2008 Local Track Articles

Madera Speedway Media Release – September 20, 2008

Media Relations - Dale Bosowski

Regier, Belletto and Grewohl Harvest Victories at Madera Speedway on Saturday

Madera Speedway returned to action this weekend with one of California’s finest annual short track racing traditions – the two-day Harvest Classic.

On Friday September 19^th the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans and Hornets were the attraction and on Saturday September 20^th the Super Modifieds headlined a program that also included the BCRA Midgets, Legends of the Pacific and Western Late Models.

The winged SMRA 410 Super Modifieds once again teamed up with Madera’s own 360 Modifieds in the sixth and final Super Saturday event of the 2008 season, producing a field of 13 cars for the 50-lap Super Modified feature.

After Fresno’s Donnie Large, rookie Tony Thomas of Mill City, OR, and Bobby Dalton of San Martin all took turns in the lead, Jeff Russell of Boise, ID, grabbed the top spot just before the halfway point of the race on lap 24.

However, lurking just behind Russell was friendly nemesis Troy Regier of Dinuba, who began the night with a slim 138 to 135 lead over Russell in the battle for the Madera Super Modified championship. Regier patiently stalked his prey for several laps before making a move to the outside for the lead on lap 34.

Russell was never able to mount any type of counter attack as Regier cruised home for his third win of the season at Madera by a 1.854-second margin. Heat winner Bryan Warf of Meridian, ID, rounded out the Super Modified podium.

"The competition has been so good out here and Jeff has been incredible," said the new 2008 Madera Super Modified champion. "This feels great to win again."

Russell, who had two Super Saturday victories this season, was equally gracious in defeat.

"We have both struggled out here at times so it has evened out. Troy was just a little bit better tonight. Congratulations to him," said Russell.

Veteran driver David Tuey of Bakersfield, who finished sixth overall in the race, captured the victory for the 360 Modifieds and locked up the season championship for the class. Tuey also earned top honors in the 360 Modified trophy dash, heat and qualifying to cap off his championship in style.

"We could not have had a better night," said Tuey of his third championship in the last four years. "If you want to know what it takes to win a championship it is these guys right behind me on my crew."

A very entertaining 50-lap Western Late Model feature saw Modesto’s Jeff Belletto slice into the 11 point lead held by Stockton’s Joey Stearns at the start of the evening in the battle for the 2008 Madera track championship by taking his first win of the season.

The race got off to a rough start when an opening lap skirmish between several cars sent trophy dash winner Rick Thompson, of Clovis, to the pits for emergency repairs and parked Madera’s Del McIntosh for the night.

When the race restarted, Escalon’s Brock Monroe settled into the lead and held it through the first half of the race. After successfully fighting off numerous challenges by veteran Dave Byrd of San Jose, Byrd got into the back of Monroe entering turn three on lap 29, sending Monroe into the concrete wall and the pits for the rest of the race.

Jeff Belletto inherited the lead after Byrd was ordered to the back of the field for his transgression. He would hold on to the top spot for the remainder of the event despite a late race challenge from Harry Belletto, his father. Byrd was able to sneak past Harry Belletto on the last lap to take second while Stearns was forced to settle for the fourth spot.

"Wow, I am speechless. This is a long time coming. We have been trying so dang hard for this and we always have come up short," said Belletto. "This is really going to make it fun next week."

Jeff also explained that he was not a bit surprised to see his dad try and pass him even though he is fighting with Stearns for the track championship.

"He wants to see us win, but he is a racer. We have asked him about this before and said ‘You guys have the rest of your lives to win.’"

With Belletto’s victory Stearns will carry a slim 1030-1028 lead into next Saturday’s 100 lap Western Late Model season finale to decide the 2008 Madera track championship.

An exciting 30-lap BCRA Midget race was marred by a serious accident involving Dallen McKinney of Clovis.

Brentwood’s Daniel Bedford led the first nine laps of the BCRA feature before a failure forced him to the pits for the night. Colma’s Chad Nichols took over the top spot and began pulling away from the rest of the 16 car field until McKinney began to slowly reel him in.

With the race quickly winding down, McKinney tried to get under Nichols heading into turn one on lap 28. McKinney’s front right tire touched the left rear of Nichols causing McKinney to flip upside down and crash hard into the turn one wall.

The race was red flagged as medical crews arrived on the scene of the accident. After McKinney was extradited from his battered car, he was transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

When the race resumed, Hollister’s Bobby Grewohl held off Manteca’s Kyle Dickerson and Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen in a three-lap dash to take the win.

