Mothers, drivers earn prizes at Madera Speedway By Mark Smith The Madera Tribune Motherly love was on display at the LoanMart Madera Speedway Saturday night as all women got in free and were treated to a night full of racing excitement along with dozens of raffled gifts. Speedway owner Kenny Shepherd said he was excited by the large crowd comprised primarily of mothers, sisters, and daughters as it showed the sports evolution. “I think this shows how many women and girls are interested in racing which is really great to see,” Shepherd said. “Ive had so many ladies come up to me tonight saying they havent been here in years and theyre having so much fun. Its not just a sport for men.” Perhaps the nights most exciting race came in the always-unpredictable Toyota Sedans class, which had an added incentive for drivers to win because if they did, two young fans paired with them by raffle would win brand-new bikes donated by racer Ed Rodriguez. With wild, windy conditions set for the race, all 11 drivers had eyes for the checkered flag but only one could prove victorious. Candee McIntosh started off in the pole with Brennen Mankin and Dean Gould behind. Points leader Kyle Fortney and friendly rival Tim Curtis – behind only 18 points at the start of the race – fittingly began near the back of the pack and side-by-side, which as expected positioned the two for some exciting moves. Within the first few laps, Gould zipped ahead of McIntosh but didnt move too far away as a large pack began to form around turns. Curtis and Fortney quickly began to bob and weave through traffic as they made their way through the ranks, but in turn four of lap three Curtis got caught up in a spinout that may have ultimately decided his fate. As a five-car group within mere feet of each others bumpers sped around the curve, it was unclear what exactly happened but Curtis skidded out and somehow Fortney managed to avoid the pileup. That put Fortney in perfect position to move in front of McIntosh for third by lap five, zoom ahead of Gould in lap six for second, then increase his lead – both in the race and in points – one lap later. In victory lane, a cheerful Fortney said he was always happy to win but it felt particularly special. “I was happy to win for my mom tonight,” Fortney said after he exchanged an emotional hug and a lush bouquet of flowers with his mother Debbie Fortney. “Its funny, for some reason I always seem to win on bike nights and Mothers Day, you know the nights where it means more for others than myself. And thats really more special to me than just winning by itself.” Astride their new bikes, six-year-old Madilyn Harmonson and Christian Carmona, 13, were all smiles in victory lane.“Its really cool!” Carmona said. “I like it a lot, Im happy.” Curtis would not be denied second place in the event, however, and earned it with some skilled driving despite being caught in another collision in lap eight. As McIntosh, Chris Altuvilla, and Curtis went three wide around turn one, it appeared one driver must have miscalculated and – perhaps due to the windy conditions – made contact with the other two, causing all three to pile up near the wall and earn a date with the back of the pack. On the restart, however, Curtis appeared to be on a mission and almost immediately began to swoop between cars to get back into second. He said after the race that – as the fastest qualifier in the event – three years of work on his car had finally paid off but he could still make mistakes. “I was trying to get ahead of everybody and I probably got a little greedy in those moments,” Curtis said with a rueful smile. “But I still had fun and it was a great race.” Other winners on the night included: Zack Green in the Southwest Tour Trucks; Miles Humphreys in the 4-Bangers; Sheldon Cooper to take the Open Hobby Stocks points lead; Gould in the 18-Second Bracket Race; Matt “Attack” Erickson in a comfortable LunkerDaddy Late Model Series win; Jason Bowersox in his fifth-straight MST victory; and Robert Reagan in the 100-lap Enduro. In a rare sight, the Enduro – usually known for a slippery track covered in soap and water – was run on a dry track and saw drivers actually working to contain their speed. Reagan, an Enduro veteran in his black-and-white 810 car with police lights flashing away on top, started from the pole and took an easy lead right from the beginning over the events other 16 drivers. From laps 20 to 25, Reagans willful driving proved itself as he continuously lapped at least two cars each time. It seemed that he had the race well in hand until lap 61 – after the