BUDDY SHEPHERD AVOIDS LATE RACE MELEE, EARNS SECOND SHORT TRACK SHOOTOUT VICTORY AT MADERA

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (October 10, 2026) – 2017 Short Track Shootout winner Buddy Shepherd of Bakersfield added a second $10,000 haul to his resume, avoiding a collision between the leaders in the final corner to win the 125-lap feature in the 14th annual event. The Mission Pro Late Model Series season finale also saw Shaun Reynolds claim the 2026 championship. Photo by Christian Rozell

“They fixed me up at the break and helped me get in and get off. As hard as the (Matt Erickson) was racing me, was just decided to let them go race. We thought that was coming,” Shepherd said. “It was fun tonight and fun to be back. It was pretty sweet. Usually the top’s more dominant. All these cars were pretty equal.”

13-year-old Jarrett Dickson of Redwood Valley led the race to the green flag over a 19-car turnout. Alaska’s Wyatt Flowers slid backwards after starting fifth and pitted for repairs to the rear suspension. Incoming points leader Jason Aguirre stopped in turn two as well, bringing out the caution with a broken rear end to impact his championship intentions.

Dickson went back-and-forth with Shepherd for the lead with Shepherd completing the pass on lap 18. Tenth-starting Kyle Keller crossed over on the backstretch to drive into second as well.

Matt Erickson challenged Shepherd for the top spot, seizing it on lap 21. Shepherd used the outside to claw back into the lead on lap 24 and bring Keller back into second with him. Keller then used the bottom on a restart to take over the lead on lap 34. Erickson drove to the outside of Shepherd to grab second on lap 44.

Flowers suffered his second incident of the night when he and Georgia’s Dylan Bongiovanni crashed on the front stretch. Bongiovanni was unable to continue and Flowers had to pit for lengthy repairs once again.

The furious battling among the top three saw Shepherd get back to second over Erickson by the lap 75 break. Keller led Shepherd, Erickson, Dickson, and Shelden Cooper at the break.

Keller, Shepherd, and Erickson danced around the speedway over the next 30-laps, exchanging positions. Young Dickson used the outside to briefly nab third from Shepherd at one stage as well.

The caution flew on lap 104 for Ben Johnson losing an engine. The intensity ratcheted up over the next 20 laps with Erickson challenging Keller for the lead. Contact with two laps remaining moved Erickson into the top spot. Keller battled back, sliding Erickson up the hill as they raced to the white flag side-by-side. Keller dove into Erickson again into turn three. The pair banged wheels and soared towards the turn four wall. Shepherd turned left underneath them and inherited the five figure victory. Keller crossed the line second narrowly over Dickson but was later disqualified.

Dickson earned a strong second place in his first career Pro Late Model race. Cooper finished third. 2026 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series champion Lane Christensen finished fourth while Flowers recovered in a big way to finish fifth. Shaun Reynolds finished eighth to win the Mission Pro Late Model Series championship as well.

Lane Christensen ended his 2026 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model championship campaign where it started, in victory lane. Alaska’s Wyatt Flowers dominated the first 40-laps which went non-stop, leading comfortably over Dickson into the break. Hawaiian driver Kai Park fended off Christensen for third in the opening segment, while debuting driver Austin Steinke of Colorado ran fifth at the break.

The race changed dramatically in the final 30-lap run to the finish. Jarrett Dickson spun from second place on lap 55 to bring out the first caution of the race. When action resumed, race leader Flowers slowed with a power steering issue. Christensen drove through to take the lead and brought Park with him. Dickson recovered from his spin to challenge Washington’s Mason Blodgett for third. Dickson overhauled Blodgett before the checkered flag to round out the podium. Blodgett settled for fourth with Steinke finishing fifth.

Aaron Mullins won the season finale for the Pro Sportsman while Steve Schermerhorn won the 2026 championship from a second-place finish. Jason Kerns finished third in the 20-lap affair.

Antonio Gonzales won the INEX Legends 20-lap feature and the 2026 division title. The Turlock driver led Modesto’s Aaron Coonfield and Chowchilla’s Kenzie Brown at the finish line.

The MSTs returned to Madera Speedway with one of their main organizers picking up the win. Patrick Geiger prevailed and then did celebratory donuts on the front stretch. Coonfield finished second for two runner-up performances in one night. Michael Brooks made his first ever Madera start count from third place as well.

Madera Speedway hosts the Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash Enduro on October 24th. 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.