Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Bennett Returns to Victory Lane in NASCAR Northwest Tour Throwback Style



Via NWSLMS Media

Monroe, WA (July 28, 2018) Running a part-time schedule for car owner Ryan Zahnow, Travis Bennett (Ellensburg, WA) returned to victory lane in the Central Welding 125 at Evergreen Speedway for race #4 of the Northwest Super Late Model Series, Inc. (NWSLMS) in 2018. This marks the first time the series has run with the Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Models since the 2015 season.

Bennett made his comeback victory in fitting style and on the NASCAR Northwest Tour Throwback night, bringing him back to his glory days on the Tour. Tyler Tanner (Seattle, WA) and Jeff Knight (Lake Stevens, WA) followed Bennett across the stripe to collect the final podium honors.

Starting on the pole, courtesy of an eight-car invert drawn by fast time qualifier Tayler Riddle (Naches, WA), Bennett was able to lead the feature wire to wire. Challenges came early in the race by Zack Beaman and Doni Wanat. Several cautions and subsequent restarts allowed Bennett to keep the preferred groove and the lead. When Beaman and Wanat got together battling for second position, which resulted in Beaman spinning and losing a lap, the two were forced to go to the rear, giving Bennett some much needed breathing room. Wanat would make his way back through the field to finish fourth, while Beaman’s night ended early. The incident also collected series regulars Riddle and Trenton Moriarity (Monroe, WA). Moriarity suffered only minor damage and was able to finish all 125 laps in the 7th position. Riddle’s night was over, as he was forced to the pits with damage.

2017 Season Champion and current point’s leader Brittney Zamora worked her way up after contact with Jessie Jensen sent her to the back of the field early in the race. She was able to overcome the deficit and take home the fifth position for the day and gained points on Andy Sole (San Tan Valley, AZ) and Riddle.

In his final start at Evergreen Speedway, Pete Harding had hopes of going out in style. Unfortunately, Harding lost oil pressure before the green flag and retired early. Harding’s final race will be the Yakima Speedway Fall Classic in October, as he turns over the driving duties to his grandson Stewart, while he puts on the crew chief hat.

The NWSLMS Tour returns to action on August 18 at South Sound Speedway. For more information log onto the series Facebook page, website www.nwsuperlatemodels.com or South Sound Speedway www.southsoundspeedway.com

Central Welding 125 – Evergreen Speedway

1 52b Travis Bennett 125
2 65 Tyler Tanner 125
3 70 Jeff Knight 125
4 89 Doni Wanat 125
5 52z Brittney Zamora 125
6 16 Daniel Moore 125
7 12m Trenton Moriarity 125
8 48 Tanner Holm 125
9 20w Andy Sole 125
10 00 Naima Lang 125
11 24 Roger Drake 124
12 3g Wyatt Gardner 123
13 33 Christopher Kalsch 123
14 5 Garret Archer 122
15 1K Mitch Kleyn 114
16 98 Greg Bennett 113
17 35t Rob Touchette 109
18 25 Zack Beaman 99
19 35c Brian Cottrell 93
20 90 Molly Helmuth 83
21 15 Tayler Riddle 64
22 20s Jay Sauls 50
23 73 Gary Lewis 47
24 12c Chad Fitzpatrick 35
25 31 Jessie Jensen 34
26 3x Scott Lacrosse 29
27 39 Pete Harding DNS

Lap leaders: 1-125 Travis Bennett

This week’s contingency prizes were awarded to the following drivers:

Hoosier Tires: Christopher Kalsch, Brittney Zamora, Mitch Kleyn
Longacre Racing Products Longest Tow – Christopher Kalsch
Longacre Racing Products Hard Charger – Brittney Zamora
Wheel Chill $100 Gift Certificate off Retail Set of Wheel Chills – Tayler Riddle
Wheel Chill $25 Gift Certificate off Driver Wheel Chill – Mitch Kleyn
Wheel Chill $25 Gift Certificate off Retail Grill Chill – Chad Fitzpatrick
Joe’s Hard Luck Award – Pete Harding
Frank’s Radio Gift Certificate $100 - $75 - $50 – Doni Wanat, Brittney Zamora, Trenton Moriarity
The Ti Company – Andy Sole
Auto Meter $200 Certificate – Zack Beaman

