MADERA, Calif. — Kyle Keller won his second career Reverend Ron Spencer Red, White, and Blue Classic while his younger brother Kellen won his first 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series feature on Saturday night at Madera Speedway.
“We didn’t really make any adjustments there, it felt good at the first half. This one was for Reverend Ron. It was a good weekend,” Keller said. “I guess it was just good weather and the car liked it. I tried moving around and it liked the top and the bottom and just had to ride. Glad it was a Keller sweep tonight.”
Keller earned fast-time in qualifying then started tenth due the redraw for the Mission Pro Late Models. Rick Thompson of Fresno led the first lap of the 80-lap feature against a 14 car field. Jason Aguirre used a lap-five restart to roll the top to the lead. Erickson followed into second place. Erickson then made a bold three-wide maneuver up the middle down the backstretch, storming from third to first on lap 11.
After a lap-22 caution, Keller drove to the inside of Erickson for the lead. Two-by-two action among the top-four drivers saw Keller take the lead on lap 25. Keller led 2019 champion Austin Herzog, Erickson, 2025 points leader Jay Juleson, and Coarsegold’s Will Martyn at the lap 50 break for adjustments and interviews.
When action resumed, Keller, Herzog, and Erickson all selected the high line for the restart. Juleson chose the bottom and emerged third after the restart. Erickson and Juleson raced hard for third until they collided in turn one, allowing Erickson to take the position. Juleson answered back with contact into turn three that sent Erickson spinning and brought out the caution on lap 63.
Herzog tried the inside on Keller to no avail while Juleson stormed through the pack back up to fourth. Keller claimed the Reverend Ron Spencer Classic victory followed by Herzog. Carson City, Nevada’s Bobby Hodges made his oval track racing return after a four year hiatus and finished third followed by Juleson and Aguirre.
Kellen Keller took his first 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series win in a 70-lap contest for drivers ages 10-16 years old. Round two winner Skyler Schoppe of Clovis and incoming points leader James Hamlin of Oregon took turns leading in the first half. Hamlin then spun from the lead and was hit hard by Schoppe in turn two, causing significant front end damage to Hamlin’s machine.
Hayden Stepps took over the lead on the lap 25 restart. Schoppe battled back on the bottom and the duo raced side-by-side for several laps before Stepps cleared him on lap 32. Stepps led the field into the lap 40 break followed by Schoppe, Hunter Gates, and Hamlin.
Keller used the outside to drive into the lead when racing resumed. On a restart on lap 56, Stepps jumped the start and was penalized two positions to relegate her back to third. Keller led the rest of the way over Schoppe with Stepps settling for third. Arizona’s Elijah
Gile had a strong debut performance in fourth followed by Gates.
Logan Chambers outfoxed Colton Page for the lead early in the 30-lap INEX Legends feature, then maintained the lead over the final green-white-checkered restart for the win.
Steve Schermerhorn claimed a coveted Ron Spencer Classic win in the Pro Sportsman 30-lap feature.
Shauna Hogg scored a dominant nine second victory in the NCMA Sprint Cars 30-lap feature.
