MADERA SPEEDWAY HOSTS SEVENTH RACE FOR NATIONALLY TELEVISED LATE MODELS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (August 19, 2026) – The championship fights for the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series and Mission Pro Late Model Series come into focus during the seventh RACER Network-televised night of action in 2026 on Saturday night from Madera Speedway. They will be joined by the Pro Sportsman Series, INEX Legends, and INEX Bandoleros on the fastest one-third mile in the west. Photo by Christian Rozell
Main events begin at 6pm with the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model race green flag slated for approx. 8pm. 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.
Race fans can “Join” www.YouTube.com/ShortTrackTV for $19.99 per month for a members-only live stream as well. The races will be televised at a later date on RACER Network.
Lane Christensen of Pendergrass, Georgia has accumulated a sizzling 25-point lead in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series battle this year with four victories in the five rounds of action. Christensen has pulled ahead of 12-year-old Keatin Lyons of Centralia, Illinois in the battle. Lyons has qualified in the top-two in the last two events and has led the field into the lap 40 race break on two occasions. He continues his drive for victory in Saturday night’s 70-lap feature.
Washington’s Hunter Gates anchors the red hot battle for third in the championship, leading Redwood Valley, California’s Jarrett Dickson by just one marker in that duel. Alaska’s Wyatt Flowers earned a career-best second place finish in round six and runs fifth overall. Washington’s Mason Blodgett rounds out the full-time contenders from sixth in the standings.
First-time drivers from the deep south INEX Legends scene have thrived in the division, including a walk-off performance by Mississippi’s Cole Denton in 2025 and the season opening triumph for Christensen in his debut this year. Dylan Bongiovanni of Cumming, GA is expected to join the action this weekend with a breakout showing in his sights as well.
The Mission Pro Late Model battle is even tighter with Atwater’s Jason Aguirre using his first career televised win on August 1st to take a scant three-point advantage. His teammate Shaun Reynolds has won twice and runs second overall followed by opening night winner Mike Hensley in third. Rick Thompson and Alaska’s Hunter Maier make up the rest of the top-five drivers. Wyatt Flowers makes his second double duty appearance of the year in both the Jr. Late Models and Pro Late Models. Cam Carraway and Shelden Cooper are both expected to return as well to take on the championship contenders in the 70-lap feature.
Steve Schermerhorn leads Jason Kerns by just seven points in the Pro Sportsman battle with a 30-lap feature on tap. Brennen Mankin is only 12 points out of the lead in third as well. Turlock’s Antonio Gonzales leads the INEX Legends points standings with a 30-lap feature scheduled.
Saturday pit gates open at 2pm with the drivers meeting at 3:30pm. Grandstands open at 4pm when practice begins. Qualifying hits the track at 5:50pm followed by heat races. Opening Ceremonies are at 6:45pm.
For more information about the Madera Speedway including how to advertise with a race team on RACER Network, please visit www.racemadera.com or call the race office at 559-507-9931.
The 2026 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, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing on RACER Network airs on Mondays.
