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Birges, Swanson and Hedberg Capture the Checkers in SUPER SATURDAY Action at Madera Speedway
Madera Speedway was back in action on Saturday night, April 4, with the first of six big SUPER SATURDAY events on the 2009 schedule. The open-wheel program, presented by Inside Lines Apparel & Graphics, featured the powerful Supermodified Racing Association (SMRA) 410 Supermodifieds and Madera’s 360 Modifieds in a combined 50-lap feature plus the United States Auto Club (USAC)/Northern California Modified Association (NCMA) Sprint Cars, USAC/Bay Area Racing Association (BCRA) Midgets and Legends of the Pacific.
Legendary Troy Regier, of Dinuba and Jim Birges of nearby Fresno, dominated the preliminaries for the 410s with Regier snapping off quick time for the night and Birges grabbing wins in the heat and dash to set up a final showdown in the 50-lap main.
The pair started the race deep in the pack, but while Regier managed to quickly snake his way to the front, passing Lonnie Adamson of Salt Lake City, UT for the lead on lap three, Birges became mired in traffic. It was not until lap 14 that Birges was able to get under Adamson to take over second and begin his pursuit of Regier who by now had checked out to better than a quarter lap lead.
As the laps quickly ticked off Birges slowly reeled Regier in, finally closing to within a few car lengths as the large crowd stood in anticipation of the impending showdown over the final 10 laps. Unfortunately, Regier’s car began to spew a shower of sparks from the left rear before he suddenly plunged hard into the turn one wall like a falling comet and brought out a red flag.
Regier walked away from the wreck unhurt and Birges walked off with the win when the race resumed. AJ Russell of Clovis and Adamson finished in second and third a full lap down to Birges.
“I got jumbled up a bit at the beginning and it allowed Troy to check out, but I was finally able to catch back up with him. It is too bad for Troy that he got bit because without his troubles I don’t think I could have gotten around him,” said Birges. “I really have to thank my crew. Our car was so fast tonight that I think a trained monkey could drive it.”
Defending Madera champion David Tuey of Bakersfield waged a spirited battle with hometown driver Kenny Kinchen to notch the win in the 360 Modified portion of the race.
“It was a fun night for us. I think we could have used a traffic cop out there tonight to clear things out a bit,” joked Tuey. “The car was good until those final laps when the tires cooled off during the red flag for Troy and it got loose.”
The combined USAC/BCRA Midget 30-lap feature saw 19 cars take the opening green flag with Brentwood’s Daniel Bedford quickly bolting into the lead. Bedford was cruising in the lead until his engine suddenly let go on lap 12 allowing Garrett Hansen, of Manhattan Beach, to take over the top spot. A few laps later Hansen would give way to Alamo’s Scott Pierovich.
Pierovich was soon challenged by 18-year-old Tanner Swanson, of nearby Kingsburg, who had methodically made his way up through the field from his ninth place starting position. Swanson tried both the high and low side of the track to take the lead, but was rebuffed on every try by Pierovich. However, with three laps to go Pierovich was pinned behind a slower car and Swanson took advantage by slipping past him on the outside for the lead and victory.
“I was working hard trying to find the right line and I never could get the timing right, but then we got lucky when he got picked up by that lapped car,” explained Tanner, the son of former nine-time Madera champion Mike Swanson. “It was one heck of a race and it is always special to win at my home track.”
Colorado’s Levi Roberts set fast time in Midget qualifying while Manteca’s Kyle Dickerson, Swanson and Brentwood’s Daniel Bedford scored heat wins and Manteca’s Marco McGeorge captured the B-Main win.
The USAC and NCMA Sprints also ran a combined 50-lap feature and this one completely belonged to Rohnert Park’s JoJo Hedberg who took over the lead from polesitter Shauna Hogg, of Citrus Heights, on the opening lap and never let go of it.
Kody Swanson, older brother of Tanner, gave chase to Hedberg over the final laps of the race, but was never able to close down enough of Hedberg to make a serious pass attempt for the lead and was forced to settle for a hard earned second. Santa Rosa’s Brian McLish, Tanner Swanson and Chowchilla’s Eric Humphries rounded out the top five while Napa’s David Goodwill was the top NCMA finisher in the eighth spot.
“I finally won a race at Madera so this feels really good,” said Hedberg, who crashed during the heat and was forced to make major repairs just to make the main. “Kody gave us a hard time at the end, but I always feel really comfortable racing with him because I know he will not do anything crazy.”
Lincoln’s Tony Hunt set the fast time in qualifying and Kody Swanson won the USAC heat race while Paterson’s Ed Amador set the pace in qualifying and Woodland’s Gary Koster captured the dash in the NCMA division.
As has come to be expected, the Legends of the Pacific 30-lap feature was a wild affair that produced numerous yellow cautions and almost as many lead changes.
