-directing those good thoughts and prayers to William Camara. We wish him a speedy recovery and good luck with his upcoming August 9th surgical procedure.

WAS IT WORTH A 900 MILE PLANE RIDE????

The NASCAR Xfinity Series spent last Saturday night running a stand alone event at the Iowa Speedway where rookie phenom Erik Jones scored his third win of the season for Joe Gibbs Racing. Because of the fact that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was racing on the other side of the country, in Pocono, Pennsylvania, it was assumed that for once the Xfinity teams would be allowed to compete without the presence of Cup drivers and their high dollar rides. It was a situation that many heralded as being about time.

However, we soon learned of Brad Keselowski's plans to run the race at Iowa despite a very stringent Pocono schedule. Keselowski began last Saturday driving his Roger Penske owned Ford in the Cup series' final practice at Pocono. Next it was off to a nearby airport where he boarded a Penske owned plane that transported him 900 miles to Newton, Iowa. Keselowski finished 8th in his Discount Tire Ford. After the race he flew back to Pocono and made to the comfort of his home away from home personal RV a little past 2am eastern time. As it turned out, rain moved the Cup race from Sunday to Monday giving the driver plenty of time to rest and relax.

The question remains: was the round trip airplane ride really worth it? The cost of aviation fuel alone says probably not. So, why do it especially when Penske Racing had NASCAR Next driver Austin Theirault at Iowa to drive the car during practice and qualifying session while Keselowski was at Pocono.

When it comes to participating in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Penske brings his A plus game by placing his Cup drivers, Keselowski and Joey Logano, behind the wheel. Penske Racing won the Xfinity Series' Owners Championship in 2013, 2014 and 2015. However, the domination of the series by Kyle Busch, Erik Jones and Joe Gibbs Racing has left Penske in fifth place in the current owners points standings 94 points behind leader J D Gibbs. With no other Cup drivers in the Iowa race it's likely Penske thought this race might be an opportunity to cut into the Gibbs lead. It's also likely that Discount Tire, a long time Penske sponsor since 2007, was only too happy to support flying Keselowki to Iowa last weekend.

Was it worth all that effort? Only Roger Penske can answer that question but it sure was interesting.

IT WAS A VERY CLASSY THING TO DO

Last weekend the community of Lovelock, Nevada held their annual Frontier Days. It was a three day community celebration that included two nights of racing at the Lovelock Speedway. Meanwhile in the community of Fernley, Nevada, the Fernley 95A Speedway was set to present their normal Saturday night program. However, when the Fernley track management heard about Frontier Days they opted to cancel their show.

In a prepared statement they said "due to Lovelock Speedway running Frontier Days that weekend, we here at Fernley 95A Speedway felt it would be appropriate to not run a program during their biggest race of the year. We feel all tracks benefit when they work together to support the racing community."

A tip of the racing hat goes to the Fernley 95A Speedway management. It was a very classy thing to do.

By Dave Grayson

LET'S ALL SEND SOME GOOD THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO DRIVER CHRIS COOK.

For several years now Chris Cook has been a veteran participant in the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series and is highly regarded by his peers and the fans of the series. Unfortunately, Cook sustained some serious injuries, from a racing accident not of his making, while participating in the July 23d Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series event held at the Rocky Mountain Speedway located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah.

On July 29th Cook posted an update on his "Facebook" page to inform his fans on the extent of those injuries:

" As many of you know I was involved in a wreck that was completely out of my control this past weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was able to walk away from the wreck with just some soreness to the body and a concussion, but as time went on my symptoms and the severity of it all got worse. I was taken to the hospital Monday due to really sharp pains in my head, turns out that little concussion I have is actually a grade 3 (severe) concussion. They did 4 trauma scans on me and work on my neck/spine. I'm in the recovery process right now, and my concussion can last anywhere from a week to a couple of months. I go in for surgery on August 9th, but I'm hoping to be back in the car and fully healed and 100% ready by August 20th for the next Lucas Oil race."