race stopped at lap 50 and reversed direction – when his power steering gave out and smoke began to pour out the back side of his car. At that point, Reagan said each lap on his way to the checkered flag was a battle as Steve Schermerchorn and points leader David Etheridge, who earned second and third place, began to catch up. “Im beat, man,” Reagan chuckled after the race. “That whole second half was just an absolute battle and I saw the second place car only a half lap behind. Without power steering you really have to work on those turns. Youre like oh man, the corner again?” Though they couldnt make up the difference, Schermerchorn and Etheridge gave fans quite a show for second place. As they headed into the last 10 laps, both drivers were pushing their cars to the limits in an attempt to cement their hold on the runner-up position. At one point, Etheridge made contact with Schermerchorn as he tried to get ahead around a turn, but Schermerchorn recovered. The two were literally side-by-side as they came around the races final turn and thats when Etheridge gave it all he had. “The only thing to do at that point was hit the gas hard,” Etheridge said. “I knew there was oil around that spot there and I was in it it, but I said screw it, lets go for it!” Though gutsy, the move didnt play out as planned as Etheridge slid ever so slightly, costing him precious tenths of a second. “Im happy how it all turned out though,” Etheridge said. “This was my first race on a dry track and I had fun.” Both drivers laughed off the late-lap contact, as Schermerchorn jokingly chided Etheridge with a “ah man, you scuffed up my door!” “He gave me a few bumps there but its no harm, no foul,” Schermerchorn said. “Thats racing, it happens sometimes.” The second-place finish was his highest ever in an Enduro, Schermerchorn said, which he said was due to his new car this season.“Its all new and its all helping me out there,” Schermerchorn said. “I finished sixth last time so were getting better and better.” There were winners off the track too, as throughout the evening all women in attendance were part of a raffle that gave away Mothers Day prizes such as $175 gift certificates to The Vineyard Restaurant & Bar. Christa Murray, who won a $175 gift certificate from Serenity Day Spa, was ecstatic about her prize. “This is awesome,” said Murray, who has two sons and one grandson. “Ive never won anything before in my life. I love it! Im really happy I came here tonight, I mean who doesnt want a spa day?” The Speedway will go dark for two weeks before returning on May 31 for the Military Tribute Night presented by California Solar. All active and retired military members will get in free that night to see races including: Race #3 of the LoanMart Open Late Model Series; Race #3 of the Hobby Stock Open Series; Legends of the Pacific; MSTs; Toyota Sedans; 4-Bangers; Mini-Cup; and the 18-Second Bracket Race. For detailed schedules, points standings, and more Speedway information, visit racemadera or call (559) 673-7223. On its Facebook page, the Speedway also posts photos and videos from events and holds free-ticket giveaways for fans. Go to facebook/maderaspeedway for information. QUICK LOOKS: Enduro (100 laps): Robert Reagan takes the checkered in dominant fashion, leading all 100 laps. Steve Schermerchorn and David Etheridge battle hard for second, with Schermerchorn proving quicker by less than four tenths of a second. On a dry track, few collisions and spinouts but still an exciting race. LunkerDaddy Late Model Series (30 laps): Matt “Attack” Erickson certainly lived up to his name as he went aggressive early, taking the lead by lap seven and was then impossible to catch. Tony “The Tiger” Schmitz keeps his points lead with a solid night as young favorite Emma Tucker, his closest competitor, finished fourth. Tucker appeared to have car troubles during the night and was not as fast as usual. Southwest Tour Trucks (30 laps): Zack Green took an easy win over all other drivers without much competition. Ronald Nava tried to keep it close, but once Green took the lead early in the race, it was his to lose. He didnt. Toyota Sedans (30 laps): Kyle Fortney and Tim Curtis, top two in points, were at it again, but Curtis got caught up in two pileups that ultimately cost him the win though he did manage to get back into second place. Fortney, with the comfortable win after his friendly rival was out of the picture, further increases his points lead though Curtis is right on his tail. Two young fans, paired with Fortney as part of a raffle, won brand-new bikes in this race. Open Hobby Stocks (20 laps): Without the presence of points leader Erick Ray, Sheldon Cooper was free to put on a show and took the lead he would not relinquish by lap one. With the win, Cooper moves into the points lead. MSTs (30 laps): Call it another Bowersox battle, as John and Jason Bowersox – father and son, respectively – were again neck-and-neck the entire race. The two continuously fought for first all 30 laps, though Jason ultimately proved victorious for his fifth-straight checkered flag in a very close finish. 