Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Round Two Of RPM Mortgage Pro LM & 51Fifty JR Late Models This Weekend

Photo Courtesy Matt Wedehase

Via Madera Speedway PR

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (April 3, 2018) – The second weekend of RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model and 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model racing of the 2018 season hits Madera Speedway this Saturday night, as drivers jockey for their nine race championships televised on MAVTV. 160 circuits around the one-third mile speedway make up the main card, with Mini Cup vs. Bandolero, Modified Super Toyotas, and Toyota Sedans also scheduled.

Both of the featured stock car classes will run 80 lap races across two segments. The features open with a 50 lap run, followed by a break on the front stretch for MAVTV interviews and car adjustments. A 30 lap dash to the finish concludes each race. This weekend’s races are tentative due to pending weather and may be a Sunday afternoon start. More details will be available later this week.

For the second consecutive season, Matt Erickson scored the $5,000 season opening win. Erickson’s win on March 10th came in dramatic fashion over a three lap shootout against two-time RPM Pro Late Model champion Buddy Shepherd of Bakersfield. Erickson’s victory gave him a head start on a championship run after an uncharacteristic fourth place in the 2017 standings. Several drivers who are not expected to chase the full championship populated the opener’s top-five.

Notably absent from the top-five was Napa’s Logan Zampa, the 2017 championship runner-up. Zampa suffered mechanical woes and did not finish the event. Zampa will enter Saturday’s races looking for a turn around in the championship. 2017 Rookie of the Year Austin Herzog finished fifth in the opener ahead of championship contender Ross Strmiska. 2018 Rookie of the Year hopefuls Adam Lemke and Christian Roche both failed to finish from separate crashes.

The Zampa family had much better luck on the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model side of things when Dylan Zampa earned his first career series victory. Zampa only led the final nine laps of the race, but did so after inheriting the lead from 2017 champion Jesse Love and Bakersfield’s 12 year-old standout Kabe McClenny. The fast-time qualifier on opening night was Tanner Reif of Las Vegas while Austin Edwards rounded out a strong top-five.

Bakersfield’s Kercie Jung dominated the inaugural running of the unique Bandolero vs. Mini Cup main event. Jung’s victory was nearly half a lap over fellow Bakersfield driver Seth Wise. Kale McClenny of Bakersfield won the Mini Cup portion of the combined 20 lap feature for a Bakersfield sweep. The youngest racers at Madera will use this division as a training ground for a future in the Jr. Late Model division.

Toyota Sedans have already raced twice this year and former champion Jillaun Holden has won both features. 2017 champion Mike Marley has a pair of podium efforts so far while Barrett Sugden has been the highest finishing F4 driver in both races. Modified Super Toyotas opened up on March 24th with Patrick Geiger winning. Dennis Brannon and Bert Stephens made up the balance of the podium.

This weekend’s activities will be tentative based on weather. Current schedules call for an open practice on Friday night from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. On Saturday, pit gates open at 10:30 a.m. with practices beginning at noon. Qualifying follows at 2 p.m. with the first heat races and main events beginning at 4:15 p.m. Opening ceremonies are slated for 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are value priced at just $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 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 will begin airing later this spring.

Madera Speedway 2018 Schedule Celebrating 47 years of Racing!

April 7th - Race #2 of the MAVTV televised RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series $2,000 to win 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #2 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then the final 30 laps), MSTs, Toyota Sedans, , Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

April 14th – Closed

April 21st - Closed, NO RACES / The Rusty Wallace Driving Experience

April 28th - $15 Ticket Night! Race #3 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series 80 laps ( 50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #3 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Madera Hobby Stocks, Toyota Sedans, , Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

May 5th - $15 Ticket Night! Vukovich Classic / The BCRA Midgets, NCMA Sprints, CSS/360 Super Modifieds, Legends of Kearney Bowl, Senior Open Vintage Super Modifieds, California Hard Tops, Vintage BCRA, USAC Western Midgets, Legends of the Pacific

May 12th - The Madera Late Model 40 lap race and Jr. Late Model Exhibition 30 Lap Race! Madera Hobby Stocks, plus the Toyota Sedans and Mini Super Toyotas, F4 Beater Cross

May 19th – Closed

May 26th- $15 Ticket Night! Military Tribute Night presented by 51FIFTY ENERGY DRINK (All active and retired military get in the grandstands for FREE!) Race #4 of the MAVTV televised $2,000 to win RPM Mortgage Pro Model Series 80 Laps (50 Laps then a break, then 30 laps), Race #4 of the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 80 laps (50 laps then a break, then 30 laps), Toyota Sedans, MST , Mini Cup vs Bandoleros Series

June 2nd - Closed

June 9th - Lucas Oil Summertime Horsepower Nationals presented by Protect the Harvest & Hoosier Tires! Lucas Oil Modifieds in the Protect the Harvest 75 MAVTV SHOW, North State Modified Tour , USAC HPD Midgets, Legends of Kearney Bowl, CSS 360 Super mods

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