Stockton’s Keith Clement and David Ball, Tracy’s Cody Berger and Tahoe City’s Phillip Morrissey all took turns as the Alpha Dog until Ripon’s Angelo Queirolo was finally able to capture the lead on lap 21. Tracy’s Jeremy Wood gave Queirolo all he could handle during the closing laps, but Queirolo was able to fend him off for the win.
“Oh man, that was awesome,” exclaimed Queirolo. “It was tough to hold off Jeremy. He is one badass driver.”
Robby Czub, of Rocklin, earned fast time honors in the Legends while Jack Humphrey of American Canyon, Kelly Martin of Modesto and Wood picked up heat wins.
The WRA Vintage Midgets and Sprints cars - otherwise known as the “Moving Museum” – also took to the track for a pair of exhibition races that gave the fans an opportunity to experience the glory days of Midget racing in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Madera Speedway will be back in action next Saturday, April 11, with the opening round of the $50,000 “HotWood 333” Series for the Whelen All American Western Late Models. Also taking on the “Fastest 1/3 Mile in the West” next Saturday will be the Grand American Modifieds in twin 40-lap features, the American Limited Stocks, Modified Super Toyotas, Toyota Sedans plus, to conclude the evening, a Destruction Derby right on the front straight. You do not want to miss this show!
The Madera Speedway is conveniently located at the Madera County Fairgrounds just off to the west side of Highway 99 at the Cleveland Avenue exit. For more Madera Speedway information visit the track’s website at www.racemadera.com or call the Info/Race Line phone number at (559) 673-RACE.
Madera Speedway Results for April 4, 2009
Dale J Bosowski
USAC/BCRA Midgets
Fast Time – Levi Roberts (Colorado)– 13.806 seconds
Heat 1 – 8 Laps
Kyle Dickerson (Manteca)
Levi Roberts (Colorado)
Scott Pierovich (Alamo)
Nick Foster Jr. (San Carlos)
Marco McGeorge (Manteca)
Stuart Birkenbine (Boise ID)
Floyd Alvis (San Carlos)
Heat 2 – 8 Laps
Daniel Bedford (Brentwood)
Garrett Hansen (Manhattan Beach)
Tony Hunt (Lincoln)
Tanner Swanson (Kingsburg)
Henry Clarke
Danny Parker (Oakdale)
Ryan Shupe (Palo Alto)
Heat 3 – 8 Laps
Tanner Swanson (Kingsburg)
Jermone Rodela (El Monte)
Alex Schutte (Redding)
Chad Nichols (Colma)
Dan Gundo (San Jose)
David Prickett (Fresno)
B Main– 30 laps
Marco McGeorge (Manteca)
Stuart Birkenbine (Boise, ID)
Henry Clarke
Danny Parker (Oakdale)
Floyd Alvis (San Carlos)
Dan Gundo
Ryan Shupe (Palo Alto)
A Main– 30 laps
Tanner Swanson (Kingsburg)
Scott Pierovich (Alamo)
Levi Roberts (Colorado)
Kody Swanson (Kingsburg)
Chad Nichols (Colma)
Garrett Hansen (Manhatten Beach)
Alex Schutte (Redding)
Kyle Dickerson (Manteca)
Marco McGeorge (Manteca)
Nick Foster Jr. (San Carlos)
Danny Parker (Oakdale)
Dan Gundo
Floyd Alvis (San Carlos)
Stuart Birkenbine (Boise, ID)
Tony Hunt (Lincoln)
Jermone Rodela (El Monte)
Daniel Bedford (Brentwood)
Henry Clarke
Ryan Shupe (Palo Alto)
USAC Sprints
Fast Time – Tony Hunt (Lincoln) – 13.882 seconds
Heat - 8 Laps
Kody Swanson (Kingsburg)
Eric Humphries (Chowchilla)
Shane Hmiel (Charlotte, NC)
Nick Green
Brian McLish
Tony Hunt (Lincoln)
Shauna Hogg (Citrus Heights)
Anthony Simone (Fresno)
Jimmy Riddell (Modesto)
JoJo Hedberg (Rohnert Park)
NCMA Sprints
Fast Time – Ed Amador – 15.024 seconds
Dash – Gary Koster (Woodland), Ed Amador (Patterson), David Goodwill (Napa), Rob Hammond (Morgan Hill)
USAC/NCMA Sprint Main – 50 Laps
JoJo Hedberg (Rohnert Park)
Kody Swanson (Kingsburg)
Brian McLish (Santa Rosa)
Tanner Swanson (Kingsburg)
Eric Humphries (Chowchilla)
Shane Hmiel (Charlotte, NC)
Jimmy Riddell (Modesto)
David Goodwill (Napa)
Gary Koster (Woodland)
Ed Amador (Patterson)
David Burchett
Rob Hammond (Morgan Hill)
Dannly Burell
Nick Green
Shauna Hogg (Citrus Heights)
Tony Hunt (Lincoln)
Bert Silverling
Anthony Simone (Fresno)
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