Current Point Standings:
Pos Car# Driver Name WVSO 042818 SSS 060218 MRP 072118 CW125 072818 Total Points Wins
1 52 Brittney Zamora 53 53 41 43 190 1
2 20 Andy Sole 38 44 36 39 157 1
3 15 Tayler Riddle 52 36 30 32 150
4 1K Mitch Kleyn 44 32 37 33 146
5 12 Trenton Moriarity 49 38 42 129
6 89 Doni Wanat 30 40 47 117
7 83 Braeden Havens 52 43 95
8 12F Chad Fitzpatrick 40 27 24 91
9 91 Alan Cress 41 46 87
10 5 Jan Evans 36 46 82
11 00 Naima Lang 41 38 79
12 33 Christopher Kalsch 42 35 77
13 38 Chad Hinkle 32 43 75
14 17 Bob Pressley 29 46 75
15 64 Garrett Evans 31 40 71
16 93 Dave Garber 39 31 70
17 92 Logan Jewell 43 26 69
18 16 Daniel Moore 26 42 68 1
19 35 Rob Touchette 36 31 67
20 31 Jessie Jensen 42 23 65
21 33 Brooke Schimmel 27 31 58
22 48 Preston Peltier 53 53
23 75 Jeremy Doss 52 52
24 65 Tyler Tanner 52 52
25 52 Travis Bennett 50 50 1
26 10 Owen Riddle 46 46
27 70 Jeff Knight 46 46
28 09 Clint Habart 44 44
29 48 Tanner Holm 40 40
30 81 Darrell Midgley 39 39
31 1 Agni Howell 39 39
32 8 Kelly Admiraal 38 38
33 23 Brandon Ash 37 37
34 53 Alex Lessor 37 37
35 24 Roger Drake 37 37
36 24 Tristan Haider 36 36
37 3 Wyatt Gardner 36 36
38 12 Thane Alderman 35 35
39 11 Ed Thomsen 34 34
40 4 Arlyn Long 34 34
41 5a Garret Archer 34 34
42 15F Jim Franklin 33 33
43 11 Cole Keatts 33 33
44 26 John Newhouse 33 33
45 14 Don Staggs 32 32
46 98 Greg Bennett 32 32
47 18 Ian Graham 31 31
48 7 Kurt Meyer 30 30
49 70 Trent Seidel 30 30
50 25 Zack Beaman 30 30
51 35 Brian Cottrell 29 29
52 88 Dirk Bennett 28 28
53 8 Tom Elam 28 28
54 36 Grant Brown 28 28
55 90 Molly Helmuth 28 28
56 95 Buck Noel Jr 27 27
57 73 Gary Lewis 27 27
58 20 Jay Sauls 26 26
59 88 Jack Chisholm 25 25
60 27 Tim Elliott 24 24
61 3x Scott Lacrosse 22 22
62 39 Pete Harding 21 21


For additional information, please contact Jarrod Goodwin (509) 879-5082.

In their fifth season, the Northwest Super Late Model Series Inc. is the premier regional
touring Super Late Model series in the Pacific Northwest. The series has many valued marketing
partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, AR Bodies,
Accelerated Graphics, Five Star Bodies, Longacre Racing Products, Franks Racing Radio, Jefferson Pitts Racing, Bassett Wheels, TI Company, Pacific Steel Structures, LLC, Leonard Evans Used Car Super Store and Racing Dynamiks. For more information on the series visit www.nwsuperlatemodels.com or on Social Media, Facebook (NWSLMS) or Twitter (@nw_latemodels).

Monday, July 30, 2018

Herzog Adds To RPM Mortgage Pro LM Lead At Madera



Via Austin Herzog Motorsports Media

CLOVIS, CALIFORNIA (July 31, 2018) – Clovis High School student Austin Herzog, 15, continues to lead the championship for the MAVTV-televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series after a second place finish on Saturday night at Madera Speedway. The finish came during the prestigious Summer Speedfest that paid $5,000 to win winner.

Herzog, the six-time 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model Series winner, drives the Austin Herzog Motorsports #11 Late Model supported by Sanger Concrete, Castech Pest Control and Superior Doors.