"I hope McKinney is ok. It was unfortunate what happened, but I will take it," said Grewohl. "We really had our hands full out there. We were catching those guys a bit at the end, but I don’t think we had enough time."

As is always the case, the Legends of the Pacific provided non stop wheel-to-wheel action throughout their 35-lap feature.

Orangevale’s Frankie Marks swooped under Stockton’s David Ball on lap six to take the early lead only to spin out five laps later and give way to Pine Valley’s Matt Scott. Rocklin’s Robby Czub battled Scott for the rest of the race, often going side by side with Scott, but Czub was never able to complete the pass as Scott held on for a narrow victory.

Mackena Bell of Carson City, NV, Dylan Albani of Modesto and Cody Berger of Tracy rounded out the top five.

"My car got real tight near the end and I had a really hard time staying ahead of Robby," said an exhausted Scott of his third win of the season at Madera. "He has got to be one of the fastest drivers out there and that was probably the longest five laps of my life at the end."

Close finishes were the rule on Friday as all four main events had the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Roger Selsor of Fresno, Larry Pasquale of Fresno and Lloyd Bamping of Clovis all took turns leading the early stages of the American Limited Stock Car main before season points leader Harold Holden, of Clovis, took charge of the 50-lap feature on lap seven.

Holden would soon find his rear view mirror filled with the oncoming car of Coulterville’s Matt Erickson, who had worked his way up to the front after starting from the back of the 13 car field. Erickson executed a daring pass on lap 38 to take the lead from Holden and pick up his second win of the season.

Fresno drivers Steve Trusner and Stan Hankins locked up in a battle royal in the 40-lap Toyota Sedan feature. The pair swapped the lead numerous times before Trusner was able to nose ahead at the finish to pick up the win by a margin of less than one foot!

Chowchilla’s John Bowersox slipped past his son Jason Bowersox for the lead in the Modified Super Toyota 40-lap main on lap 16. Bowersox then held off Fresno’s Donnie Large and series points leader Randy Fleming Jr. of Madera to preserve the win.

Justin Petz, age 17 of Fresno, once again beat defending series champion Miles Humphreys, age 68 of Clovis, to capture his second consecutive win in the 30-lap Hornet division feature.

Madera Speedway will conclude its regular season next Saturday, September 27th, with the return of the 2nd Annual Fall Fender Bender Classic featuring the sixth and final round of the HotWood 750 Series with a 100-lap main for the Western Late Models. The NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series program will include the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans and Hornets. A total of five regular season champions, plus the winner of the prestigious HotWood 750 Series crown, will all be determined on this special night. In addition, the racing stars of the future will also be showcased as the 2/3 and 1/2 scale WSRA Mini Cup and Baby Grands take on the Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West."

Madera Speedway will end the 2008 season on Saturday, October 25^th, with the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Smash Halloween Crash, Bash and Blow Up!!! This show will include an Enduro, a Demolition Derby, Drag Boat Nationals, an Open Comp twin 50 lap show for the American Limited Stock Cars, an Open Comp 4 Banger 50 lap race, the USAC Sprint Cars and a spectacular end of the season FIREWORKS show!

The Madera Speedway is conveniently 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 visit the track’s website at www.racemadera.com or call the Info/Race Line phone number at (559) 673-RACE and for information on the Madera Speedway Spectator Racing Series program go to www.spectatorracing.com on the web or call (209) 476-8123.

Madera Speedway – Harvest Classic

Media Release – Results for September 19-20, 2008

Media Relations – Dale J Bosowski (209) 818-1731

410 SuperModifieds/360 Modifieds

Fast Time – 410s – Troy Regier (Dinuba) – 12.531 seconds, 360s – David Tuey (Bakersfield) - 13.346 seconds

410 Dash – Jeff Russell (Boise, ID), Troy Regier (Dinuba), Jim Birges (Fresno), Bryan Warf (Meridian, ID)

360 Dash – David Tuey (Bakersfield), Kenny Kinchen (Madera), Lance Tatro (Madera), Lance Jackson (Kingsburg)

Heat 1 - 8 Laps

David Tuey (Bakersfield)

Lance Jackson (Kingsburg)

Lance Tatro (Madera)

Donnie Large (Fresno)

Larry Hinz (Fresno)

Doug Riparetti (Watsonville)

Kenny Kinchen (Madera)

Heat 2 - 8 Laps

Bryan Warf (Meridian, ID)

Troy Regier (Dinuba)

Bobby Dalton (San Martin)

