KELLER AND DICKSON EARN BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCES AT MADERA SPEEDWAY
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (August 22, 2026) – Madera’s Kellen Keller in the Mission Pro Late Models and Jarrett Dickson of Redwood Valley in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series each enjoyed their first career series triumphs during Saturday’s round six action at Madera Speedway. The RACER Network-televised racing also saw Bakersfield’s Logan Chambers and Steve Schermerhorn collect trophies on the one-third mile oval. Both Keller and Dickson rolled the high side as the road map to victory.
“It feels great. We made a lot of adjustments at the half way break. It didn’t really help us on the bottom but it helped a lot on the top. This wouldn’t be possible without Red (Randy Denson) who works on the cars every day,” Keller said.
Opening night winner Mike Hensley had the pole for the 70-lap Pro Late Model feature before multi-time champion Matt Erickson swooped by to take the lead. Erickson accumulated a 2.2 second advantage before a caution on lap ten when Shaun Reynolds and Hensley spun in turn four.
Alaska’s Wyatt Flowers used the outside to seize second from Keller on the restart, then began to claw towards Erickson. Erickson struggled down a cylinder and limped through lapped traffic to narrowly lead the race at the lap 40 break. Flowers was second over Keller, Cam Carraway, and points leader Jason Aguirre.
Erickson solved his woes during the break but still faced pressure from Flowers. Flowers slid past Erickson to take the lead on lap 49. Erickson then collided with Carraway in turn one, sending Carraway spinning and relegating both to the rear of the field.
Flowers chose the bottom on the ensuing restart, allowing Keller the opening he needed. Keller used the high side to win a thrilling battle over Flowers. Kellen Keller scored the victory followed by Flowers with Aguirre coming back to finish third. Shaun Reynolds and Matt Erickson rounded out the top-five.
Illinois driver Keatin Lyons again led the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series to green for their 70-lap affair for drivers ages 10-16 years old. A caution on lap 31 for a spin for new driver Dylan Reese tightened up the pack behind Lyons. Incoming points leader Lane Christensen – who set fast-time but started sixth – worked to the outside of Lyons to take the lead on lap 32. Christensen led a tight lead pack of Lyons, Jarrett Dickson, Wyatt Flowers, and first-time driver Dylan Bongiovanni of Cumming, Georgia into the lap 40 race break.
Christensen and Lyons raced door handle to door handle on the restart with neither driver gaining much of an advantage for several laps. The duo then collided exiting turn two, sending Christensen onto his side and causing significant damage to Lyons. Lyons was eliminated from the race and the caution flew on lap 47.
Wyatt Flowers inherited the lead but it was short lived as Jarrett Dickson soared past him on the outside lane to lead lap 48. Flowers and Dickson jostled on the next restart but Dickson maintained the top spot after a brief three-wide tussle with Bongiovanni in the mix. Jarrett Dickson led the final 22 laps for his first career stock car win. Dickson is also the first California winner of the 2026 Jr. Late Model campaign. Flowers finished second for the second event in a row with Bongiovanni fending off Clovis’ Connor Penix for third. Washington’s Mason Blodgett finished fifth.
“This is awesome, can’t thank the sponsors enough, and Cole Brown for helping all season,” Dickson said. “Probably mostly some of the dirt stuff that I’ve ran (helped with the high line success). Hopefully we can win the last two races and compete with Lane (Christensen) in the points.”
Bakersfield’s Logan Chambers used a bump and run pass to move ahead of points leader Antonio Gonzales of Turlock and win the 30-lap INEX Legends feature. Jared Torres finished third in his Madera debut followed by Santana Gonzales and Patrick Geiger.
Steve Schermerhorn topped Jason Kerns in the 25-lap Pro Sportsman feature. Jon Schlundt finished third.
Madera Speedway returns with televised stock car action on September 19th. More details at www.racemadera.com
The 2026 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, and Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing on RACER Network airs Monday nights.
