FULL SIXTEEN DRIVER ROSTER UNVEILED FOR THE MADERA JR. LATE MODEL COMBINE
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (January 9, 2026) – The full 16 driver strong roster for the inaugural Jr. Late Model Combine has been announced, with drivers preparing to hit the Madera Speedway on January 23-24, 2026 in Madera, Calif. Photo by Ethan Smith
Drivers will receive over an hour of track time in INEX Legends cars on Friday January 23 followed by over an hour of track time in a Jr. Late Model on Saturday January 24. They will also be evaluated for their media skills and mechanical aptitude during the weekend. The top performing driver will earn a fully paid race weekend in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series on national TV at Madera Speedway. Second prize is a half-priced race weekend. The third best driver earns a fully paid Legends race weekend.
The final nine selected participants include:
The California brothers of Myles and Wade Boertje who compete in both Outlaw Karts and Micro Sprints, Colorado’s Wyatt Dent, age 14, a winner of four INEX Bandolero and two INEX Legend state championships, and 15-year-old Cade LaCoste, a rising kart racer from Louisiana.
The trio of Mini Cup champion Rhett Pearce of Canada, California Jr. Sprint and Restricted Micro Sprint contender Connor Penix, and Virginia’s Brian Rundstrom, Jr., age 15, with nearly 250 wins across Quarter Midgets, Bandoleros, and Late Models, illustrate the wide variety of participant backgrounds included in the 2026 combine.
15-year-old Californian Leilani Sprenkel represents Mini Stock racing following a top-ten in the prestigious Olga’s California Dream 100 at Madera Speedway. California’s Kevin Tikkanen, age 13, rounds out a strong crop of racers with dirt experience.
The combine features driver coaching and evaluation from Nascimento Motorsports. The weekend also includes media, marketing, crew, and spotter modules. Drivers and their families will have opportunities to learn from sponsorship and media pros and from championship winning drivers and crew chiefs. Nascimento Motorsports owner Eric Nascimento, ARCA Menards Series, West champion Mike David, lauded INEX Legends crew chief Donny St. Ours, Madera Short Track Shootout winner Ethan Nascimento, Madera Racing on RACER Network producer Steven Blakesley, and Madera Speedway promoter Kenny Shepherd will be among the committee guiding the drivers throughout the weekend and ultimately selecting the winner.
51FIFTY Jr. Late Models has been the proving ground for many of the top young stock car drivers in the nation including 2025 XFINITY Series champion Jesse Love, two-time ARCA Menards Series, West champion Sean Hingorani, and many ARCA West race winners such as Tanner and Tyler Reif. Recent CARS Tour West Pro Late Model champion Jace Hale is also a graduate of the program. Jr. Late Models utilize the GM 602 crate engine producing approximately 350 horsepower before being restricted for junior competition. An 8” Hoosier 970 tire controls the pace and adds additional challenges as well.
Questions can be directed to Eric Nascimento at (209) 993-6457
FINAL JUNIOR LATE MODEL COMBINE ROSTER
Levi Annas (13) – Carson City, NV
Myles Boertje (12) – Visalia, CA
Wade Boertje (15) – Visalia, CA
Jaxon Burnett (12) – Snohomish, WA
Charlie Carty (15) – San Diego, CA
Lane Christensen (14) – Pendergrass, GA
Wyatt Dent (14) – Brighton, CO
Wyatt Flowers (15) – Palmer, AK
Delaney Gray (13) – La Grange, NC
Bentlee Hillock (15) – Cedar Hills, UT
Cade Lacoste (15) – Lockport, LA
Rhett Pearce (12) – Alberta, Canada
Connor Penix (13) – Clovis, CA
Brian Rundstrom Jr (15) – Green Bay, VA
Leilani Sprenkel (15) – Stockton, CA
Kevin Tikkanen (13) – Kingsburg, CA
