FRED RYLAND WINS DEBUT START IN PUMPKIN SMASH HALLOWEEN BASH AT MADERA
MADERA, CALIFORNIA (October 26, 2025) – 2015 IMCA Sport Modified California State Champion “Fast Fred” Ryland of Brentwood took his talents to the pumpkin and soapy-water covered Madera Speedway on Saturday night, winning the 19th annual Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash Enduro. The veteran of more than 100 dirt track wins at most of California’s dirt tracks challenged the slippery one-third mile at the Madera Fairgrounds to perfection, outlasting 2024 winner Ryan Hart of Dos Palos for the win.
“This is Ryan Hart’s car. I want to thank him very much for letting me drive it and not beating me. So we built this car from scratch for him and then he said he wanted me to drive it,” Ryland said. “This was a blast. It’s very hard. Thanks to Kenny Shepherd for putting this on every year. This is harder (than dirt), you got pumpkins here, soapy water…”
Ryland drove across the finish line with a six-lap advantage and with his wife Patti alongside as the co-driver.
Hart stormed into the lead on the opening lap of the 200-lap event, as a field full of fresh newcomers and veterans alike navigated the treacherous haunts that covered the speedway. Hart and Ryland exchanged the lead several times in their machines.
Emerging from a red flag on lap 163, Hart’s car stumbled with a transmission failure. The issue allowed Ryland to pull away for the commanding victory. Barrel race winner Scott Wasson of Fresno finished on the podium yet again in the Pumpkin Smash, coming home in second. His father Les Wasson of Clovis finished third. Former winner Gene Etheridge was fourth followed by Del “The Stuntman” McIntosh in fifth.
The Pumpkin Smash Halloween Bash closed the 2025 circle track season at Madera Speedway. The 4th Annual Golden State Invitational Truck and Tractor Pulls closes the season of horsepower at the Madera Fairgrounds on November 7 and 8. For more info, visit www.racemadera.com
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.
