MATT ERICKSON WITHSTANDS PRESSURE FROM CANCILLA TO PREVAIL IN MADERA PRO LATE MODELS
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (September 14, 2024) – Matt Erickson of La Grange outlasted multiple challenges from 12-year-old Vito Cancilla of Martinez to earn his second Madera Pro Late Model Series powered by Mission Foods feature win of the season on Saturday night. The victory in the MAVTV-televised series came during the penultimate eighth round of the 2024 championship, with Erickson running second in the standings. Photo by Jake Scarbrough
His night opened in perfect fashion with fast-time in qualifying on the one-third mile speedway followed by drawing the pole in the redraw.
“After that opening day where we grenade’d (a motor) with a dominant car, this is a lot better,” Erickson said. “Without the help of Eric Nascimento we wouldn’t have got a motor. The 12-year-old over here gave me a run for my money.”
Erickson fired of from the pole for the 80-lap contest with Cancilla taking over third on lap 12. Incoming points leader and defending champion Tyler Herzog of Fresno battled throughout the opening 50-lap segment with Bubba Nascimento for fifth. Will Martyn of Coarsegold spun on lap 20 to bring out a caution. On the restart, Cooper tried to drive outside of Erickson but the paid made slight contact and Erickson held the position.
Cancilla then drove underneath Cooper to nab second place. An additional spin for Martyn on lap 23 allowed Cancilla to restart outside Erickson. Cancilla tried high and low multiple times but was unable to pass Erickson. Erickson led Cancilla, Cooper, rookie Joey Kennealy of Madera, and Herzog at the lap 50 break for adjustments and MAVTV interviews. Trevor Schlundt of Clovis wrapped up the club Late Model division championship at the conclusion of lap 50 as well in the combined race, winning the title on his mom’s birthday.
The second segment saw Yorba Linda’s Nathan Quella and Loomis’ Kenna Mitchell collide in turns one and two. The race stayed green but Mitchell fell to the back of the field. Quella then spun in turn two on lap 54, getting hit hard in the nose by Shaun Reynolds. 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model winner Cam Carraway of Castro Valley and Schlundt also suffered race ending damage.
On the restart, Cancilla continued to jockey with Erickson. A caution flew on lap 70 for Mitchell spinning after side-by-side contact with Mariposa’s Glen Cook. Cancilla threw his No. V5 for Nascimento Motorsports inside of Erickson on multiple occasions over the final ten laps to no avail. Erickson won by a nose over Cancilla with Cooper finishing third. Kennealy and Herzog rounded out the top-five.
Tristan Pena of San Antonio scored his second consecutive 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 70-lap feature and third of the season after winning a side-by-side battle with points leader Jace Hale of Manteca.
“It feels amazing because we’ve gone through so much adversity this season. This just makes up for it,” Pena said. “It was pretty tough but I knew I could drive in a little deeper than (Hale) could.”
Like Erickson, Pena led qualifying and drew the pole for the feature event. Hayden Stepps and Skyler Schoppe collided on the opening turn to bring out a caution flag. Both continued on. A caution for debuting racer Kourtney Baker, age 13, spinning gave Hale his first shot on the outside of Pena. Hale led lap two before Pena battled back to lead lap three and take the race all the way to its lap 40 schedule race break. Pena led Hale, Cam Carraway, Livermore’s Jacob Ryan, and Schoppe at the break.
When action resumed, Carraway challenged the back bumper of Hale for second. Pena accumulated a 1.096 second lead which evaporated when Stepps spun on lap 55 in the third turn. Hale tried to make the outside work again, but Pena found a way to keep the lead. Tristan Pena darted off to victory followed by Hale, Carraway, Ryan, and a resurgent Stepps in fifth.
13-year-old Taylor Mayhew returned to Madera Speedway and won his first Madera Legends feature in a 30-lap contest. Mayhew had to fend off his father David throughout the race. August winner Colton Page of Bakersfield tagged the backstretch wall at the start and was unable to continue.
The Mayhew and Mayhew show were followed across the checkered flag by their teammate Johnny White. Madera’s CJ Dizney finished fourth while championship contender Eddie Garone of Bakersfield rounded out the top-five.
Madera’s Joseph Holliday had a successful debut in the new Pro Sportsman division, winning qualifying, his heat race, and the main event. Holliday led just the final two laps for the exciting win in the 30-lap event. Finishing second was Steve Schermerhorn of Oakhurst who still managed to wrap up the championship. Brian Taylor finished third.
2023 INEX Bandolero champion Kaine Bettancourt has virtually locked up the 2024 title after winning the 15-lap event. Madera’s Kellen Keller finished second with Andrew Williams in third.
Up next at Madera Speedway is the 51st annual Harvest Classic featuring the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame 150 for the ARCA Menards Series West. The Speed Tour Super Modifieds will also be competing along with NCMA Sprint Cars and Legends of Kearney Bowl. On-track autographs kick off the festivities at 6pm followed by the main event action. Tickets and info will be available this week at www.RaceMadera.com
The 2024 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Sealmaster.
Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 6pm Pacific and 9pm Eastern. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.
