Speedway attracts strong field for tonight
Another talented field of Pacific Challenge Series Super Late Models will be in action tonight, as drivers take to the one-third mile Madera Speedway for the seventh round of the 2017 series.
The PenneyLawyers.com-sponsored action will be a 75-lap contest with drivers from several different disciplines coming together for the big race.
The PCS hasn’t had a repeat winner in 2017 and has seen five of the six races go to first-time winners.
The trend began with the season opener in March at Madera. Carlos Vieira’s win was not only in his first PCS start, but made for his first touring stock car victory of his career. His win was followed by first-time wins for Derek Copeland, Jeff Bischofberger, and Cole Moore, before Cole’s father, John, won at Stockton in July.
Randy Hedrick was another first-time winner when he scored a late race win at Ukiah two weeks ago.
The 2015 champion, John Moore, leads 2014 champion Mike Beeler by 10 points entering Madera. The 2015 Rookie of the Year Cole Moore trails John Moore by 30 points in a three-way duel for the lead.
A host of drivers will try to knock points contenders off of their pedestal in search of the race win on Saturday. Not only will Vieira defend his March win, he will have to contend with the likes of 2016 Madera PCS winner Jacob Gomes, as well.
A pair of 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model standouts — Eric Nascimento, Jr. and Austin Herzog — will make their series debuts. Herzog, 15, is the winningest Jr. Late Model driver with five career wins while Nascimento, 16, won the most recent Jr. Late Model race on July 29.
Watsonville’s Alexander Mead has adopted Madera as his home track and claimed a top 10 in his series debut in March. He was the track’s Late Model Rookie of the Year in 2015. Ross Strmiska has competed with touring series many times at Madera, recording a trio of runner-up finishes. Local favorite Justin Westmoreland goes to bat for the Ford fans whenever he brings out his red No. 9 entry and has a career-best third in touring action at the track.
The 2016 Rookie of the Year, Matt Wendt, nearly claimed victory at Ukiah and is eager to chase his first series win from fourth in the points ahead of 2017’s leading rookie Jack Wood. Jason Romero, Travis Milburn, Tracy Bolin, Chris Scribner, and Jeremy Doss make up the rest of the top 10 in the points.
In 11th is Mike Hite and 14th in points is Matt Scott are also expected to compete on Saturday. For Scott, it will mark his first stock car start at Madera after racing Legends cars at the track several years ago. The four-time Late Model champion has a best PCS finish of third this year at Roseville and has yet to score a PCS victory on his strong resume.
This weekend’s racing will also include the Super Hobby Stocks, CSS 360 Super Modifieds, USAC HPD Midgets, Modified Super Toyotas, and F4’s.
Saturday’s pit gates open at 1 p.m. with first practices at 3:15 p.m. and racing by 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices have been slashed, with adults $15, seniors and military $13, youth 6-12 $7, and kids 5 and under are free.
For information on the Pacific Challenge Series, visit www.PacificChallengeSeries.com or follow them on Facebook or YouTube
The Pacific Challenge Series is presented by: Penney Racing Supply, Penney & Associates, American Racer Tires, Radio Law Talk, Compact-It, Northwest Compactors, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Fuels, Five Star Bodies, BrakeOMeter, Lefthander Chassis, ARP Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Bassett Wheels, Frank’s Radio, WrapStar Pro, and Blakesley Sports Media. All PCS Super Late Models race ABC Bodies or Muscle Car bodies on American Racer Tires with Sunoco Racing Fuel. For information, visit www.racemadera.com
