Monday, August 22, 2016

Madera Speedway Readying For Sixth Round Of LM & Jr. LM

Matt Erickson leads the field and the Open Late Model points (Photo Courtesy Jason Wedehase)

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (August 27, 2016) – One of the most competitive racing series in the country, the MAVTV-televised LoanMart Open Late Models and 51FIFTY Junior Late Models have been at a fever pitch. The sixth round of this eight race super series is this Saturday night at LoanMart Madera Speedway, with Super Hobby Stocks, Mini Cups, MSTs, and Toyota Sedans rounding out the racing card.

The Open Late Models have averaged 22 cars per race this year for their 100 lap contests and La Grange's Matt Erickson has fended off all challengers for a brilliant season. Erickson has won four of the five races to lead the points by a substantial 75 point margin. The point lead does not tell the full story as several drivers have given Erickson all he can handle. Most notably, Clovis's Bryan Herzog won the June 18th race and appeared on his way to win on July 25th before a clutch failure dropped him from the lead. Herzog finished second in the points in 2015 and is currently fourth in the 2016 order.

Tracy's Ryan Philpott has three second place finishes plus a pair of mechanical failures to rank second in the standings. The 2007 Altamont champion leads Modesto's Garland Tyler who is still in search of his first Open LM win. Herzog is fourth followed by three-time ASA TRUCK SERIES champion Joey Licata of Lake Balboa in fifth. Glen Cook, Ryan Hart, Shelden Cooper, Rick Thompson, and Jason Aguirre make up the top-ten. Thompson leads the local Late Model points at Madera and has turned his Open LM season around with finishes of tenth and fourth in the last two races.

Early season favorite David Ross of Colton is expected to make his Madera return on Saturday.

Las Vegas' Dezel West, 12, has wrestled the attention and the points lead away from 14 year-old Austin Herzog in the 51FIFTY Junior Late Models. The world's first full size stock car series for drivers ages 10-16 has produced arguably the best racing at the fastest one-third mile in the west.

Herzog appeared nearly untouchable after winning three of the first four races, but West was able to hold Herzog at bay for the duration of the July 50 lap feature. The duo is separated by just six points. Canadian Ben Silliker, age 11, has run in the top four in the last two races for third in the standings. 11 year-old Austin Edwards of Mentone won the April 30th race and added a third place finish in July for fourth overall. Jarrett Gilmer finished outside the top-six for the first time this year in the last race but maintains fifth in the standings.

Southern California standout Ryan Vargas missed the July event to drop to eighth in the points behind Kolby Berry and Alison Gay of Lakeside.

Joseph Reichmuth has finished in the top-two in all four Super Hobby Stock races to lead the points by ten points ahead of Chuck Dozhier. Reichmuth won an abbreviated feature in July. Dozhier himself has a win and has not finished worse than third. Thomas Suarez is 25 points out of the lead while Eloy Bazan is ranked fourth. Ivan Scorsur rounds out the top-five.

The California Mini Cups have been the success story of 2016 with a completely revamped lineup of drivers. The rookies have swept all three races with Clovis' Jackson Dukes getting the first two rounds and the points lead, while Stockton's JoJo Stearns won in July. Adam "The Bullet" Lemke of Hollister is a second year racer and is second in the points while also leading the Stockton track points.

Joshua "Bubba" Terry is the only other sophomore entrant and he is fourth in the standings with Lil Bruce Bivens overcoming an early season crash for fifth in the standings. Calvin Hegje finished third in his Madera debut in the last race.

The Modified Super Toyotas and Toyota Sedans have had a busy year at Madera. Kevin Thompson has won eight main events in the MSTs to enjoy a 42 point lead over three-time winner Bert Stephens. Zachary Cook, Rian Bowman, and Dennis Brannon round out the top-five in the championship.

The women of the Toyota Sedans are still holding court with Lucy Carmona's win on August 13th narrowing Jillaun Holden's points lead to 41 points. The pair have shared seven wins between them. Thomas Magray, popularly known as Tommy Wreckless, is third in the points followed by Mike Marley, and Erik Woods. Jason Lawton opened the year with two wins and two second place finishes notably in sixth in the points.

Race fans can catch up on LoanMart Madera Speedway racing with another original episode of "Madera Racing" The coverage will include the fifth round of the LoanMart Open Late Models, filmed on July 25th. "Madera Racing" airs Thursdays on MAVTV at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific.

An open practice kicks off the weekend on Friday before another full day of action on Saturday. Pit gates open at 11 a.m. with practice from 12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Qualifying fires off at 2:45 p.m. with the grandstands open and ticket windows opening after qualifying. Heat races fire off at 5:45 p.m. with opening ceremonies and the first features set for 5 p.m.

Adult tickets are only $15, Seniors are $13, youth ages 6-12 are $7, and kids five and under are free. For more information, visit www.RaceMadera.com