SATURDAY NIGHT SEES ROUND TWO FOR RACER NETWORK TELEVISED LATE MODELS AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (April 2, 2025) – Following a thrilling Madera SpeedFest to open the 2025 racing at Madera Speedway, racing roars back to life for round two on Saturday night April 5th. The fastest one-third mile in the west hosts the RACER Network-televised Mission Pro Late Model Series and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series plus INEX Legends, INEX Bandoleros, and the season opener for the growing Pro Sportsman division. Photo by Jake Scarbrough

Adult tickets are just $20, seniors and military 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 6:50pm! Race fans can “Join” www.YouTube.com/ShortTrackTV for $19.99 per month for a members-only live stream as well.

A former champions battle on opening night saw 2019 Mission Pro Late Model champion Austin Herzog prevail for a $5,000 grand prize in the 100-lap feature. 2022 series champion Kyle Keller of Las Vegas chased Herzog throughout the main event but ultimately settled for second in the official results.

A tumultuous series of post-race penalties lifted Clovis’ Shelden Cooper to a third place finish followed by San Jose’s Jay Juleson and Atwater’s Jason Aguirre. Rookies Manny Gonzales, Jr. of Merced and Aiden Phillips of Merced showed tenacity to finish sixth and seventh respectively.

Saturday’s round two is an 80-lap feature under the lights split across two segments of racing. A 50-lap segment opens the racing followed by a break for adjustments and RACER Network interviews. A 30-lap second segment determines the race winner.

The fresh crop of 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series drivers kicked off 2025 with a flawless main event, with just one caution period across the 70-lap feature for a division that included five rookie contenders. Veteran drivers thrived and leaned on their experience with second year pilot Eli Black of Santa Rosa, age 12, topping them all for his first-career win. Skyler Schoppe, age 14, finished second while Oregon’s James Hamlin, age 14, turned in a consistent performance to round out the podium in his debut race.

The hungry drivers ages 10-16 years old return for a 70-lap feature, presented by Allied Packaging.  A 40-lap opening segment kicks off the action followed by a 30-lap sprint to the finish.

Madera Speedway’s fastest growing division is the Pro Sportsman, combining Late Models with stock components along with competitors in the former Hobby Stock division for one exciting division. Steve Schermerhorn of Clovis won the 2024 championship followed by Brian Taylor and Drew Ries. Tyler Holden won three features as well. Joseph Holiday also earned a victory last season. The first round of the 2025 season is set for 30-laps.

INEX Legends will race for their second event of the year with a 30-lap feature scheduled. A battle of some of Bakersfield’s best drivers versus Tracy’s Brenden Ruzbarsky highlighted the opener. Bakersfield’s Colton Page led the first 18 laps of the race before Bakersfield’s Logan Chambers took over control of the race and ultimately the race win.

Race weekend action kicks off Friday with optional practice. Gates open at 3pm with cars on track from 5pm to 8pm.

Saturday pit gates open at 2pm with the drivers meeting at 3:30pm. The front gates open at 4:00pm followed by practice and qualifying activities. Heat races for the INEX classes and Sportsman are set for approx. 6:30pm. Opening ceremonies are at approx. 7pm with all five main events 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 559-507-9931.

The 2025 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, Allied Packaging, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Sealmaster.

Madera Racing on RACER Network airs on Mondays with the first round of the Pro Late Model Series airing on April 7th. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.