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USAC Sprints, Enduro, Demo Derby and Fireworks Will Conclude 2008 Season at Madera Speedway
On Saturday, October 25th Madera Speedway will close out its 2008 racing schedule with the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Smash Halloween Crash, Bash and Blow Up!!! This fantastic program will include the USAC Sprint Cars, the third and final rounds of both the 2008 Enduro and Demolition Derby championships plus the Drag Boat Nationals, an Open Comp twin 50-lap show for the American Limited Stock Cars, an Open Comp 4 Banger 50-lap race, Spectator Racing Series and a spectacular end of the season FIREWORKS show!
It has been a long wait, but the powerful USAC Sprints will finally be making their one and only appearance at the “Fast 1/3 Mile in the West” in 2008.
The Sprints are powered by 360 cubic inch, V-8s that are capable of producing an amazing 750 horsepower and are capable of reaching speeds in excess of 130 mph! They have been the breeding ground for many of the biggest stars in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series including four-time champion Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, J. J. Yeley and Ryan Newman.
One of the most legendary events in the long and glorious history of the Madera Speedway took place on April 19, 2003 when Tony Stewart won both the USAC Western Sprint Car Series and the SRL Super Modified races in the inaugural running of the Fred Gerhardt Open Wheel Classic.
This weekend’s talented USAC Sprint field will be led by another budding star with a name that is very familiar to local racing fans as Tanner Swanson, age 17 of Kingsburg, returns to Madera with a commanding 123-point margin over Rohnert Park’s JoJo Helberg in the current USAC Western Sprint Car standings. The son of nine-time Madera track champion Mike Swanson, Tanner has already driven his TK Motorsports #17 to an impressive three wins and 12 top five finishes in just 14 USAC Western Sprint Car starts this season.
Despite his young age, Swanson is already a veteran of several championship battles. In 2006 he won eight of 12 races en route to the Modified Super Toyota title at Madera and in 2007 he headed back east to capture the USAC Carolina Ford Focus Midget Series championship.
Tanner will have plenty of challengers this Saturday including his older brother Kody Swanson. Kody, the 2005 USAC Western States Sprint Car Series champion, is competing in the USAC National Midget Series in 2008 for Nine Racing. The 19 year old is also carries a 4.0 GPA majoring in mechanical engineering and agriculture business at California State University, Fresno.
Other entrants expected to be racing in the USAC Sprints at Madera include five-time USAC champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Ryan Kaplan of Chico, Eric Humphries of Chowchilla, Nick Rescino Jr. of San Francisco and Tim Skoglund of Fresno.
The twin 50 lap Open Comp American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) races promise to provide plenty of exciting paint swapping action. While Clovis’ Howard Holden won the regular season ALSC championship, a total of 10 different drivers made it to victory lane in the ultra competitive division this season. With the addition of several visiting drivers from other tracks thrown into the mix for this event, the twin 50-lap ALSC features will be a no holds barred battle royal.
An abundance of action packed, thrills and spills racing is guaranteed when the Enduro drivers attempt to successfully navigate the big asphalt track, which will be wet down, soaped up and smashed with pumpkins before hand to make it even more treacherous. It is going to be a true test of racing prowess and basic survival as these daredevils go at it for a total of 200 laps - 100 in each direction!
With a winning streak dating back to last year, Stockton’s David Pabst will be the odds
on favorite in the Enduro as he goes for his fifth straight win at Madera. Pabst holds a 70 to 54 point lead over Stockton’s Ryan Strmiska in the Madera Enduro standings. Stockton’s Steve Grant (44), Oakdale’s Allen Deabenderfer (40) and Leron Chitwood of Davis (40) round out the top five.
Last year’s 50-lap Boat Race was a huge crowd pleaser. It is s a unique event where drivers tether a row boat to the back of their race car and see how far they can get before it is destroyed or torn loose by another competitor. This year’s event promises to be even bigger and better as several new drivers will be chumming for victory in this prestigious race.
The third and final rock‘em, sock‘em Demolition Derby of the season promises to supply more crowd-pleasing hard-hitting action than a presidential debate. All of the bone jarring destruction will take place right on the front straightaway, directly in front of the main grandstands, to give the fans the best possible close up view of all the metal crunching devastation.
Brian “Undertaker” Holt of Ceres and Eric Mulay were the first two Demolition Derby winners while Hilmar’s Kurtis Van Focken leads the overall standings with two solid third place finishes.
Prior to the Demolition Derby the lights will be turned off for a huge FIREWORKS extravaganza to celebrate a great 2008 season at Madera Speedway.
This Saturday’s season finale Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash will provide a great night of entertainment for the whole family. The “Trick or Treat” night celebration will include plenty of games, prizes and fun for the kids.
Ticket prices for Saturday, October 25th are only $15.00 for adults, $13.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $10 for students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. A family pack ticket (two adults and up to two kids 12 years old and under) is also available for the bargain price of $35.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3.
Fans can also receive a $5 discount for this Saturday’s program by joining the Madera Speedway Fan Club and filling out the form on the Madera Speedway website at www.racemadera.com.
On Saturday, October 25th the Madera Speedway pit gates will swing open at 9:00 AM, practice begins at 11:00 AM, the grandstands open at 1:00 PM, on track opening activities will commence at approximately 5:45 PM, main events will start at 6:00 PM and the FIREWORKS show is set for approximately 8:00 PM.
Also circle Saturday, November 1st on your racing calendars for the Madera Speedway 2008 Awards Banquet at Hatfield Hall located on the Madera Fairgrounds right next to the track.
The banquet will kick off with a no host happy hour beginning at 6:00 PM, a buffet dinner with dessert will be served at 7:00 PM and the awards ceremony will start at 8:00 PM. A raffle for the Valley Children’s Hospital and DJ/Dancing and Karaoke contest will follow the awards presentations.
Honors will be bestowed upon all of Madera’s 2008 track champions – Jeff Belletto in the Western Late Models, Kyle Gottula in the HotWood 750 Series, Troy Regier in the Super Modifieds, Howard Holden in the American Limited Stock Cars, David Tuey in the 360 Modifieds, Stan Hankins in the Toyota Sedans, Randy Fleming Jr. in the Super Modified Toyotas and Miles Humphreys in the Hornet division.
Everyone is welcome to this special event including drivers, team members, track officials, media, sponsors and fans. The cost is only $40 per person.
For more banquet information email [email protected] or call (209) 983-1689.
You can also find banquet reservation event entry forms on the Madera Speedway website at www.racemadera.com. Banquet reservation can be faxed to (209) 983-0967.
The Madera Speedway is conveniently located at the Madera County Fairgrounds just off to the west side of Highway 99 at the Cleveland Avenue exit.
For more Madera Speedway information visit the track’s website at www.racemadera.com or call the Info/Race Line phone number at (559) 673-RACE and for information on the Madera Speedway Spectator Racing Series program go to www.spectatorracing.com on the web or call (209) 476-8123.
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