Sunday, June 18, 2017

Herzog Breaks Love Streak And Zampa Gets First Win At Madera

Austin Herzog interviewed in Victory Lane for the Jr. Late Models
(Photo Courtesy Jason Wedehase)

Via Madera Speedway Media

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (June 17, 2017) – The theme of Saturday night's round fours of the televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models was change. Change was in the air for a pair of second-generation drivers who rewarded their fathers with big Father's Day Weekend wins with Logan Zampa and Austin Herzog grabbing wins at Madera Speedway. For Zampa, the win marked his first career televised victory while Herzog, a four-time winner in 2016, broke the three-in-a-row Jr. LM streak of Jesse Love IV.

Zampa had finished on the podium multiple times this season along a few wins in the non-televised Madera Late Model series, and entered the night third in the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series.

The Pro Late Model race was a 100 lap back-and-forth duel between Austin Herzog running double duty and 2015 champion Buddy Shepherd who himself had won two consecutive series races. Lengthy red flags within the first 12 laps for fluid from Thomas Suarez and Mark Squadrito slowed the action for the 25 car field considerably. Zampa spun in the fluid and went all the way to the back of the field, with his comeback earning him the Fluidyne Cool Move Under Pressure honors for the night.

Kyle Gottula spun and Rick Thompson had hard contact with the wall with both cars out of the event on lap 12. Bakersfield's Racin Vernon again suffered mechanical woes to end his night on lap 28. The young Austin Herzog paced the first quarter of the race before Shepherd used the inside line to take over the lead. Coming out of the lap 50 break for adjustments and interviews with the MAVTV cameras, Del McIntosh fell out of the race with a swaybar mount problem while all-time winningest driver Matt Erickson, the 2016 champion, had a brake bleeder issue bounce him from the race on lap 78.

Herzog kept up the intensity on Shepherd all the way into the final corner when the duo made contact causing Shepherd to spin. Several cars crashed including Ryan Hart hitting the wall significantly. Herzog scooted away to cross the finish line first but was penalized to the end of the lead lap for his involvement in the incident. Zampa was moved into the first position and celebrated a big victory that puts him squarely in the championship hunt. Modesto's Garland Tyler was second for another top three with Mariposa's Glen Cook third. Dillon Tucker and Howard Holden rounded out the top-five.

On the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model side, the season had been all about rookie driver Jesse Love IV with the 12 year old winning the first three races. But 2016 season runner-up Austin Herzog had different plans on Saturday night as he led all 75 laps in the feature. The talented field of drivers ages 10-16 years old was first narrowed down by a B Main event before 15 cars accepted the green flag for the feature.

The feature was relatively fast-paced and incident free with Herzog leading from the pole position while the battling ensued behind him. One of the larger incidents of the night occurred on lap 43 when the #43 of Tyler Reif of Las Vegas hit the wall. While Herzog led the full distance with some challenges from Love, the overall battle was for second between Love and Eric Nascimento, Jr.

Love bounced off the front stretch wall coming to the finish for the second spot and missed out by a scant .087 seconds to Nascimento in a thrilling conclusion to the battle. Middleton, Idaho's Zachary Telford had his career best performance with a solid fourth place finish ahead of Las Vegas' RJ Smothermon. Kolby Berry once again set quick time but was unable to capitalize and finished seventh while B Main winner Kabe McClenny of Bakersfield drove through the pack for an eighth place finish. Nine lead lap cars served as a testament to the strong performance by these young drivers.

The Modified Super Toyotas and Toyota Sedans entertained the crowd with a combined feature event with the faster MSTs won by points leader "Dirt" Bert Stephens while Jason Kearns won the Toyota Sedans portion with points leader Mike Marley in second.

Madera Speedway goes dark June 24th before continuing July 1st for the BIG FIREWORKS SHOW! Grass Roots Racer Classic (Double Points all divisions including the Enduro Series), Madera Late Models, Race #5 of the Super Hobby Stock Series 50 laps, MSTs (48 lap main, split 24's) , Toyota Sedans (48 lap main, split 24's), F4's (24 lap main), Firecracker 40 lap Race #3 of the Enduro Extreme Series Barrel race & an Enduro Sprint Race (40 laps), and Jr. Late Model 25 lap exhibition race.

For more information about Madera Racing on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or www.mavtv.com. For more information about 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 Racing on MAVTV continues Thursday June 29th with coverage of the April 29th round two for the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series. The broadcast beings at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific. Madera Speedway racing is also available on the LucasOilRacing.TV app