Fans return to Speedway for Pro Late Models

Madera Speedway will welcome fans back into the grandstands for the second round of the Nut Up Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models.

Fans will return in limited numbers for the second MAVTV-televised race of the 50th season for the one-third mile speedway. Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros will also be in action this weekend.

All tickets will be priced at $15 and everyone that enters the facility must have a ticket. Tickets for the race will be sold at the track at a remote location in front of the grandstands prior to fans entering the track.

Beginning at the April 17th event, 90 percent of tickets will be sold via the Madera Speedway website prior to the event, with 10 percent reserved for sales at the track the day of the event.

Everyone in the grandstand area will be required to wear a face covering at all times, and groups made up of members of the same household will sit together with at least six feet of distance between them and the next group in all directions. Grandstands will open early at 1:30 p.m. to allow fans to slowly arrive throughout the afternoon.

Concessions will be closed tonight’s event, but fans can bring food and drinks in for this single event. No alcohol will be allowed into the grandstands. Look for an announcement on the full Madera grandstand concessions opening starting on April 17.

“This has been a tough road to travel during this process of navigating the pandemic with our operation and I would like to thank our fans that have supported us with patience during this process,” said promoter Kenny Shepherd. “These same fans also supported our sponsors by purchasing their products and this allowed the speedway to remain open during the last year. I would also like to thank the Madera County Health Department for their support during this process, working with them has been very positive as we continue to navigate the difficult guidelines set by the State.”

Race fans can also tune in to the free live stream at 5:45 p.m. on the Short Track TV YouTube, presented by Mission Foods, 51FIFTY, and Nut Up Industries. The live streaming coverage will continue throughout the limited grandstand period for the fans around the world to experience the racing at Madera.

Carlos Vieira won the 100-lap, $5,000-to-win season opener in March after fending off former track champions Matt Erickson and Austin Herzog.

Herzog spun coming to the white flag and was relegated to finishing outside the top 10. Former champion Tyler Herzog knifed through the melee to finish second while Erickson came back for third. Jason Aguirre rounded out a trio of former champions in the top-five of the finishing order. Aguirre and Erickson have each added non-televised Madera Late Model wins over the last two weeks as well.

Perhaps the biggest success story for the opening weekend was the McClenny family.

Older brother Kabe drove from 20th to finish fifth in the Pro Late Model main event, while younger brother Kale earned his first career 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model win by just .007 seconds in a thrilling finish. They will come into round two aiming for additional success in their bright yellow Late Model machines

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Jr. Late Model graduates have made their mark across the entire motorsports landscape including in the Pro Late Model competition where drivers such as Seth Wise and 2020 Jr. Late Model champion Bradley Erickson are expected to be strong contenders throughout the 2021 season. Jadan Walbridge, with four career 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model fast-times, will race as a teammate with six-time Jr. winner Austin Herzog for the next two rounds of the Pro Late Models.

Tonight’s Pro Late Model feature will be an 80-lap affair with a 50-lap opening segment followed by a stop for adjustments and MAVTV interviews. A 30-lap sprint to the finish will determine the winner.

In the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Kale McClenny’s narrow win over Barrett Polhemus makes him the only previous race winner in the talented field of drivers ages 10-16 years old. An early incident between Ethan Nascimento and Jacob Smith impacted the complexion of round one tremendously, as the wreck also collected fast-time qualifier Kercie Jung. Those three drivers will be hungry for their comeback this weekend along with opening night third place finisher Brody Moore.

Kasey Kleyn — age 12 — challenged for a top-five throughout the season opener before ultimately finishing seventh. He has practiced and raced at Madera over the last two weekends looking for the pace to take a win in this Saturday’s 70-lap race. The race is divided into a 40-lap segment and a 30-lap finish.

The Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros saw the overall win go to the Bandolero of Logan Chambers in his Madera debut while fellow debutant Sam Wedehase won the Mini Cup portion of the proceedings. Wedehase has since gone on to be one of the only Mini Cups with an overall win in the combined division, claiming a victory at Roseville last weekend. The youngest drivers at Madera Speedway will compete in a 30-lap main event on Saturday.

On Saturday, pit gates open at 11:30 a.m. with practice at 1:45 p.m. Qualifying hits the track at 3:30 p.m. followed by heat races. Short Track TV goes live at 5:45 p.m. with all three features to follow.

For information about Madera Speedway, visit www.RaceMadera.com The 2021 season would not be possible without the support of Nut Up Industries, 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, and Sunoco Race Fuel.

Madera Racing on MAVTV airs Monday nights at 4 p.m. with new 2020 episodes now airing. The California Dream 100 for the Mini Stocks airs on April 12.