MADERA, CALIFORNIA (July 25, 2017) – $5,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Late Models and 75 laps of 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model racing makes up Saturday's inaugural Summer Speedfest at Madera Speedway. The action will be part of the fifth night of MAVTV-televised Late Model racing for the 2017 season.

The once per month twin bill of Late Model competition has rewarded fans at the one-third mile oval with some of the best racing in the country. With $5,000 on the line for Pro Late Model competitors, the competition level in the 125 lapper is expected to be at its peak so far this year.

The Pro Late Model drivers have remained busy, taking in a pair of July races in the separate Madera Late Models division for non-televised events. 2016 Pro Late Model champion Matt Erickson scored the July 1st victory in front of a packed house on Fireworks night, while Jr. Late Model regular Eric Nascimento, Jr. won on July 15th in his inaugural Madera Late Model start. But it is 2015 Pro Late Model champion Buddy Shepherd of Bakersfield with the biggest head of steam. Between wins in both the April and May 100 lap races, along with coming within 500 feet of victory in June and winning the SRL Southwest Tour race at Madera on July 15th, Shepherd has emerged as the strongest Late Model competitor in the Central Valley.

The driver who has kept Shepherd honest has arguably been Napa teenager Logan Zampa with a pair of runner-up finishes and winning the most recent event in June for three top-twos in four starts. Those performances have lifted Zampa to second in the points behind Shepherd, with Modesto's Garland Tyler rounding out the top-three. Tyler has a pair of third place finishes boosting his campaign. Dillon Tucker and Ryan Hart make up the rest of the top-five in the order, with Erickson relegated to sixth so far at the halfway point of the season with four races down and four to go.

Five-time 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model winner Austin Herzog is seventh as the leading rookie driver after nearly collecting victory in June before tangling with Shepherd in the final corners. Rick Thompson, Glen Cook, and Howard Holden represent the rest of the top-ten.

Jesse Love IV, age 12 of Menlo Park, had put his stamp on the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model competition all season by winning the first three races of the year before Austin Herzog took the win on June 17th. Love's teammate Hailie Deegan is in the second position in the points but has a substantial 47 point deficit. The points standings are very close behind Deegan, with Redwood Valley's Kolby Berry in third. Berry has been the fast-time qualifier in all four events and has a second place finish in the season opener on his resume. 12 year-old Austin Edwards has been bolstered by a runner-up effort in the April race to rank fourth while five-time series winner Austin Herzog is fifth. Las Vegas' Kyle Keller, Nascimento, Jr., Jesse Burks, Jarrett Gilmer, and Las Vegas' Tanner Reif make up the rest of a very close top-ten.

Reif's younger brother Tyler leads the Mini Cups into action after several dominating wins with Stockton's Joey Stearns finishing second in both races this year. Joseph Holiday has qualified third in both races and has finishes of third and fourth. The youngest drivers at Madera will run a 20 lap feature.

Rounding out the program will be the Toyota Sedans with a 25 lap main event scheduled. Back-to-back third place finishes has Mike Marley leading Thomas Magray by 55 points in the championship.

An open practice kicks off the weekend on Friday before a full day of action on Saturday. Friday practice runs from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. On Saturday, pit gates open at 1 p.m. with practice from 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Qualifying will follow with B Mains and Heat Races beginning at 6 p.m. Opening ceremonies and main events will follow at approx. 7 p.m.

Tickets for this great night of racing are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and military, $7 for youth ages 6-12, and kids five and under are free!

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 airs again Thursday July 27th with coverage of the third round of the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Models from May 27th. The broadcast beings at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific. Madera Speedway racing is also available on the LucasOilRacing.TV app