In that same post Cook also made it a point to thank his team, Garcia Racing, whom he regarded as being family:

"I am truly honored and blessed to be part of the greatest race team on Earth. Garcia Racing isn't just a team, it's a family and I can tell you this from first hand experience. Everyday since the wreck, one member if not multiple whether crew or teammate called or texted myself or my family to check up on me. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it felt, and how much that meant to my family and I. I'm taking it day by day, as my head is still really messed up and I'm pretty much a vegetable at this current state, but I will be back to my normal life and routine in no time."

Let's all send some good thoughts and prayers to Chris during his healing process. Don't be too surprised if you see Chris Cook at the next series race, August 20th at the Orange Show Speedway, wearing his driver's suit. This man has the true spirit of a racer.

GILLILAND SCORES AGAIN IN THE NASCAR WEST SERIES.

David Gilliland made a race winning move on Kyle Benjamin, with 68 laps remaining, to win the Casey's General Store 150 NASCAR K&N Series West and East combined event last Friday night at the Iowa Speedway. The 16 year old driver, from Sherill's Ford, North Carolina, led a race high 116 laps enroute to his 4th West Series of the season for team owner Bill McAnally Racing. Austin Theriault, Collin Cabre and Ryan Patridge completed the top five.

His latest win returned Gilliland to the top of the series' points standings. He now holds a very slim three point lead over Patridge. There are only five races remaining in the West Series schedule and this run for the series' title has the makings of becoming very exciting.

Benjamin's second place finish will give him credit as the NASCAR K&N Series East winner and the series' championship points that comes with it. He also won the Coors Light 21 Means 21 pole award during qualifying.

This race was taped for broadcast by NBCSN and is scheduled to air on August 5th at 2pm eastern time. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West returns to action on August 13th at the Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington.

51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model Series winner, Dezel West (Photo Courtesy Cam Racing Photos)

Via Madera Speedway PR/Blakesley Sports Media

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (July 30, 2016) – Las Vegas' Dezel West and La Grange's Matt Erickson took the Late Model victories in Saturday's round number five of MAVTV-televised action at LoanMart Madera Speedway. West, 12, was the incoming co-points leader in the 51FIFTY Junior Late Models while Erickson's win in his fourth in a dominant season at the top of the LoanMart Open Late Models.

Both wins came against arguably the toughest customers in each respective division on the fastest one-third mile in the West. A red hot Saturday night saw temperatures soar above 110 degrees with green flag temperatures still above 95.

Erickson took on Tracy's Ryan Philpott for his victory, in a repeat of their duel in the April round. Erickson used a strong charge up the inside of turn two in lapped traffic to take the lead on lap 97 of the 100 lap contest.

22 Open Late Models accepted the green flag with Garland Tyler of Modesto leading from the pole position. June 18th winner Bryan Herzog slowly chipped away at the pack and was up to third on lap three. A wild three-wide battle for fifth between second in points Joey Licata, Erickson, and Atwater's Jason Agguire caused a domino effect with Ryan Hart spinning off of Logan Zampa's bumper for a caution.

Philpott swung around Tyler with a great restart on the outside to take over the lead at the conclusion of lap 16. Alexander Mead and Carl Pearce tangled in turn two for a caution lap 19. That caution set up another incident when Glen Cook spun on the front stretch with a trio of blue cars of Shelden Cooper, Mead, and Zampa all spinning to avoid. Herzog used the restart to take the lead from the outside of Philpott on lap 21.

Herzog was not able to pull away very far from Philpott, facing numerous challenges. Erickson closed in on the leaders and managed to nab second place in a great race at the front. Cooper spun for another caution which saw Licata retired to the pits with an engine failure. Tyler inserted himself back into the race taking over second place on that restart. A series of cautions brought the race to an early halfway mark caution on lap 44.

When racing resumed Howard Holden went up in smoke on the backstretch and the following lap saw Tyler Herzog spinning and getting hit in the drivers door hard by Hart. All drivers involved were uninjured. Philpott came back at Tyler for second position with the top-six cars running very close together. Things went south for Herzog as he fell from the lead with a clutch failure on lap 73. Philpott assumed the lead of the race with Erickson in tow. A great crossover filled battle ensued.