The afternoon on the one-third mile opened with Herzog qualifying third, .028 seconds off of fast time. The effort earned him two points in the championship and he also drew the pole for the start of the race. Herzog fell back to third early in the race and battled back-and-forth with Jason Aguirre into the halfway break at lap 50.

“We were having a couple of problems at the end of the first half with the car,” Herzog said. “We talked over the radio on the cautions and came up with a game plan for the break. The adjustments from Charlie Wilson and the crew helped a bunch.”

Coming out of the break, Herzog and Aguirre slid across the track and Austin fell back to seventh. The second year driver showed composure and went to work, steadily climbing through the pack. He battled for second place with both rookie Adam Lemke then second in points Matt Erickson, finally taking the spot for good on lap 83. He held off Erickson over the final four laps to take second at the yellow checkered flag lap 87 finish.

“The team is due for a win at Madera with all the consistent work in the shop and at the track,” Herzog said. “It is a big accomplishment to be running with one of the best drivers at Madera in Matt Erickson.”

He will take a 16 point lead in the championship into round #7, Saturday August 25th at Madera Speedway. 80 laps of RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series racing are scheduled. Herzog has five top-fives and six top-tens in the series with an average finish of fourth this year.

Round #3 of the series airs on August 2nd at both 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Pacific Time on MAVTV. Round #4 will air August 30th.

Austin Herzog Motorsports thanks Sanger Concrete, Castech Pest Control, Superior Doors, LC Services, Richard Herzog Construction, and Darrell Herzog Roofing for their support.

Potential sponsors are encouraged to contact austinherzogmotorsports@gmail.com

Race fans can keep up on all of the action for Austin Herzog Motorsports at www.AustinHerzog.com Austin Herzog Motorsports can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Tyler Reif & Buddy Shepherd Lead Winners At Madera For Summer Speedfest

Tyler Reif leads the Jr. Late Models under the July sun (Photo Courtesy Jason Wedehase)

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (July 28, 2018) – 11 year-old Tyler Reif of Las Vegas, NV won his first career 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model race while Bakersfield’s Buddy Shepherd nabbed $5,000 in the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series during Saturday’s Summer Speedfest at Madera Speedway. A hot night of racing challenged the drivers in the MAVTV-televised racing on the one-third mile speedway.

Round #6 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models was a 70 lap race. The redraw of the top-six cars placed defending champion Jesse Love of Menlo Park on the pole but he was passed on the outside by Kayla Eshleman of Fontana who led lap one. Love and Austin Edwards were among early drivers to fall out of the race with mechanical problems, with Love credited with 15th position as the last place car.

A four car incident in turn one ended the debut for Bakersfield’s Zachary Ginn, who also races in the Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros series. Calvin Hegje and Tanner Reif were also gathered up. Two-time 2018 winner Dylan Zampa of Napa started a long battle with Tyler Reif for second on lap 11 and the duo rarely separated throughout much of the event.

Reif cleared Zampa then saw Zampa crawl right up to his rear bumper on lap 20. A spin from Watsonville’s Lilly Mead from seventh place on lap 26 brought out the caution. Issues with the pace truck forced an extended stoppage that ended up being the lap 40 break, 14 laps early.

Tyler Reif nosed inside Eshleman for the lead coming out of the break and took over the top position on lap 32. The caution flew on lap 33 and on the restart Zampa went around Eshleman for second using the outside. Eshleman fought to get the spot back on lap 37. The pair went side-by-side in lapped traffic on lap 45 which sparked a wild crash. Eshleman tagged the left rear of Hailey Liles, sending Liles down the track to hook the rear of Zampa. Zampa hit the front stretch wall head on. Liles spun back down the race track and made contact with Eshleman again at start finish.

Remarkably Zampa was able to make repairs to both ends of his race car to continue on as he tried to close the points gap on Jesse Love. Hegje and Kyler Berry had an incident for another caution on lap 46. Madera’s Joey Iest charged up to third in his debut, before tangling with Eshleman in turn three for a caution on lap 47 that sent both to the rear.

The incident thrust Tanner Reif back into the picture behind his brother Tyler. One additional caution late in the running set up a sprint to the finish that wowed the crowd. With both drivers chasing their first career series wins, the younger Tyler held off Tanner by a nose in a sliding duel to the checkered flag. Zampa managed third to unofficially take the points lead. Eshleman and Hegje rounded out the top-five.

