LET THE CHASE BEGIN AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

Source: Madera Speedway Public Relations/db
Date: 07/27/2007

The Short Track Thunder continues this Saturday night, July 28 with USG Event Night at Madera Speedway. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series program will include a 75-lap, $1,500 to win feature for the Western Late Models, plus the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, 360 Super Modifieds, Toyota Sedans and Hornets.

Last Saturday, Stockton’s Ross Strmiska had the fans on their feet with his dramatic late race pass on Modesto’s Mike Beeler that catapulted the 21-year-old third generation driver to his first career Western Late Model win. That exciting race also closed the books on the 10 event “Road to the Chase” - the first of a two part, season long competition that will untimely determine the Madera Speedway track champion for 2007.

The top 20 drivers in cumulative points from the first 10 races will now move on to the six race “Chase For the Championship” – the second phase the competition. Those twenty drivers will retain only their trophy dash, heat and qualifying points from the first ten races.

The revamped standings show Mark Holeman, of Los Altos, now holding a slim 74 to 42 point lead over Stockton’s Joey Stearns going into this Saturday’s Western Late Model event. Strmiska lays just one slim point behind Stearns while Trevor Schlundt, of Clovis, sits just two points behind Strmiska.

Rank Driver Hometown Points

1 Mark Holeman Los Altos 74

2 Joey Stearns Stockton 43

3 Ross Strmiska Stockton 42

4 Trevor Schlundt Clovis 40

5 Chris Monez Turlock 31

6 Justin Philpott Tracy 29

7 David Philpott Tracy 28

8 Harry Belletto Modesto 27

9 Rick Thompson Clovis 22

9 Dale Kascht Raymond 22

9 Brock Monroe Escalon 22

9 Rodney Funston Oakdal e 22

13 Sam Solari Salida 15

13 Matt Erickson Don Pedro 15

15 Jim Courage Jr. Roseville 9

16 Pete Anderson Jr. Stockton 8

16 Carlos Viera Merced 8

16 Glen Cook Fremont 8

19 Amy Rotella-Roberts Fresno 6

20 Del McIntosh Madera 4

While these twenty will be the only drivers now eligible for the 2007 Western Late Model championship, there will still be plenty of spoilers lurking out there such as Beeler, Manteca’s Eric Nascimento and Modesto’s Kyle Gottula.

Rick Thompson, of Clovis, is one driver strongly in favor of the new system. Thanks to the adjustment he will enter this Saturday’s event only 52 points in back of leader Mark Holeman instead of 172 points.

“I think it is neat idea. It is giving me a second chance,” said Thompson “I never thought we would get to something like this, but NASCAR is using it and I think it is great that the guys here at Madera were willing to try it.”

Although the point standings will not be reset in the remaining classes at Madera, the battle for the track championships in those divisions promises to be just as fierce. The class leaders heading into this week’s action include Stockton’s Donny Darter in the American Limited Stock Cars, Madera’s Shon “Woody” Woods in the Modified Super Toyotas, Fresno’s Stan Hankins in the Toyota Sedans, Bakersfield’s David Tuey in the 360 Super Modifieds and 67-year-young grandfather Miles Humphreys, of Clovis, in the wild Hornet division.

Come out this Saturday, July 28, join in the fun and see history in the making at the at the home of Short Track Thunder – the Madera Speedway.

Ticket prices Saturday, July 28 are only $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. A family pack ticket (two adults and up to two kids 12 years old and under) is also available for the bargain price of $30.00. Adult fans with a sales receipt from any Save Mart Supermarket store receive a $5 discount at the gate on race days. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.

The Madera Speedway pit gates will open at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 28, practice begins at 12:30 PM, the grandstands open at 2:00 PM, qualifying begins at 2:30 PM and the first green flag will wave to begin the evening’s racing at approximately 5:00 PM.

The Madera Speedway is located at the Madera County Fairgrounds just off to the west side of Highway 99 at the Cleveland Avenue exit.

For more Madera Speedway information go to racemadera. com on the web or call the Info/Race Line at (559) 673-RACE.

See Also .:

• Madera Speedway Track Page

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