Via Madera Speedway Media
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (April 2, 2019) – A pair of talented teenagers will try to defend their opening night victories when the MAVTV-televised Late Model divisions continue on Saturday at Madera Speedway. 15 year-old Dylan Zampa of Napa won his Nut Up Pro Late Model debut in March while Las Vegas’ Tanner Reif, 13, scored the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Jr. Late Model series victory. Both victories were rain shortened affairs on the one-third mile asphalt oval, with drivers staring down full length action this weekend.
80 laps are scheduled for the Pro Late Models while the Jr. Late Models will be in action for 70 laps. They are joined by Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros, Modified Super Toyotas, and Toyota Sedans for a full evening of motorsports entertainment.
Zampa’s triumph to open the year was a narrow one over his older brother Logan. They swapped the lead multiple times during a side-by-side battle that lasted more than ten laps. Dylan cleared Logan on lap 49 before the caution fell and the race ended prematurely due to weather.
A trio of top contenders in 2019 were waiting in the wings when the race ended. Defending champion Matt Erickson, 2018 Madera Late Model champion Jason Aguirre, and six-time Jr. Late Model winner Austin Herzog will be among those trying to improve their fortunes to challenge the Zampas at the front of the pack. The Zampa brothers will look to add Saturday’s $2,000 feature to their recent haul of $16,500, including Logan’s win in last October’s Short Track Shootout.
The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models for drivers ages 10-16 years old attracted a strong 20 car field for their opener. Early action was dominated by new drivers such as Riverside’s Cody Kiemele and Bakersfield’s Seth Wise.
Las Vegas’ Tanner Reif, who finished third in the 2018 championship, found his way to the front for the opening victory with Madera’s hometown driver Joey Iest running second. Both drivers have established themselves as championship favorites while Bakersfield’s Kabe McClenny had a strong start with a fourth place finish. Wise led all rookies from third with fellow Bakersfield driver Kercie Jung finishing sixth.
Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros will open their 2019 season on Saturday after they were unable to race on opening night. The Bandolero portion of the field has grown substantially to include a mix of Northern California and Southern California drivers. The Mini Cup side also features several rookie drivers. Madera’s youngest drivers race for 20 laps in a “race within a race” format where points and trophies are decided separately by class.
Both of Madera’s regular entry level divisions, the Modified Super Toyotas and Toyota Sedans have two points races in the books in 2019. Jason Lawton has claimed victory in both Sedan races so far by comfortable margins. Andrew Davidson and Greg Tyler round out the top-three in the points.
In Modified Super Toyotas, Shaun Reynolds has a win and a second place finish to lead the points over former track champions Ryan Reynolds and Bert Stephens. Both Toyota divisions will stage 25 lap features this weekend.
Action gets started on Friday evening with practice from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday’s program begins with pit gates opening at 11:00 a.m. Practices run from 1:15 – 2:55 p.m. with qualifying and heat races to follow. The first set of main events starts at 5:00 p.m. including the Mini Cup feature and the Late Model B Main. Opening ceremonies are at 6:00 p.m.
Tickets for this great night of racing are just $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $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 Nut Up Industries please visit www.nutupindustries.com and for more information about 51FIFTY Energy Drink visit www.51fiftyenergydrink.com
Madera Speedway is presented by major partners Nut Up Industries, 51FIFTY Energy Drink, iPull-uPull, and Color Fast Industries. Contingency sponsors include Five Star Bodies, Maita Motorsports, McAllister Precision Marketing, and StopTech Brakes.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Thursdays 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. 2018 episodes will continue airing until the late spring, when 2019 episodes will hit the airwaves.