Erickson kept Philpott in the crosshairs as lapped traffic approached in the final ten laps. The winning move came on lap 94 in traffic with Erickson using the inside to sneak through for the exciting win. Erickson led Philpott, Tyler, Rick Thompson, and Dillon Tucker as the top-five finishers.

Dezel West led all 50 laps of the 51FIFTY Junior Late Models for his first points paying win. He entered the event as the co-points leader and drew the pole. West led Jarrett Gilmer while outside pole sitter Kyle Keller fell backwards. Keller found himself mired back in sixth position when the first caution flew on lap six for Jaden Lyn Rocha spun in turn one. Co-points leader Austin Herzog set fast time but started fifth after the redraw. He went to the outside of May 28th winner Austin Edwards to take fourth on the restart. Herzog then dove inside Kolby Berry but Berry was able to make the outside line work for several laps to hold him at bay.

Chris Trickle and Keller had a mix up that saw both cars going through the infield but continuing on under green. Keller spun on the following lap for a caution on lap 15. A caution involving Lilly Mead and Keller on lap 22 brought the field to its halfway break three laps early.

Coming out of the break, Herzog continued to hound Berry from the inside with Berry making the outside work to maintain third. Herzog finally got the move done on lap 28 with Berry spinning a lap later for a lap 29 yellow. Berry and Rocha tangled when the field tried to get back underway as well.

Trickle continued to move forward as he overhauled Edwards for fourth. Herzog spent many laps challenging Gilmer for second position while West led the race. With nine to go, Herzog was up to second and turned his attention to West.

The top-two staged a thrilling nose-to-tail battle through another series of cautions. West persevered through every restart to earn his first career Junior Late Model points win by a scant .308 seconds over Herzog, Edwards, Canadian 11 year-old Ben Silliker, and Oceanside's Ali Gay.

Stockton's JoJo Stearns picked up his first win in the Mini Cup division, which notably has six rookie drivers in the eight car division. The 20 lap victory was a comfortable one from the second row. Rookie pole sitter Joseph Holiday slowed with mechanical issues on lap two and Stearns took the lead on the lap three restart ahead of Calvin Hegje. Jackson Dukes navigated the pack up into second place but never got the caution he needed. Stearns led Dukes, Hegje, Bruce Bivens, Hollister's Adam Lemke as the top-five.

Tim Curtis utilized his wife's car with duct tape numbers to lead all 25 laps in the main event for the Toyota Sedans. Jillaun Holden, the points leader, kept things close for the entire race.

The caution flew when Thomas Magray and Erik Woods tangled in turn four for the lone stoppage of the race. Holden took advantage to challenge on the inside for several laps but Curtis was strong enough to hold on for the victory head of Holden, Lucy Carmona, Mike Marley, and Magray.

Stockton's Joseph Reichmuth earned his fourth top-two finish in Super Hobby Stock competition in an abbreviated feature for the division. Chuck Dohzier and Thomas Suarez rounded out the top-three at the checkered flag. Eloy Bazan spun from the initial start from the front row but was able to complete a 360 to keep the race green. Bazan's incident on lap 18 ended the competition early due to time constraints.

Bert Stephens took over the lead from Rian Bowman on lap five and never looked back in route for the 25 lap Modified Super Toyota (MSTs) victory. Points leader Kevin Thompson closed within a car length but couldn't make the winning pass. Dave Lander, Dennis Brannon, and Zachary Cook were the balance of the top-five with Bowman eventually coming home sixth.

The Loanmart Madera Speedway continues its summer stretch this Saturday with Children's Hospital Kids Night Presented by JBT FoodTech. Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, 4-Banger, Toyota Sedans, MST, South West Tour Trucks, and Junior Late Model 25 lap exhibition race make up the scheduled card.

Race fans can catch up on LoanMart Madera Speedway action every Thursday with "Madera Racing" on MAVTV at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific.