MADERA SPEEDWAY LAUNCHES THE NEXT GENERATION OF STOCK CAR STARS WITH SATURDAY’S SPEEDFEST FOR JR LATE MODELS
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (March 10, 2026) – An international roster of drivers ages 10-16 years old takes on the fastest one-third mile in the west on Saturday March 14th, as the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series kicks off the 2026 Madera Speedway season. The Madera SpeedFest features a 70-lap Jr. Late Model main event and a 70-lap Mission Pro Late Model Series feature, both televised for RACER Network. INEX Legends and INEX Bandoleros also tackle the track. Photo by Mackenzie Naake
Main events begin at 6pm. Adult tickets are just $20, seniors and military are $15, youth ages 6-12 are $10 and kids five and under are free. All tickets will be sold at the track ticket booth.
Race fans can “Join” www.YouTube.com/ShortTrackTV for $19.99 per month for a members-only live stream as well. The races will be televised at a later date on RACER Network.
51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series has become the proving ground for the next NASCAR and ARCA stars and a new crop is ready to take their place in the place. Tulsa Shootout champion Brexton Busch, age 10, aims to continue his father Kyle Busch’s legacy with his stock car debut on Saturday at Madera Speedway. He is paired at Wilson Motorsports with Japanese kart champion Eiki Koga, also 10-years-old, son of ARCA veteran Takuma Koga.
Alaskan INEX Legends champion Wyatt Flowers travels to Madera, Calif. this season and is paired with 2026 Jr. Late Model Combine winner Lane Christensen of Georgia for a potent Nascimento Motorsports stable on opening night.
HGC Motorsports will feature the second-year Washington driver Hunter Gates and Illinois-based rookie Keatin Lyons. Single car efforts include Washington’s Mason Blodgett driving for Naake Motorsports and Northern California’s Jarrett Dickson taking the wheel with support from Cole Brown Motorsports.
The 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models utilize the same equipment as the Pro Late Models including the GM 602 crate engine and Hoosier 970 tires, limited in performance by a restrictor plate and a 6,000 RPM chip. Saturday’s event features a 40-lap opening segment followed by a break for adjustments and TV interviews. A 30-lap race to the finish determines the winner.
An intriguing field of drivers will compete in the season opener for the Mission Pro Late Model Series in a 70-lap feature this weekend. Madera’s winningest stock car driver Matt Erickson was the first filed entry, ready to duel with many familiar faces. Madera Late Model non-televised champions Jason Aguirre and Trevor Schlundt are expected along with former MST standout Shaun Reynolds and former Hobby Stock champion Manny Gonzales, Jr. Young stock car talents such as Joey Kennealy, Kylie Glick, Cam Carraway, and Alaska’s Hunter Maier will also be competing.
INEX Legends and INEX Bandoleros are also scheduled for Saturday night’s SpeedFest.
Saturday pit gates open at 1pm with the drivers meeting at 3pm. Practice begins at 3:30pm. Qualifying hits the track at 5pm followed by heat races. Opening ceremonies are at approx. 6pm with all main events to follow.
For more information about the Madera Speedway including how to advertise with a race team on RACER Network, please visit www.racemadera.com or call the race office at 559-507-9931.
The 2026 season would not be possible without the support 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, Allied Packaging, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio, Sunoco Race Fuel, and Sealmaster.
Madera Racing on RACER Network airs on Mondays.
