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Madera Speedway Media Release - July 3, 2008 Swanson and Byrd to Race at Madera Speedway on the 4th of July It was announced yesterday that Kody Swanson, 19, of Kingsburg, California, would be racing a late model in the HotWood 750 Series twin 75-lap features for the Western Late Models at Madera Speedway this Friday July 4th. Kody is the son of local legend Mike Swanson, a nine-time track champion in four different divisions at Madera Speedway. Swanson will be taking advantage of a bye week in the USAC National Midget Series where he competes full-time for Nine Racing in the #19 Team ASE/Oakley/Pink Toyota. Swanson is currently fourth in the USAC Midget standings behind series leader Tracy Hines of Tony Stewart Racing. Swanson is the 2005 USAC Western States Sprint Car Series Champion, and winner of the sprint car portion of the 2006 MOPAR-PRI Sprint & Midget Classic. In 2007, Swanson swept the USAC Midget/Sprint "doubleheader" in September at Altamont Motorsports Park. Swanson also attends Fresno State University. NASCAR drivers as Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, JJ Yeley, Jason Leffler, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Mike Bliss have competed for Nine Racing, which has won 10 USAC National Midget Series Championships. Also Dave Byrd, of Monterey, will once again be driving Kenny Whelan's Madera Auto Center Late Model. Byrd began his racing career at San Jose Speedway in 1977 where he won his first track championship that same year at the age of 18. In his career, Byrd has accumulated over 350 NASCAR feature wins on both-dirt and pavement race tracks, 16 driving championships, including several state titles, the prestigious NASCAR Pacific Coast Regional Championship and was selected Driver of the Year by the Motor Press Association twice. Byrd and Swanson will be taking on track regulars such as Kyle Gottula, the 21-year-old second-generation driver out of Modesto, Stockton's Joey Stearns, Trevor Schlundt, age 18 of Clovis and the father/son team of Harry and Jeff Belletto, both of Modesto. Stearns, Gottula, Jeff Belletto, Schlundt and rookie Vito Ranuio, of Stockton, are all currently ranked in the top 20 in the NASCAR WHELEN All American Racing Series standings for California. In addition to the Western Late Models, the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans and Hornets will all be racing at the "Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West" this Friday. Fans will also be treated to a spectacular FIREWORKS show sponsored by Pacific Mobile Structures. Ticket prices for this Friday's, July 4th program are only $25.00 for adults, $23.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $20.00 for students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 while 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 just $55.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3. Madera Speedway registration will begin at 11:00 AM, the pit gates will open at high noon, the grandstands open at 2:00 PM, trophy dashes will commence at 5:00 PM and the evening's opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 6:00 PM. 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. Madera Speedway Media Release - July 1, 2008 Media Relations - Dale Bosowski (209) 818-1731 4th of July Celebration at Madera Speedway Featuring HotWood 750 Series & Fireworks Madera Speedway will celebrate our nation's birthday this Friday night, July 4th with Round #2 of the Tri-Holiday Classic. This very special NASCAR Whelen All American Racing Series program will feature the HotWood 750 Series for the Western Late Models in twin 75-lap main events plus the American Limited Stock Cars, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans and Hornets. Fans will also be treated to a spectacular FIREWORKS show sponsored by Pacific Mobile Structures. The HotWood 750 Series consists of nine designated races spread over six nights throughout the 2008 season at the Madera Speedway. A $1,500 purse will go to the winner of each of this Friday's Western Late Model features and the results will count toward the special $6,000 HotWood 750 Series bonus fund. Once again, green flag laps will count in the twin HotWood mains features, guaranteeing 150 laps of Western Late Model racing action. In all, fans attending this Friday's 4th of July program will enjoy a total of 230 laps of green flag main event racing! Kyle Gottula, age 21 of Modesto, continues to lead the way in the Western Late Model division. The second generation driver has racked up five victories and 10 top five finishes in just 11 starts at Madera this season. Gottula's strong start has allowed him to build a solid 343 to 308 point lead over Stockton's Joey Stearns in the Madera season standings while Modesto's Jeff Belletto (281 points), Trevor Schlundt of Clovis (273) and Stockton's Ross Strmiska (221) round out the top five. Gottula also leads the in HotWood 750 bonus points by a 103 to 78 point margin over Strmiska. Howard Holden, of Clovis, continues to set the pace in the American Limited Stock Cars (ALSC) division standings, but Modesto's Dennis Saunders Jr. has been made a strong charge at him recently by posting three wins in the last four races. Saunders hot streak has vaulted him to second in the standings where he now trails Holden by a 328 to 286 margin. Holden will attempt to stem the Saunders tide and notch his fifth win of the season this Friday. Jason Kerns and defending class champion Stan Hankins have waged a back and forth battle in the competitive Toyota Sedan class all season long. Last Saturday Kerns picked up his third win of the season to match Hankins victory count and as a result the two Fresno drivers enter this Friday's competition in a flat footed tie for the lead at 182 points apiece. Madera's Randy Fleming Jr. and Miles Humphreys, the 68-year-old racing great grandpa out of Clovis, continue to rule the top of the standings in the their respective Modified Super Toyota and Hornets divisions. Both will be gunning for their sixth win of the season on Friday. As a special tribute to our nation's military veterans, Madera Speedway president Kenny Shepherd has announced that all military veterans coming out to the "Fastest ½ Mile in the West" this Friday in their uniforms will be admitted free of charge and all non uniformed veterans will receive a $5 discount. Also, as a thank you to their service and dedication to our country, Madera Speedway will honor all veterans in attendance by asking them stand at the start/finish line for the playing of the National Anthem during opening ceremonies! So come out to this Friday, July 4th, as Madera Speedway proudly salutes our country and the men and women of our armed forces with a star spangled evening of family entertainment and a lot of heart pounding stock car racing excitement. Ticket prices for this Friday's, July 4th program are only $25.00 for adults, $23.00 for seniors 65 years of age or older, $20.00 for students, active duty military and juniors age 13-17, $5.00 for kids age 6-12 while 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 just $55.00. VISA and MasterCard are welcome at window #3. Madera Speedway registration will begin at 11:00 AM, the pit gates will open at high noon, the grandstands open at 2:00 PM, trophy dashes will commence at 5:00 PM and the evening's opening ceremonies will kick off main event racing at approximately 6:00 PM. Also, looking ahead in July, make your plans to come out on Saturday, July the 12th for an evening of crash and bang, metal grinding action with a 200-lap Enduro and a giant Destruction Derby. 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. |