HOLEMAN GRABS 2008 SEASON OPENER AT MADERA SPEEDWAY

Historic Madera Speedway opened its 2008 season on Saturday, March 29 with an exciting six-division Whelen All American Racing Series program that had the fans in the packed grandstands on the edge of their seats the entire evening.

Track officials were honored when Bob Duvall, NASCAR Director of Weekly Racing and Contingency Programs, made a special trip from NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach to attend the opener at Madera.

"A lot of people who watch NASCAR racing on TV don’t realize that there is great racing right in their own backyards," commented Duvall. "We have come up with a program called ‘NASCAR Home Track’ to encourage people to come out to these short track and support this great local racing."

Duvall was impressed with both the track and fans in his first visit Madera.

"I absolutely love it here. The fans and competitors are fantastic. It is very typical of other race tracks around the country that are doing well," said Duvall. "You couldn’t ask for a better place to come for a night of entertainment."

A quality 15-car field took the green flag for the 100-lap Western Late Model feature, which also counted as round #1 of the special HotWood 750 Series.

Rookie Vito Ranuio, of Stockton, made an impressive debut by taking advantage of his pole position to lead the first 25 laps of the event before giving up the top spot to rising star Trevor Schlundt, of nearby Clovis. Schlundt would eventually succumb to another talented young driver Ross Strmiska, of Stockton, on lap 35.

Strmiska held the top spot for the next 40 laps while defending track and NASCAR California State champion Mark Holeman, the 22-year-old engineering student out of Los Altos, slowly reeled him in. After several laps of side by side racing, Holeman was able to complete the pass for the lead and hold on to the checkered flag with Strmiska glued to his tailpipe the entire distance

"I am not even sure how this happened, but it happened" said an elated Holeman, who nursed his car through brake problems in the first half of the race. "The tires and brakes came back late in the race and I was able to make one last run at it and it worked out."

Strmiska was disappointed, despite his strong runner up effort.

"This was frustrating. We worked hard all winter building a new car, but we didn’t quite have the time to get it ready for this week," said the dejected Strmiska. "It was hard to lead most of the race and then give it up at the end. I can’t wait to get the new car and really give these guys a good run for their money."

Modesto’s Kyle Gottula, another of the "Young Guns" finished third, Stockton’s Joey Stearns fourth and Schlundt rounded out the top five.

Jeff Gardner, the 1999 USAC Sprint champion of Fresno, turned in a very impressive performance in the 30-lap 360 Modified feature.

Gardner grabbed the lead on the opening lap and never looked back in going wire to wire in a caution free race that was over in just an amazing seven minutes and six seconds! David Gassett, of Clovis, finished in second and Kenny White, of Fresno, completed the podium.

"This was just kind of a one shot deal. Donnie Large is trying to sell it and asked me to come out tonight and drive it," said Gardner. "This is actually the first time I have ever driven one of these and it was a lot of fun."

The night’s honors in the 360’s were spread around as defending champion Lance Tatro, of Madera, took the dash and Bakersfield’s David Tuey set fast time in qualifying.

It was a new era for the American Limited Stock Car (ALSC) division as Stockton’s Donny Darter, the driver who dominated the division last season with 14 wins in 16 starts, sat watching on the sidelines after selling his familiar black and white number 99 race car to his good friend Brian Vosberg over the winter.

While the driver may have changed, the result did not as Vosberg, of Stockton, made a high side pass on Howard Holden, of Clovis, with just two laps remaining in the 30-lap main to earn the victory.

"I bought the car from Donny just so he wouldn’t be out there" laughed Vosberg, who also captured the ALSC dash and top qualifying time. "Actually, he has given me a lot of help. He has been awesome."

Darter, who hopes to compete in the Western Late Model class soon, will be racing next Saturday in a Legends car.

"I missed being out there in the 99 tonight, but it went to a good driver," said Darter. "He will have a lot of fun with it this year."

A caution filled Modified Super Toyota (MST) 20-lap main came to a dramatic conclusion as defending champion Shon "Woody" Woods, of Madera, picked up his first victory of the new season over Chowchilla’s John Bowersox.

Jason Bowersox and Casey Nydahl collided on the home stretch final lap while fighting for third, handing the spot to a surprised and pleased Randy Fleming Jr., of Madera.

"It actually started out pretty ugly today. We didn’t have the car dialed in at all," explained Woods. "Somehow we got it right and came out for the main with a vengeance."

Jason Kerns, of Fresno, made a lap 3 pass for the lead on Stockton’s John McCollum Jr. and cruised to a win in the 20-lap Toyota Sedan race over Madera’s Randy Fleming Sr. and Fresno’s Stan Hankins.

Kerns also took the win in the Toyota Sedan dash while Fleming spoiled his perfect night by turning the fastest lap in the time trials.

Veteran driver David Boyko, of Tollhouse, lead the final 15 laps of the 20-lap Hornet main, to earn the win over hometown driver Jeff Dizney and defending class champion Miles Humphreys, the 67-year-old racing granddad out of Clovis.

Dizney, who won the Hornet dash, was extremely pleased with his evening’s performance considering it was the first time he had ever raced a car.

Next Saturday, April 5th, the "Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West" will host the first SUPER Saturday Event of the year with a program that will include the powerful 410 and 360 Super Modifieds, BCRA Midgets, Legends of the Pacific and Western Late Models in a 50-lap feature paying $1,000 to win, The Spring Fest evening will also include live bands and very special guest four-time NHRA Nitro Top Fuel and Funny Car Champion Gary Scelzi, of Fresno, who will be driving in a charity race.

The Madera Speedway is located at the Madera County Fairgrounds just off to the west side of Highway 99 at the Cleveland Avenue exit.

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