The Summer Speedfest 100 for the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series was a battle to see who could outlast a tough night. Points leader Austin Herzog, age 15 from Clovis, drew the pole position but was overhauled by Military Tribute Night winner Racin Vernon of Bakersfield on lap one.

Two-time series champion Buddy Shepherd went inside Herzog to take second as well. Shepherd reeled in Vernon by lap five and they went side-by-side. The Bakersfield drivers battled until lap nine when Shepherd took the lead. The field hit lapped traffic in the 22 car starting grid by lap 18 with the first caution not falling until lap 25.

Dillon Tucker stalled on the backstretch while both Erickson and Kolby Berry spun on opposite ends of the track. The caution was ruled to be for Tucker with an electrical fire, allowing both spinning cars to get their spots back.

Under caution, oil was found on the track from the rear end of Garland Tyler’s car. Both Tyler and Tucker made repairs and returned after a lengthy red flag. Tyler then spun on his own on the restart and B Main winner Ryan Hart tangled with Jack Wood coming back to the yellow.

Racin Vernon fell backwards on the restart getting passed by both Jason Aguirre and Adam Lemke. He eventually fell back to eighth on lap 35 behind Matt Erickson. The battling for Vernon intensified when he went three wide with Ryan Philpott and Logan Zampa, bouncing off the backstretch wall for a lap 37 caution. Vernon managed to make repairs and continue.

Eighth starting Aguirre made his way around Herzog to take second place on the restart with Shepherd leading Aguirre across the stripe to the lap 50 break.

Coming out of the break for MAVTV interviews and adjustments, Herzog and Aguirre had a big sideways slide down the front stretch that bounced them back to fifth and sixth. Rookies Adam Lemke and Nick Grossi took advantage of all the sliding around within the top-five to move up to second and third behind Shepherd. Carlos Vieira started to join the battling as well moving past Grossi into third on lap 62 bringing 2016 champion Matt Erickson with him. Erickson moved past Vieira for third by lap 71 before a caution on lap 73 when Kolby Berry’s engine expired in turn four.

Lemke and Herzog battled for second place on the restart before a red flag on lap 80 for the most serious crash of the evening. Rookie Christian Roche of Oakdale slid off the wall in turn four and clipped Ripon’s Henk Gaalswyk, with both making significant impact to the wall to end their evenings. Another caution came out when Zampa stopped in turn four on lap 82.

Impending curfew meant the final caution would end the event and gave Herzog and Erickson one more shot at Shepherd. Shepherd pulled away when Vieira and Aguirre had a grinding crash off the front stretch wall to end the race on a lap 87 yellow checkered flag. Shepherd, Herzog, Erickson, Lemke and Dillon Tucker were the top-five at the finish.

The Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros 20 lap main event was also spectacular, but not as much in the Bandolero portion of the race within a race. Bakersfield’s Riley Massey got the job done on that end with a comfortable 7.9 second win to extend her points lead. But the battle that transpired half a track behind her was one of the best of the year.

Mini Cup points leader Kabe McClenny and Napa’s Aaron Thomas battled back and forth for the lead of their class throughout the entire race, doing so in the vicinity of second place Bandolero Hank Hall of Bakersfield. The trio ran three-wide on numerous occasions and darted in and out of lapped traffic. McClenny finally drove away from Thomas in the closing stages of the event to win the Mini Cup portion of the evening yet again. The overall finish saw Massey’s Bandolero followed by McClenny, Thomas, and Aiden Phillips’ Mini Cup. Hall suffered a mechanical problem on the final two laps to soldier home in seventh.

The Modified Super Toyotas started with Dave Lander leading the way before a multi-car spin in turn three closed the field up. Shaun Reynolds took over the lead and did not look back ahead of 2017 champion Bert Stephens, while Lander and Patrick Geiger raced hard for third place. Lander and Geiger wrecked hard coming to the finish line with Geiger flipping across the line. He was uninjured and was credited with fourth behind Lander.

Racing continues at Madera Speedway on August 4th with the 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

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 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PST and is also available on the Lucas Oil Racing TV app.

Madera Speedway 2018 Schedule Celebrating 47 years of Racing!

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