2019 CALIFORNIA PRO LATE MODEL RANKINGS: #3-#1

NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. (April 28, 2020) – The editors of ShortTrackLive.com will be ranking drivers across different disciplines of California grassroots motorsports throughout the season. It is time to reveal our top-three picks for the Pro Late Model division in the state of California for 2019!  Photos by Don Thompson & Jason Wedehase

#10 – #8 (released 4/21), #7 – #4 (released 4/28)

#3 Jason Romero – Cameron Park, CA
Jason Romero continued his ascent up the California stock car scene in 2019 with an outstanding performance for the NASCAR Late Model championship at Roseville’s All American Speedway. The championship was Romero’s third in stock car competition, to go with the 2018 touring Pacific Challenge Series title and a 2009 NASCAR Late Model title in Roseville as well. Romero’s six wins came in a back-and-forth season with Jeremy Doss. Romero ultimately had Doss’ number for much of the year in Roseville. Romero may have even had the stuff to rank #1 in the state, but he failed to convert on victories at either track’s $10,000 to win races in the fall. As he continues to rack up Pro Late Model experience, Romero may be the driver best prepared to spoil the Jeremy Doss party this upcoming season. – Steven Blakesley

#2 Austin Herzog – Clovis, CA
2019 was a breakthrough year for Clovis teenager Austin Herzog. Herzog is the highest of the three 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model graduates on the list, bringing six victories from that series into Madera’s Pro Late Model division. After three seasons of trying, the third-generation driver finally captured his first MAVTV win in the Pro Late Models at Madera Speedway. He avenged the narrow defeat for his father Bryan in the 2015 Madera championship as well. He used the early season momentum and a string of consistent podium finishes to capture his first pro late model championship. Herzog picked up five total wins between the Nut Up series and Madera’s ‘club’ races, and also secured the Overall Late Model Championship at the speedway ahead of Cousin Tyler. What keeps Austin Herzog from the top spot of our rankings? Simply put: a lack of wins at other facilities. If 2020 brings a repeat championship and wins at tracks like All American Speedway or Irwindale Speedway, there’s reason to believe Herzog could easily battle for the top spot. – Jason Galvin

#1 Jeremy Doss – Upper Lake, CA
2018 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour champion Jeremy Doss did not enter the season looking to become one of the most dominant contenders in Pro Late Model division history. His early season highlight was a Southwest Tour win in a hard-fought battle with Derek Thorn at Roseville. But Doss made the switch to the Pro LM division in June, immediately becoming a force to be reckoned with. With his outlaw bodied car, nicknamed Bonnie, Doss won five main events over a six-event summer stretch between All American Speedway and Madera Speedway. His June and July wins in the MAVTV-televised action at Madera were unprecedented in their margin of victory. A slight hiccup in the early part of August was erased quickly from the memory books when Doss won six of his next seven starts. Highlighting that span was his $10,000 win at Madera’s Short Track Shootout and a victory in front of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West crowd at Roseville. A third-place finish in November at All American ended a campaign with 11 wins, 19 top-fives, and a perfect 20-for-20 top-tens. The question remains if Doss can repeat his Kulwicki Driver Development Program championship season in 2020, minus the outlaw body after rules changes. A host of drivers will be eager to knock the king off his throne. – Steven Blakesley