INTENSITY LEVEL INCREASES AT MADERA SPEEDWAY WITH PENULTIMATE ROUND SATURDAY

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (September 11, 2024) – Round eight of the title fight for the 2024 MAVTV-televised Pro Late Model Series powered by Mission Foods and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series championships is this Saturday night at Madera Speedway. Saturday’s Pro Late Model Series feature is a Tribute to Donnie Large, Sr. and also is the championship finale for the Club Late Models division. Pro Sportsman will also have their championship event along with points action for INEX Legends and INEX Bandoleros. Photo by Jake Scarbrough

A huge night of racing at the fastest one-third mile in the west is on tap with family friendly ticket prices! Adult tickets are just $20, seniors are $15, youth ages 6-12 are $10 and kids five and under are free. All tickets will be sold at the track ticket booth. Opening Ceremonies are at 6pm! Race fans can “Join” www.YouTube.com/ShortTrackTV for $19.99 per month for a members-only live stream as well.

Saturday’s finales for the Club Late Model division and Pro Sportsman division are a celebration of the grassroots of motorsports. The combined Late Model 80-lap feature will be a Tribute to Donnie Large, Sr. who competed in virtually every division at Madera Speedway throughout his storied career.

Fresno’s Tyler Herzog won a hard fought 80-lap feature in August for his second win of the year in his 2023 title defense for the Pro Late Model Series. Herzog’s championship lead has increased to 33 markers over one of the winningest drivers in Madera Speedway history in La Grange’s Matt Erickson. Two-time 2024 winner and 2023 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series champion Vito Cancilla of Martinez has had a strong rookie season from third in the championship. Shelden Cooper of Clovis contended for victory in round seven and rides in fourth in the standings with a 51-point deficit. Madera’s Joey Kennealy is also enjoying a strong rookie campaign in fifth in the order.

UNCC student Nathan Quella of Yorba Linda, Calif., Shaun Reynolds of Coarsegold, veteran competitors Rick Thompson of Fresno and Jason Aguirre of Atwater and 2024 Summer SpeedFest winner Jay Juleson of San Jose make up the top-ten in the standings.

Saturday’s 80-lap affair is the finale for the Madera Late Model division that races on non-MAVTV televised nights. Also known as the club Late Model circuit, these racers routinely compete in 40-lap features. After a series of cancelations and rain outs, they have been blended into the Mission Foods Pro Late Model excitement for the last two races of the year. Trevor Schlundt of Clovis will try to close out a championship season with Olivia Manke just 15 points behind and Rick Thompson sitting 19 points out of first. The top-ten drivers in the Madera Late Models standings will earn points after the conclusion of lap 50 in Saturday’s feature.

The penultimate 80-lap feature for the Madera Pro Late Model Series opens with a 50-lap segment followed by a break for MAVTV interviews and adjustments. A 30-lap sprint to the finish determines the race winner.

Drivers ages 10-16 years old in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series have demonstrated some hard nosed racing throughout 2024 as well. Manteca’s Jace Hale leads the championship after a summer stretch of three consecutive wins. Cam Carraway of Castro Valley has a victory in the season opener and five total podium finishes to rank second in the standings. San Antonio, Texas’ Tristan Pena won a physical race with Hale to take down the seventh round of the championship. Despite some early season mechanical problems and incidents, Pena has climbed back to third in the standings and just 39 markers out of the lead. Qualifying star Jacob Ryan of Livermore is fourth with Skyler Schoppe rounding out the top-five.

Except for the opening season in 2016, no champion driver in the Jr. Late Model Series has won less than four races when claiming the crown. Hale’s three wins have moved him within arm’s length of claiming the title with two races to go in the season. He aims to join drivers such as Cancilla, Ethan Nascimento, Joey Iest, and Jesse Love to have won the title. The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series competes in a 70-lap feature with a 40-lap opening stage, the Mission Racing Style Tortilla Chips halfway break, and a 30-lap run to the checkered flag.

For the INEX Legends, just five points separate rookie Colton Hale and Bakersfield’s Eddie Garone. Colton Page of Bakersfield scored round six and is just 25-points behind as well. Easton’s Kylie Labrie and Madera’s CJ Dizney round out the top-five. A 30-lap feature is on tap.

Kaine Betancourt has virtually sewed up his title defense in the INEX Bandoleros with five victories. Madera’s Kellen Keller has claimed the other two wins on the season. Their duel resumes on Saturday night in a 15-lap event.

Steve Schermerhorn of Oakhurst looks to wrap up the inaugural Pro Sportsman championship on Saturday night in a 30-lap feature. Rookie driver Brian Taylor is second in the standings followed by Drew Ries.

Racing action kicks off on Friday night with the pit gates opening at 3pm. Practice runs from 5pm to 8pm. Pit gates open at 1pm on Saturday with the drivers meeting at 2pm and practice at 2:30pm. Qualifying and heat races begin at 4:30pm. Opening Ceremonies are slated for approx. 6pm with all six features to follow.

For more information about the Madera Speedway including how to advertise with a race team on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or call the race office at 209-356-1968.

The 2024 season would not be possible without the support of Mission Foods, 51FIFTY LTM, Lunkerdaddy Fishing Lures, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Sealmaster, Frank’s Radio, and Sunoco Race Fuel.

Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights in primetime at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.