Via Madera Speedway Media
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (June 9, 2018) – Taylor Miinch led only the final five laps in the SpillVak 75 presented by Protect the Harvest towards a remarkable fifth straight Lucas Oil Modified Series win. The victory at Madera Speedway is his ninth win out of his last 20 series starts back to July of 2016, extending the 2017 champion’s points lead as well.
Miinch qualified sixth out of the 25 car field, and started sixth after missing the five car inversion. The race was televised for MAVTV for a later broadcast date as well.
Former series champion Dylan Cappello of Peoria, AZ started on the pole in search of his third Madera win, and led the opening five laps. Scott Winters charged from fourth to lead lap six before a caution flew. Leading rookie Justin Johnson of Pahrump, NV made contact with fast-time qualifier Kyle Tellstrom of Boise, ID, sending him for a spin in turn four. Both had to restart at the rear.
Dash winner Cappello took the lead back from Winters on lap six when Sierra Furia spun in turn one. Furia then nosed up the hill on the ensuing restart with a flat right front tire and additional damage that ended her evening. Cappello led lap seven before Winters grabbed the top spot on lap eight. Jason Irwin of Albuquerque, NM led lap 17 but Winters fended him off as well for the lap 18 lead.
Things settled down in the torrid duel up front, briefly, until lap 26 when Cappello pulled off a slide-job style maneuver in turn two. It allowed the former dirt Micro Sprint racer to wrestle the lead back away from Winters.
Taylor Miinch assumed third by lap 36 while Kyle Tellstrom had advanced up to sixth by lap 42 with Johnson seventh in tow. Miinch took over second and put his head down to try to close on Cappello in the final ten laps. With five to go, Cappello spun with an apparent mechanic failure in the rear end. He came to a stop in turn one to surrender the lead on lap 70.
Miinch led the field back to the green but the race was immediately red flagged when Winters and Idaho’s Shelby Strobel made contact coming out of turn four. Their resulting spin into the wall saw Irwin, Johnson, Tellstrom and several others suffer various degrees of front end damage as they came to a stop. The track was blocked with both Winters and Strobel done for the evening. The extended red flag allowed Cappello’s team to attempt repairs but they were unsuccessful in getting their car to refire.
The heavily wounded #17 of Justin Johnson restarted behind Miinch but could not make a move as Miinch drove off to a 1.679 second victory. 15 year-old Ryan Schartau worked his way past Jason Irwin for a narrow third. Cody Kay of Reno, NV rounded out the top-five.
The Driving Out Cancer 60 presented by Protect the Harvest for the North State Modified Series served as the undercard with 18 Modifieds on track. Aaron McMorran of Las Vegas, NV brought the field to green after a six car invert but was tagged on the second lap by Darrin Sullivan. Sullivan and McMorran spun out of turn four and collected Terry Deal and Jason Philpot as well. All four drivers were relegated to the rear.
Legends graduate Cameron Austin assumed the top position and faced early company from sixth starting Kris Price, the winner of the Shasta North State event earlier this year. 11th starting Brian Collins avoided the earlier crash and made some additional passing moves to challenge for a top-five position throughout much of the feature.
Lapped traffic became a factor by lap 30 when Eric Price, Jr. tried to close in on Austin. Traffic proved to be the undoing for Price at least initially as he searched for racing room high and low. Austin took off for a commanding and insurmountable lead of 3.166 seconds at the checkered flag. The victory was Austin’s first in the North State Series. Eric Price and Kris Price rounded out the top-three. Eric Johnson was a steady fourth while Brian Collins held off Terry Deal for fifth.
Adam Lemke of Hollister continued his winning ways in the USAC Western US Midgets to continue his reign at the top of the championship. While he was up front, the battling for the second position intensified between Cody Jessop and Goodtimes QMA graduates Joey Iest and Blake Brannon. Iest impressed when he got around both drivers to take the second position, while Brannon slowed on the final lap of the feature to have to settle for fourth. Lemke, Iest, Jessop, Brannon, and Joey Nichols made up the top-five.
The CSS 360 Super Modified race was a runaway for AJ Russell of Clovis for his first win of the season. Russell looked to make a statement after being locked out of victory lane in the first two rounds, nearly lapping the entire field. A caution flew on lap 25 when Ed Rodriguez went up in smoke down the front stretch and lengthy cleanup necessitated ending the race five laps early. Russell grabbed the yellow checkered victory ahead of Donnie Large, Jr. and Lance Jackson.
Racing continues at Madera Speedway on June 16th with Madera Late Models Series 40 laps, Jr. Late Model Series 30 lap exhibition race, Madera Hobby Stocks, Southwest Truck Series, Toyota Sedans, MSTs, Legends of the Pacific , F4 Beater Cross
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. New 2018 episodes air every other week, with the round #1 of the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Models airing June 21st.
Madera Speedway 2018 Schedule Celebrating 47 years of Racing!
June 16th – Madera Late Models Series 40 laps, Jr. Late Model Series 30 lap exhibition race, Madera Hobby Stocks, Southwest Truck Series, Toyota Sedans, MSTs, Legends of the Pacific , F4 Beater Cross
June 23rd - Closed
June 30th - Reverend Ron Spencer's Red, White and Blue Classic and BIG FIREWORKS SHOW! !) Race #5 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Model Series 80 Laps (50 Laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #5 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), MST (48 lap main spilt 24’s) , Toyota Sedans (48 lap main, split 24's), Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series
July 7th - Gerhardt Classic 100 Lap Three wide start BCRA Midget Race, The Western Winged Super Sprint Series, USAC Western Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Vintage BCRA, Legends of Kearney Bowl,
July 14th - Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, MST, Toyota Sedans, and the Jr, Late Model 30 lap exhibition race
July 21st - Closed
July 28th - Summer Speed Fest $5,000 to win Race #6 of the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 100 laps (split 50’s), Race #6 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), MSTs, Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series
August 4th - Children's Hospital Kids Night - Madera Late Models, Madera Hobby Stocks, F4 Beater Cross, Toyota Sedans, MST, Jr Late Model 30 lap exhibition race, Southwest Tour Truck Series
August 11th - PCS Super Late Model Series (Pacific Challenge Series), Madera Hobby Stocks, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, USAC HPD Midgets, MST, Legends of the Pacific, F4 Beater Cross
August 18th - Closed
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
