MATT ERICKSON STAGES COMEBACK DRIVE TO WIN MISSION PRO LATE MODELS IN MADERA

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (April 5, 2025) – Multi-time Madera Speedway Mission Pro Late Model champion Matt Erickson of La Grange put on a driving clinic on Saturday night, soaring through the pack to win the 80-lap round two for the RACER Network-televised series. Erickson’s win on the one-third mile oval paid $2,000 to win. Photo by Jake Scarbrough

Erickson led time trials by just .002 seconds over San Jose’s Jay Juleson, but stretched out his lead to much more than that in the second half of Saturday’s feature.

“Surprising how good and how maneuverable the car was on old tires,” Erickson said. “Car was pretty good and I could put it anywhere I wanted to. I didn’t want to see that last caution. Restarts are almost everything.”

Juleson drew the pole after the redraw while Erickson had to work from sixth on the grid. Erickson used the outside to make quick work of several drivers, advancing to third by just the fourth lap.

A restart on lap six gave Erickson an opportunity to challenge Will Martyn of Coarsegold for second. Martyn then spun in turn one on lap 12, with Erickson having to stop to avoid him. Both drivers had to restart at the back of the field.

Jason Aguirre of Atwater drove to the outside of Juleson for the lead, leading lap 13 by just .013 seconds. Mike Hensley of Bass Lake then spun on the backstretch to bring out the caution. Aguirre went inside of Juleson on the restart to maintain the top spot. Fresno’s Rick Thompson then drove into second past Juleson as well.

Juleson clawed back to Thompson, taking second on lap 21. Erickson methodically drove through the pack, passing Thompson for third on lap 31. Agurire and Juleson ran nose to tail with a 2.5 second advantage at that stage of the race.

By lap 43, Erickson had tracked down the leaders already and the trio ran in lockstep. Erickson was not content to ride into the lap 50 break. He drove past Juleson for second on lap 46, using a lapped car as a pick. He then executed a slidejob off of turn four to top Aguirre at the line for the break. Juleson was third followed by Martyn and Thomspon.

On the lap 50 restart, Aguirre and Erickson made contact heading into turn one. Erickson stayed in the gas and motored away down the backstretch. Juleson and Thompson battled side-by-side for third for 14 laps. A caution on lap 64 allowed Rick Thompson a shot on the outside of Aguirre for second.

Erickson won by 1.949 seconds followed by Aguirre, Juleson, Thompson, and Martyn.

Clovis’ Skyler Schoppe, age 14, won his first career 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series race. Schoppe won the 70-lap feature after withstanding several challengers.

Oregon City, Oregon’s James Hamlin led time trials to start on the pole position. Third starting Eli Black of Santa Rosa, the 12-year-old opening night winner, passed Schoppe for second on lap four. Black challenged Hamlin in a closely matched battle. The battle boiled over on lap 25 when Black and Hamlin collided in turn one, sending Hamlin for a spin and relegating both drivers to restart at the rear.

The incident placed Schoppe into the lead but he was not without challenges. A series of cautions allowed Hamlin to use the choose cone to advance to the outside of the front row. Hamlin drove around the outside of Schoppe to lead lap 29 but was called for jumping the start. Hamlin fell back to fourth while relinquishing the lead. Hamlin then collided with Washington’s Hunter Gates for third on lap 32.

The race went into its scheduled lap 40 break early after Bristol Borneman of Ramona spun from third on lap 37. Schoppe led the field into the break over Black, Gates, Hamlin, and Byron Borneman.

On the restart Schoppe continued to hold the lead. A caution on lap 51 gave Eli Black an opportunity to challenge for the lead but Schoppe kept the point. Skyler Schoppe topped the 70-lap feature, followed by Black, Gates, Hamlin, and Bristol Borneman.

Logan Chambers won his second consecutive INEX Legends 30-lap feature at Madera Speedway. Chambers won a Bakersfield battle between Chambers and Colton Page. Page tried multiple attempts to take the lead to no avail. Bakersfield’s Eddie Garone finished third.

The Pro Sportsman division made their first appearance of the season with Madera’s Joseph Holiday leading wire-to-wire in the 30-lap event. Steve Schermerhorn and Joseph Reichmuth rounded out the podium finishers.

The televised Madera Speedway action resumes on May 3 for round three of the RACER-televised series.

The 2025 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Sealmaster.

Madera Racing on RACER Network airs Monday nights. Check www.MAVTV.com for program listings.