MADERA, Calif. — Madera Speedway’s 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series enjoyed a new winner in their debut race for the second time in 2026 when Jaxon Burnett prevailed in a thrilling 70-lap feature on Saturday night.
Burnett muscled past opening night winner Lane Christensen with just four laps remaining and overcame a green-white-checkered restart for the breakthrough triumph.
“It’s awesome man. My first race here; expecting to get a top-three. A win – definitely not! I’m so happy. I can’t thank Nascimento Motorsports enough for giving me this opportunity,” Burnett said. “I wanted to stay calm. I wanted to get the lead because I knew there was only a couple of laps left. We got it done. The Legend car is pretty twitchy as well and it translated pretty well here.”
Burnett and Christensen were both graduates of the 2026 Jr. Late Model Combine as well, with Burnett earning Saturday’s seat after finishing second in the Combine results.
Ten-year-old Brexton Busch topped qualifying then drew the third position for the race. Illinois’ Keatin Lyons and Christensen were the front row starters. Christensen drove into the lead immediately from the outside line.
Lyons challenged Burnett for second before drifting to the highside and being freight trained back to the sixth position. A caution on lap 23 erased Christensen’s advantage over Burnett.
Christensen selected the outside on the restart, allowing Burnett to drive underneath him to take the lead on lap 24. Christensen and Washington’s Hunter Gates then collided for second but were able to keep rolling. Busch had a solo spin on the front stretch for the next caution on lap 30.
The top-six drivers ran side-by-side in a three rows deep formation in a narrow battle. Gates tried to seize the lead on the outside but slid in turn four and fell back to third. Wyatt Flowers came to a stop with mechanical trouble, bringing the race to its scheduled race break two laps early on lap 38.
Burnett led Christensen when racing resumed after adjustments. Christensen again chose the top and took the lead on lap 39. Washington’s Mason Blodgett and Clovis’ Connor Penix collided for a spin and a caution, setting up a crucial restart with five laps to go.
Christensen opted for the bottom when action resumed and cleared Burnett out of turn two. Burnett carried momentum down the backstretch, nudging Christensen out of the lead on lap 66. Christensen tried to battle back and collided with Burnett, but Burnett gathered up his car and Busch slid underneath for second place.
A wild scramble on the following lap saw Christensen and Gates collide into turn one, collecting several cars for a caution on lap 68.
Burnett lined up alongside Busch for a green-white-checkered finish and prevailed for victory. Busch finished second over a resurgent Lyons in third. Blodgett and Gates rounded out the top five.
Shaun Reynolds claimed the 50-lap feature for the Mission Pro Late Models. Antonio Gonzales won the INEX Legends 30-lap feature.
