Madera Speedway winner heads to K&N ride

RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series point leader Buddy Shepherd was scheduled to compete in round number six of the MAVTV televised series at Madera Speedway on Aug. 26 until he received a phone call that not only changed his plans for that day, but could also change the trajectory of his racing career.

After winning multiple races at Madera Speedway in 2017, Shepherd will now drive for Jefferson Pitts Racing at Douglas County Speedway, in Oregon, in the NASCAR K&N West Race on Aug. 26, missing the race at Madera and likely giving up his points lead. Jefferson Pitts Racing is one of the top K&N teams and put Kevin Harvick in victory lane at Sears Point this June.

“Buddy called me and asked for my advice as a race car driver,” said Madera Speedway president Kenny Shepherd. “We discussed his goals as a driver and the caliber of the Jefferson Pitts operation. Our goal with our program is to propel as many talented drivers to the top of our sport as possible from the Madera Speedway, so it was the easiest advice I’ve ever given to tell Buddy to pack his helmet bag for Oregon.”

There is a just a handful of points separating the top five in the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series Championship with just three televised races remaining. Second to fifth in the points looks like this — Logan Zampa- 234 points, Garland Tyler- 225, Dillion Tucker- 214, Matt Erickson- 192. “Everyone at the Madera Speedway will be pulling for Buddy to win the K&N West race in Oregon just as we were cheering for him when he took down the Southwest Tour drivers at Madera Speedway in July,” Shepherd said.

After going dark tonight, Aug. 26 is round No. 6 of the eight-race televised series that ends with the $10,000 to win race on Oct. 7.

For information about the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series please visit www.racemadera.com.