4-Bangers (15 laps): Miles Humphreys took the checkered flag from three other drivers. Jadon Harrington, though in the lead at one point and pulling ahead by as much as three tenths of a second per lap, could not keep it from the determined driving of Humphreys. 18-Second Bracket Race: Dean Gould won the $150 pot – drivers put up $25 each to race – in the interesting event as he posted a time of 18.053 seconds, the closest to 18 seconds without going over. MAIN EVENTS: Enduro (100 laps) Robert Reagan Steve Schermerchorn-(-14.933) David Etheridge-(-15.238) Richard Herzog-(1 lap) David Papst Jr.-(3 laps) Russell Johnson Jr.-(4 laps) Robert Kieffer-(4 laps) Rick Anderson-(4 laps) Randy Gens-(8 laps) James Cooke-(8 laps) Ryan Hart-(8 laps) Jason Sitton-(9 laps) Robert Smith-(11 laps) Marisa Odgers-(25 laps) Loren Chitwood-(27 laps) Jake Kirby-(41 laps) Cody Stout-(68 laps) LunkerDaddy Late Model Series (30 laps) Matt Erickson Tony Schmitz-(-6.908) Jason Aguirre-(-7.746) Emma Tucker-(-8.109) Paul Beatty-(-14.692) Del McIntosh-(13 laps) Southwest Tour Trucks (30 laps) Zack Green Ronald Nava-(-3.139) Ed Cutler-(-9.636) Dan Colburn-(1 lap) Ronnie Davis-(30 laps) Toyota Sedans (30 laps) Kyle Fortney Tim Curtis-(-3.049) Tyler Johnson-(-4.039) Dean Gould-(-4.592) Justin Dukes-(-6.024) Thomas Magray-(-8.213) Candee McIntosh-(-14.149) Brennen Mankin-(-17.073) Chris Altuvilla-(-8.501, moved back, contact) Jason Lawton-(1 lap) Sarah Vivian-(1 lap) Open Hobby Stocks (20 laps) Sheldon Cooper Don Selsor-(-18.180) Loren Chitwood-(1 lap) Russell Johnson Jr.-(1 lap) Randy Gens-(2 laps) Howard Holden-(14 laps) Robert Reagan-(14 laps) MSTs (30 laps) Jason Bowersox John Bowersox-(-0.192) Kevin Thompson-(-0.901) Donnie Large Jr.-(-2.918) Dave Lander-(-3.820) Tim Kammerer-(-5.345) Patrick Geiger-(-13.130) 4-Bangers (15 laps) Miles Humphreys Michael Congdon-(-0.626) Jadon Harrington-(-2.008) Kelly Brownell-(-2.879) 18-Second Bracket Race Patrick Geiger-17.909 Kevin Thompson-17.842 Dean Gould-18.053, winner Thomas Magray-18.211 Tyler Johnson-18.201 Sarah Vivian-18.721 QUALIFYING (2 laps): LunkerDaddy Late Model Series Matt Erickson-15.930 Tony Schmitz-15.942 Jason Aguirre-16.164 Paul Beatty-16.224 Del McIntosh-16.510 Emma Tucker-16.576 Southwest Tour Trucks Zack Green-16.044 Ed Cutler-16.055 Ronald Nava-16.177 Ronnie Davis-16.841 Dan Coburn-17.031 Toyota Sedans Tim Curtis-17.619 Kyle Fortney-17.882 Justin Dukes-18.019 Tyler Johnson-18.027 Chris Altuvilla-18.028 Dean Gould-18.264 Brennen Mankin-18.461 Candee McIntosh-18.546 Sarah Vivian-18.787 Jason Lawton-18.789 Thomas Magray-19.472 Hobby Stocks Sheldon Cooper-16.959 Howard Holden-17.112 Don Selsor-18.860 Robert Reagan-19.317 Loren Chitwood-19.412 Russell Johnson Jr.-19.601 Ryan Hart-21.008 Randy Gens-21.078 Robert Smith-21.968 MSTs John Bowersox-17.171 Kevin Thompson-17.243 Donnie Large Jr.-17.371 Jason Bowersox-17.570 Tim Kammerer-17.571 Dave Lander-17.604 Patrick Geiger-17.914 4-Bangers Miles Humphreys-19.425 Kelly Brownell-19.966 Michael Congdon-20.137 Jadon Harrington-20.181 HEAT RACES (6 laps): LunkerDaddy Late Model Series (Heat 1) Matt Erickson Tony Schmitz-(-1.430) Jason Aguirre-(-2.640) Paul Beatty-(-3.449) Emma Tucker-(-3.849) Del McIntosh-(-16.335) Toyota Sedans (Heat 1) Tim Curtis Kyle Fortney-(-0.610) Tyler Johnson-(-2.089) Dean Gould-(-4.645) Justin Dukes-(-5.091) Chris Altuvilla-(-9.054) Toyota Sedans (Heat 2) Thomas Magray Jason Lawton-(-1.215) Brennen Mankin-(-1.568) Candee McIntosh-(-1.850) Sarah Vivian-(-3.270) Hobby Stocks (Heat 1) Sheldon Cooper Robert Reagan-(-5.856) Don Selsor-(-5.942) Russell Johnson Jr.-(-9.865) Loren Chitwood-(-10.404) Randy Gens-(-20.833) Robert Smith-(3 laps) Howard Holden-(6 laps) MSTs (Heat 1) John Bowersox Jason Bowersox-(-0.618) Kevin Thompson-(-0.652) Donnie Large Jr.-(-1.545) Tim Kammerer-(-3.042) Dave Lander-(-3.197) Patrick Geiger-(-5.366) 4-Bangers (Heat 1) Miles Humphreys Kelly Brownell-(-0.790) Michael Congdon-(-2.019) Jadon Harrington-(-2.317)
Posted on: Sun, 11 May 2014 21:15:18 +0000
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