Monday, June 6, 2016

Summertime Horsepower Nationals At Madera This Weekend



Via Madera Speedway PR/Blakesley Sports Media

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (June 6, 2016) – One of the largest open wheel races each year at LoanMart Madera Speedway invades the "Fastest 1/3rd Mile in the West" this Saturday night with the Lucas Oil Summertime Horsepower Nationals. This is a complete festival of open wheel speed and excitement. The Lucas Oil Modifieds 75, North State Modifieds 60, and Madera Western Winged Super Sprints headline the racing along with USAC HPD Midgets and Legends of Kearney Bowl.

The Lucas Oil Modifieds visit Madera twice annually and return on October 8th as part of the Short Track Shootout with a $5,000 to win feature that night. Large car counts are the name of the game with this series and a 40 lap B Main is scheduled as well. Former Madera track champion Scott Winters and Lake County's Kyle Tellstrom split the 2015 Lucas Oil races at Madera. Linny White has won twice this season with Ryan Partridge and Travis Thirkettle also seeing victory lane so far this year. Matthew Hicks leads Tellstrom, Aaron McMorran, Winters, and Taylor Miinch in the standings.

On the North State Modified side, last season's appearance at the Horsepower Nationals was their debut at the facility. 2015 champion Darrin Knight won the most recent series race at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka, CA while Mike Collins leads the points. Tripp Gaylord won the series debut at the track last June but is not running in 2016 making for a wide-open field. The series also races with the Pacific Challenge Series Super Late Models at Madera on August 13th.

The Madera Western Winged Super Sprints are the fastest cars at LoanMart Madera Speedway with speeds over 110 miles per hour on the straightaways. Chowchilla's Eric Humphries has been perfect this year scoring a pair of victories to start the season to lead the points. Tom Baker debuted a new car this season and has runs of fourth and second to rank second in the order. Long time crew member and NCMA Sprint Car driver Justin Kawahata graduated to the wings and has found his footing for third place in the championship. Mr. Excitement Anthony Simone and USAC HPD Midget graduate Dylan Noble round out the top-five.

The MAVTV television debut for the Western Winged Sprints is this Thursday night at 5 p.m. Pacific / 8 p.m. Eastern. They are paired with the world's first ever race for the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models as part of the second episode of the "Madera Racing" program.

Both the Lucas Oil Modifieds and Western Winged Sprints races on Saturday will air on MAVTV at a later date. The Lucas Oil Summertime Nationals will be getting a big dose of television exposure for the teams and sponsors competing.

A contrast of young and old, Saturday's under card sees the youth drivers in the USAC HPD Midgets with a 30 lap feature scheduled for the western United States touring series. The fan favorite Legends of Kearney Bowl presents vintage Super Modified action that can only be seen to believe. Car counts for the LKB routinely exceed 20 cars with split features based on drivers speed and experience level.

Adult tickets are $20, seniors $17, youth ages 6-12 $10, and kids five and under are free. Grandstands are open for practice before ticket sales begin at 3:30 p.m. Qualifying begins at 2 p.m. with the first heat races at 4 p.m. Opening ceremonies are at 6:30 p.m. with main events to follow.

More information on the LoanMart Madera Speedway is available at www.RaceMadera.com the speedway is located at the Madera Fairgrounds at 1850 West Cleveland Ave. The Event Hotline is 559-673-RACE.

Madera only races twice this month but they are a pair of large shows. Following the Lucas Oil Summertime Horsepower Nationals, the LoanMart Open Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models return for more MAVTV-televised racing on June 18th.