LANE CHRISTENSEN AND MATT ERICKSON SNARE REV. RON SPENCER CLASSIC WINS AT MADERA
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (July 12, 2026) – Georgia’s Lane Christensen delivered on a signature night at Madera Speedway, with the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series points leader scoring his third win of the season in Saturday’s Rev. Ron Spencer Red, White, and Blue Classic. Round four for the RACER Network televised action also featured the track’s winningest Late Model contender Matt Erickson return to the track and to victory lane in the Mission Pro Late Model Series.
Christensen withstood repeated challenges from the HGC Motorsports teammates of Keatin Lyons and Hunter Gates to prevail in the 70-lap feature on the one-third mile.
“This is awesome. I just want to thank everyone who gets me here,” Christensen said. “We got a little tight at there at the end. I know I could’ve done better stuff to help myself there. (Gates) ran a great race and raced us clean. It was tough there at the end. For me to be a rookie coming in here and doing this is awesome.”
Lyons earned his first career fast-time then drew the pole after the redraw. Lyons drove ahead of Gates at the drop of the green flag. Christensen then drove underneath Gates to nab second. Lyons accumulated a 2.2 second lead which evaporated when the caution flew for Sydney Strmoska spinning on the front stretch on lap 27.
Lyons chose the outside of Christensen for the restart. Christensen took full advantage and took over the top spot on lap 28. Visalia, Calif.’s Wade Boertje spun in turn one for the next caution a lap later while battling with Washington’s Mason Blodgett. Christensen led Lyons, Gates, Jarrett Dickson, and Alaska’s Wyatt Flowers into the lap 40 break for adjustments and TV interviews.
The second segment changed the complexion of the event when Lyons picked the top yet again. Lyons slid wide, allowing Gates to drive into second place. Lyons and Flowers then collided in a scramble to get to the bottom, knocking both drivers out of the top-five.
Christensen defended the lead from Gates in a nose to tail formation over the remaining laps, with Gates diving inside Christensen at the finish line to no avail. Lane Christensen won the Rev. Ron Spencer Red, White, and Blue Classic over Hunter Gates. Visalia’s Miles Boertje won a battle with Jarrett Dickson for third while Lyons stormed back through the pack to salvage fifth.
Matt Erickson returned to Madera Speedway and scored another coveted Rev. Ron Spencer victory after 70 laps of Mission Pro Late Model Series action. Erickson qualified quickest then started sixth after the redraw. Two-time 2026 winner Shaun Reynolds seized the lead from Fresno’s Rick Thompson on lap five.
Erickson quickly drove to second by the 23rd lap, then challenged Reynolds. Erickson made the decisive pass for the lead on lap 27 and led the rest of the way in the non-stop affair. Madera’s Joey Iest started last after mechanical trouble prevented him from qualifying. Iest drove to second position at the finish followed by 2025 Ron Spencer Classic Jr. Late Model winner Kellen Keller in third. Reynolds and Jason Aguirre rounded out the top-five.
2025 Pro Sportsman champion Joseph Holiday of Madera controlled the action in Saturday’s 40-lap feature and grabbed the win. Jason Kerns overcame a spin and contact with the wall to finish second while June 20 winner Brennan Mankin finished third.
Bakersfield’s Colton Page won the INEX Legends feature after also setting quick time. Antonio Gonzales of Turlock won a battle with Eddie Garone of Bakersfield for second in the 30-lap feature. Antonio’s older brother Santana – a Michigan Tech engineering student – grabbed third at the finish from Garone. Early race leader Konner Karsten finished fifth.
Madera Speedway continues its exciting 2026 summer of racing with the $5,000 to win Mission Pro Late Model Series feature on August 1st. 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models will also be in action along with a Motorhome Demolition Derby. More details at www.racemadera.com
The 2026 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing on RACER Network airs Monday nights.
