MADERA, Calif. — Kyle Keller led wire-to-wire for his third Mission Pro Late Model Series triumph of 2025 while Cole Denton prevailed in his 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series debut Saturday night at Madera Speedway.
Keller earned his fourth fast-time of the season in four tries then drove from the outside pole to victory in the 80-lap feature.
“The team has to be behind you and give you a good hot rod to make it possible. It’s always fun to race against these guys,” Keller said.
Denton competed in both the Jr. Late Model and Pro Late Model features, leaning on his confidence from winning the Jr. race to challenge for a top-five position throughout the Pro main event.
Polesitter Will Martyn of Coarsegold drifted outside of the top-five within the first 20-laps with glowing hot rear brakes. Jason Aguirre and Denton battled for second while sixth-starting Jay Juleson, the series points leader, edged into the picture as well.
Juleson drove past both Denton and Aguirre to move into second by lap 31. Martyn used a series of cautions to cool his brakes and rejoin the fight, battling back to take third from Aguirre.
Keller led Juleson, Martyn, Denton, and Aguirre at the race break for adjustments. A multi-car crash halted the race on the front stretch on the restart. Ben Johnson and former Hobby Stock champion Manny Gonzales, Jr. slid into the wall. Both Santa Rosa’s Eli Black and Ramona’s Bristol Borneman made hard contact with Gonzales, ending their evenings.
On the restart, ninth-starting Joey Kennealy battled with Aguirre for fifth. They attempted to go three-wide with the slower lapped car of Gonzales. Kennealy spun and was hit hard by fourth in points Rick Thompson of Fresno. Kennealy and Thompson were unable to continue.
Jason Beckman, son of NHRA Funny Car driver Jack Beckman, spun in turn two for a caution on lap 73.
On the restart, Shaun Reynolds lined up alongside Martyn in a duel for third. The pair collided into turn three, sending Martyn spinning. Martyn was then involved in a physical battle to get back through the field as well.
Keller drove away over the final seven laps for victory followed by Juleson, Reynolds, Aguirre and Denton.
Cole Denton made his mark on the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models for drivers ages 10-16 years old, with the 15-year-old driver from Mississippi winning his debut for Naake Motorsports. Incoming third in points Skyler Schoppe retired from the race on lap seven with a mechanical failure.
Polesitter Eli Black led the first 40 laps into the race break, followed by Denton, points leader James Hamlin, Bristol Borneman, and Washington’s Hunter Gates.
Hamlin charged into second on the restart and reeled in Black. The pair collided for the lead into turn one, sending Black spinning and relegating both to the rear of the field on lap 43.
Denton inherited the top spot and darted to a 2.2 second advantage over the field. That lead evaporated on lap 59 when Gates and Borneman got together in turn three to require the next caution flag.
Black pressured Denton on the restart but slid wide, allowing Hamlin to take over second. Hamlin tried to claw towards Denton for the lead but ran out of laps. Cole Denton won his debut race in the series followed by Hamlin, Black, Borneman and Gates.
Nick Halen won the INEX Legends 30-lap feature.