Jeff Russell (Boise, ID)

Jim Birges (Fresno)

Tony Thomas (Mill City, OR)

Main – 50 Laps

Troy Regier (Dinuba)

Jeff Russell (Boise, ID)

Bryan Warf (Meridian, ID)

Jim Birges (Fresno)

Bobby Dalton (San Martin)

David Tuey (Bakersfield)

Lance Tatro (Madera)

Tony Thomas (Mill City, OR)

Donnie Large (Fresno)

Doug Riparetti (Watsonville)

Kenny Kinchen (Madera)

Lance Jackson (Kingsburg)

BCRA Midgets

Fast Time – Dallen McKinney (Clovis) – 13.929 seconds

Dash – Dallen McKinney (Clovis), Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield), Marco DeGeorge (Manteca), Bobby Grewohl (Hollister)

Heat 1 – 8 Laps

Ralph Cortez (Sacramento)

David Prickett (Fresno)

Dan Parker (Oakdale)

Mike Donaldson (Pleasant Hill)

Kyle Dickerson (Manteca)

Nick Foster Jr. (San Carlos)

Floyd Alvis (San Carlos)

Ryan Shupe (Palo Alto)

Scott Nail (Visalia)

Heat 2 – 8 Laps

Daniel Bedford (Brentwood)

Nick Chivello (Manteca)

Dallen McKinney (Clovis)

Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield)

Shane Golobic (Fremont)

Bobby Grewohl (Hollister)

Chad Nichols (Colma)

Wes Gutierrez (San Martin)

Main– 30 laps

Bobby Grewohl (Hollister)

Kyle Dickerson (Manteca)

Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield)

Shane Golobic (Fremont)

Nick Chivello (Manteca)

Dan Parker (Oakdale)

Nick Foster Jr. (San Carlos)

David Prickett (Fresno)

Ralph Cortez (Sacramento)

Scott Nail (Visalia)

Mike Donaldson (Pleasant Hill)

Floyd Alvis (San Carlos)

Chad Nichols (Colma)

Dallen McKinney (Clovis)

Daniel Bedford (Brentwood)

Ryan Shupe (Palo Alto)

Western Late Models

Fast Time – Harry Belletto (Modesto) – 14.900 seconds (New Track Record)

Dash – Rick Thompson (Clovis), Joey Stearns (Stockton), Jeff Belletto (Modesto), Harry Belletto (Modesto)

Main – 50 Laps

Jeff Belletto (Modesto)

Dave Byrd (San Jose)

Harry Belletto (Modesto)

Joey Stearns (Stockton)

Todd Corral (Oakdale)

Rick Thompson (Clovis)

Brock Monroe (Escalon)

Jeff Lee

Nic Belletto (Modesto)

Del McIntosh (Madera)

Legends of the Pacific

Fast Time – Robby Czub (Rocklin) – 16.794 seconds

Dash – Mackena Bell (Carson City, NV), Matt Scott (Pine Grove), Cody Berger (Tracy), Robby Czub (Rocklin)

Heat 1- 8 Laps

Kelly Martin (Modesto)

Jack Humphrey (American Canyon)

Joe Le Duc (San Leandro)

Derek Rogers (Sparks, NV)

David Allen (Middleton)

Keith Clement (Stockton)

Erin Garafe (Stockton)

Heat 2 – 8 Laps

Willie Davis (Sacramento)

Fred Clement (Stockton)

Rob Lathrop (San Leandro)

Rick Clark (Bakersfield)

Jessica Walker (San Ramon)

Brian Elorreaga (San Jose)

TJ Garrett (Pleasanton)

David Ball (Stockton)

Heat 3 – 8 Laps

Dylan Albani (Modesto)

Donny Darter (Stockton)

Frankie Marks (Orangevale)

Bob Kuebler (Reno, NV)

Matt Scott (Pine Grove)

Mackena Bell (Carson City, NV)

Cody Berger (Tracy)

Robby Czub (Rocklin)

B Main – 15 Laps

Kelly Martin (Modesto)

David Allen (Middleton)

Jack Humphrey (American Canyon)

Mike Firebaugh (Reno, NV)

Keith Clement (Stockton)

Darren Rogers (Sparks, NV)

Joe Le Duc (San Lenadro)

Erin Garafe (Stockton)

A Main – 30 Laps

Matt Scott (Pine Grove)

Robby Czub (Rocklin)

Mackena Bell (Carson City, NV)

Dylan Albani (Modesto)

Cody Berger (Tracy)

