(Jason Wedehase photo)

Via Madera Speedway Media

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (September 21, 2019) – Upper Lake’s Jeremy Doss scored his third win of the year in the Nut Up Pro Late Model Series on Saturday night, outfoxing 17 year-old Austin Herzog of Clovis for the $2,000 win. The MAVTV-televised night was a big one for the third-generation Herzog, however, as he takes over the points lead with just one round remaining in the prestigious series.

Blaine Rocha led the field to green from the pole position with the first caution flying for two-time PCS champion Mike Beeler spun in turn three. Two-by-two racing developed from fourth on back while Rocha paced a tightly wound lead pack with Herzog and Doss. Herzog relentlessly edged forward from the inside line, taking over the top position on lap 30.

Doss immediately followed suit, going up the inside of Rocha. Exiting turn four to complete lap 33, Doss slid in front of Rocha. Rocha bounced off the wall then made contact with Doss entering turn one. Doss spun and went to the back of the field while Rocha was eliminated dude to the damage.

Herzog picked the inside line for the ensuing restart, surrendering the lead to 2018 Short Track Shootout winner Logan Zampa in the process. The pair went side-by-side for numerous laps until a caution lap 41 for Rick Thompson spun in turn three.

Carlos Vieira charged from tenth starting position past Herzog for second on the restart, turning his sights on Zampa. Henk Gaalswyk, Jr. spun in turn two for a lap 46 caution that forced the lap 50 scheduled break four laps early.

Emerging from the front stretch break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews, Ross Strmiska navigated from fourth up to second position, while Herzog battled with Vieira for third. Incoming points leader Dylan Zampa spun Tyler Herzog for fifth position on lap 52, relegating both to restart at the rear.

Doss had advanced to third by that stage of the event, using the restart to pass Strmiska. Herzog went inside Logan Zampa for the lead and used a lap 57 restart to take the top spot on lap 58. Doss went past Zampa for second a few laps later. The caution flew on lap 65 and Herzog fended off Doss successfully for the lead on that restart.

A three-car skirmish on the front stretch was the exclamation point of the race. Dylan Zampa and Kolby Berry came together and collected Tyler Herzog. All three were unable to continue, dropping Zampa to an eventual 16th place finish.

The skirmish also eliminated Herzog’s lead over Doss with six laps to go. Doss managed to out duel Herzog in a thrilling run to the finish, passing him on the outside then defending the inside line to the checkered flag. Doss claimed his third win of the year while Herzog took the points lead while Logan Zampa finished third. Strmiska and Jack Wood rounded out the top-five.

Herzog will take an unofficial 19-point advantage over Dylan Zampa heading into the 2019 $10,000 Short Track Shootout on October 5th, also serving as the Nut Up Pro Late Model championship race. Carlos Vieira and Jason Aguirre will remain within striking distance of the championship as well.

Madera’s Joey Iest focused solely on the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models on Saturday night and was rewarded with a new track record and his fifth victory of the year. Iest carries a solid points cushion into the championship race in two weeks over Bakersfield’s rookie Seth Wise.

Wise led the opening lap of the 70-lap race with 18 drivers ages 10-16 years old. Jadan Walbridge took over on lap two but a mistake in turn four a few laps later handed the lead back to Wise.
Wise led until lap 13 when Iest closed in, using the inside line to lead lap 14. One lap later, Holly Clark and Hailey Liles had an incident on the front stretch that caught out fifth running Jay Juleson. Juleson spun and had to restart at the tail end of the field.

Liles then had her night ended when she had hard contact avoiding the spinning Elvis Rankin of New Mexico in turn one on the restart.

Juleson put on the drive of the night as he charged through the pack, advancing to fourth on lap 45. Bradley Erickson and Austin Edwards collided in turn three for a lap 63 caution. The restart allowed Juleson to get around Wise for third.

Iest used the outside line to defend the lead from Walbridge and Juleson followed him past Walbridge on the outside a few laps later. Juleson ran out of time, falling 1.184 seconds short of Iest at the stripe. Walbridge was third ahead of Wise and Jake Bollman.

Nathaniel Edwards of Bakersfield won his first career Madera Bandolero race after a late race tangle. Edwards led early from the pole position. Ethan Nascimento fell out with mechanical trouble on lap five. Jeffrey Erickson worked his way past Riley Massey for second position on lap 10 and went to work reeling in Edwards.

Erickson finally caught Edwards with five to go. Coming into turn one on lap 17, the pair tangled and collected Massey in a hard crash. The race was yellow-checkered with Edwards awarded the victory. Harley Kennealy topped her brother Joey Kennealy for the Mini Cup win as well.

Ryan Reynolds won the 30 lap Modified Super Toyota main event. He led the final 21 laps, taking the lead from Bert Stephens on a lap nine restart. Stephens settled for second ahead of Patrick Geiger in third.

The busy end to the 2019 season at Madera Speedway continues next Saturday with the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour and SPEARS Modifieds in action, both televised for MAVTV. Legends of the Pacific, Madera Hobby Stocks, Toyota Sedans, and Legends of Kearney Bowl are also scheduled to compete.

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, McCallister 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. The fifth round of the 2019 Nut Up Pro Late Model Series airs on September 26th!