MADERA, Calif. — 2024 Mission Pro Late Model Series champion Matt Erickson prevailed over Henry Barton in a green-white-checkered finish to win his second consecutive 80-lap feature at Madera Speedway on Saturday night.
Erickson topped Barton for the pole in qualifying, dominated much of the race, then withstood the late restart challenge for the win.
Erickson came into the night in a deep hole in the championship standings after a disqualification following round one. Erickson won the fourth round of the 2024 season in a similar late race chess match against Barton as well.
“Kind of had a feeling it was a going to be a rematch of last year. I was expecting a door there and sure enough we got it. It’s been one of heck of a weekend cause I’ve been under the weather all weekend. Glad to get this one under the belt and try to redeem those points from round one.”
Jason Aguirre led the opening lap after running the extreme high side to pass polesitter Mike Hensley. The first caution fell in turn three when Will Martyn spun and Gary Shafer went airborne over the top of him.
Aguirre led the way on the following restart before going up into a big smoky engine failure on lap eight. That thrust Castro Valley teen Cam Carraway into the lead. Ninth-starting Erickson was already up to third by that stage of the race.
Erickson nabbed second from points leader Jay Juleson of San Jose on lap 20 then reeled in Carraway. Erickson quickly passed Carraway on lap 33 for the top spot. Erickson led Carraway, Shaun Reynolds, Barton, and Juleson into the lap 50 race break.
Carraway spun the tires on the restart, allowing Barton to drive into second and Juleson into third. Erickson accumulated a 3.5 second advantage until the final caution flew on lap 78 for Rick Thompson spinning in turn one.
On the restart, Erickson and Barton jockeyed for pace coming to the green flag. The pair made contact and Erickson darted ahead. Matt Erickson claimed back-to-back wins while Henry Barton settled for a strong return race at Madera Speedway in second. Juleson finished third ahead of Carraway and Trevor Schlundt.
Carraway not only contended for the Mission Pro Late Model Series victory, he also won his second career 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series race for drivers ages 10-16 years old.
Carraway scored quick time in qualifying and rolled off fifth for the feature.
Kellen Keller led the early laps. Points leader Eli Black spun from second for a caution flag on lap 14. Carraway restarted outside Keller on the restart. Oregon’s James Hamlin drove inside of Carraway for second but the pair collided in turn four, requiring an additional caution on lap 16.
Black then spun again from second on lap 21. Keller and Carraway had a rematch for the lead on the lap 21 restart. Keller sailed inside of Carraway into turn one but lost grip, spinning out of the lead to place Carraway into the top spot.
Carraway led Black, round two winner Skyler Schoppe, Bristol Borneman, and Keller into the race break on lap 40.
Schoppe and Borneman raced closely for third throughout the second segment of the 70-lap feature. Schoppe spun and was hit hard by Borneman for a significant crash on lap 50.
Carraway dominated the final 20-laps for the win, followed by a charging James Hamlin in second. Black came back for third ahead of Keller and Borneman.
“Fast” Eddie Garone of Bakersfield won the 30-lap INEX Legend feature.