Jessica Walker (San Ramon)

David Ball (Stockton)

Kelly Martin (Modesto)

Fred Clement (Stockton)

Willie Davis (Sacramento)

Donny Darter (Stockton)

Jack Humphrey (American Canyon)

Brian Elorreaga (San Jose)

David Allen (Middleton)

Rick Clark (Bakersfield)

Mike Firebaugh (Reno, NV)

Bob Kuebler (Reno, NV)

TJ Garrett (Pleasanton)

Rob Lathrop(San Leandro)

Frankie Marks (Orangevale)

American Limited Stock Car

Dash – Richard Herzog (Clovis), Jason Aguirre (Atwater), Matt Erickson (Coulterville), Dennis Saunders Jr. (Modesto)

Heat 1 – 8 Laps

Jason Aguirre (Atwater)

Richard Herzog (Clovis)

Nic Belletto (Modesto)

Howard Holden (Clovis)

Charlie Clawson (Modesto)

Dustin Pickett (Madera)

Donald Selsor (Selma)

Heat 2 – 8 Laps

Matt Erickson (Coulterville)

Dennis Saunders Jr. (Modesto)

Tony Schmidt (Modesto)

Lloyd Bamping (Clovis)

Larry Pasquale (Fresno)

Roger Selsor (Fresno)

Main – 50 Laps

Matt Erickson (Coulterville)

Jason Aguirre (Atwater)

Howard Holden (Clovis)

Lloyd Bamping (Clovis)

Dennis Saunders Jr. (Modesto)

Nic Belletto (Modesto)

Richard Herzog (Clovis)

Tony Schmidt (Modesto)

Larry Pasquale (Fresno)

Donald Selsor (Selma)

Roger Selsor (Fresno)

Dustin Pickett (Madera)

Charlie Clawson (Modesto)

Toyota Sedans

Dash – Stan Hankins (Fresno), Steve Trusner (Fresno), Justin Dukes (Fresno), Candee McIntosh (Madera)

Heat 1 – 8 Laps

Steve Trusner (Fresno)

Stan Hankins (Fresno)

John McCollum Sr. (Stockton)

Justin Kawahata (Clovis)

John McCollum Jr. (Stockton)

Don Davey (Clovis)

Heat 2 – 8 Laps

Candee McIntosh (Madera)

Justin Dukes (Fresno)

Jed Gilman (Fresno)

Larry Kerns (Fresno)

Tim Kammerer (Fresno)

Main – 40 laps

Steve Trusner (Fresno)

Stan Hankins (Fresno)

Candee McIntosh (Madera)

Justin Kawahata (Clovis)

Tim Kammerer (Fresno)

Justin Dukes (Fresno)

Jed Gilman (Fresno)

John McCollum Sr. (Stockton)

John McCollum Jr. (Stockton)

Larry Kerns (Fresno)

Don Davey (Clovis)

Modified Super Toyotas

Dash – Mark Stegall, Donnie Large Sr. (Fresno), Randy Fleming Jr. (Madera), Donnie Large Jr. (Fresno), Jeff Doran (Madera)

Heat 1 – 8 Laps

Donnie Large Sr. (Fresno)

Mark Stegall

John Bowersox (Chowchilla)

Jason Bowersox (Chowchilla)

Bobby Hurst (Fresno)

Heat 2 – 8 Laps

Randy Fleming Jr. (Madera)

Jeff Doran (Madera)

Donnie Large Jr. (Fresno)

Gene Adams (Fresno)

Rian Bowman (Madera)

Main - 40 Laps

John Bowersox (Chowchilla)

Donnie Large Sr. (Fresno)

Randy Fleming Jr. (Madera)

Jason Bowersox (Chowchilla)

Donnie Large Jr. (Fresno)

Jeff Doran (Madera)

Gene Adams (Fresno)

Bobby Hurst (Fresno)

Mark Stegall

Rian Bowman (Madera)

Hornets

Dash – Miles Humphreys (Clovis), Justin Petz (Fresno), Seth Rodriguez (Madera), Jeff Dorn

Heat - 8 Laps

Justin Petz (Fresno)

Seth Rodriguez (Madera)

Miles Humphreys (Clovis)

Jeff Dorn

Dan Miller (Ripon)

Jamie Sickler (Clovis)

Main – 25 laps

Justin Petz (Fresno)

Miles Humphreys (Clovis)

Seth Rodriguez (Madera)

Dan Miller (Ripon)

Jamie Sickler (Clovis)

Jeff Dorn