MADERA, Calif. — Jay Juleson sealed the deal on the 2025 Mission Pro Late Model championship a race early, driving to victory during the penultimate round eight on Saturday night at Madera Speedway to clinch the series title.
Juleson persevered through a wild 80-lap feature at the one-third mile speedway.
Juleson led time trials but rolled off eighth after the redraw. An intriguing front row of Aiden Phillips and 2025 Jr. Late Model contender Bristol Borneman led the field to green. Phillips fell backwards quickly however, then tangled with Rick Thompson for the first caution on lap eight.
Hayden Stepps charged around the outside to lead lap nine. Will Martyn then challenged Borneman for second. They collided in turn four, sparking a multi-car crash which gathered up McKenna Haase, Eli Black, and Rick Thompson.
After a lengthy red flag, Stepps led the field back to green flag racing. Her lead was short lived when she spun after contact from Shaun Reynolds of Coarsegold in turn two on lap 14. Jason Aguirre of Atwater steered to avoid and hit the backstretch wall to end his evening.
Juleson avoided each of these incidents to inherit the top position by just the 14th lap of competition. He led the final 66 laps on the way to victory. Borneman and Stepps marched past Phillps coming out of the race break, taking second and third respectively. Stepps then spun challenging for second position for a caution on lap 63. Juleson comfortably drove away over the final 17 circuits with Borneman clinching second position. Phillips finished third followed by Stepps and Ben Johnson.
James Hamlin increased his 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series points lead, following his second 70-lap victory of the season on Saturday night.
Skyler Schoppe started on the pole and led a fierce three-car duel with himself, Hamlin, and Eli Black lined up in formation. Hamlin eventually muscled his way past Schoppe to lead lap 31. Black then swooped around the outside to score second on lap 34. Hamlin led Black, Schoppe, Hunter Gates, and Borneman into the lap 40 break for adjustments.
Hamlin led the final 30-lap without a challenge while Black settled for second. Schoppe finished third followed by Bristol Borneman and Byron Borneman.
Joseph Holiday won the 2025 Pro Sportsman championship and won the 30-lap season finale. Manteca’s Joseph Reichmuth fended off Holiday over the first six laps in an entertaining duel. Reichmuth then battled with 2024 champion Steve Schermerhorn for second. Holiday led Reichmuth and Schermerhorn at the checkered flag to close the Sportsman season.
2023 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model champion Vito Cancilla returned to Madera Speedway and won the INEX Legends 30-lap feature. Colton Page finished second with rookie Branden Benedix in third.
Hank “The Tank” Galasatos won the INEX Bandolero feature ahead of Chloe LaMatina.
