MADERA, Calif. – Three-time Short Track Shootout champion Eric Holmes stood tall on Saturday night, leading all 80 laps for the Military Tribute Night victory at Madera Speedway.
Driving a car that Holmes described in victory lane as the “best he’s ever driven” for Nascimento Motorsports, Holmes became the fourth different winner of the year in the series. He paced time trials then drew the pole position after the top-10 redraw.
The initial start served as a precursor for the wild race as third starting Racin Vernon spun Ross Strmiska entering turn one. Both drivers had to restart at the back of the field. Incoming points leader Austin Herzog battled with Jason Aguirre for third while Carlos Vieira and Blaine Rocha battled for fifth behind them. An engine failure for Tyler Herzog slowed the action again on lap 11.
Aguirre and Rocha ended up tangling in turn two on lap 16 for another caution period. On the restart, Vieira used the first of several strong outside maneuvers to take third from Erickson. Vernon’s attempt to come back through the field ended when he had a hard crash in turn one.
The incident involving Glen Cook damaged both ends of Vernon’s car to end his evening. Rocha pitted with issues under the caution as well. On a lap 34 caution, opening night winner Dylan Zampa pitted with a flat right rear tire to surrender fifth position.
Erickson answered back to Vieira on the restart, using the outside to re-take third. Ryan Hart charged from 15th to seventh throughout the series of early cautions. Hart ended up in the middle of a three-wide battle that brought out the caution when Ross Strmiska and Eric Nascimento, Jr. made contact. The field battled to the lap-50 MAVTV break with Holmes leading Herzog, Erickson, Vieira, and 13 year-old Tanner Reif.
The field only completed one lap before the caution fell again on lap 51. The following restart was a wild one, as Vieira got sideways down the backstretch. Hart was turned from behind into the backstretch wall, then hit hard by both Erik Woods and Tim Skoglund. Hart remarkably continued on after extensive repairs. The scrambling shuffled Herzog back to fifth.
Holmes had a strong restart from the outside of Erickson while Vieira drifted as low as seventh position. Hart was involved in another skirmish in turn three with Rick Thompson forcing a lap 60 caution. Toni Breidinger spun with contact that sent Howard Holden’s hood flying through the air for an additional caution flag.
Holmes again out dueled Erickson on a restart while Blaine Rocha emerged as a challenger. Vieira spun out in turn four but was able to continue. Vieira ended up in the path of Holmes which caused some grief for the leader over the final five laps. Holmes managed to get around Vieira in the closing stages to take a six-car length over Rocha, Dylan Zampa, Erickson, and Herzog.
Tanner Reif added to his remarkable season with his third victory in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series. The Las Vegas 13 year-old has now led 210 laps over the course of the four races and has recorded fast-time in all four events as well.
Hank Hall returned to the Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros and won the Bandolero portion by leading 19 of the 20 laps of competition. Aiden Phillips was the top Mini Cup finisher.
Sheldon Cooper climbed aboard former Toyota Sedan champion Jillaun Holden’s No. 14 car to take a narrow victory over Jason Lawton. The pair ran side-by-side for several laps before Cooper grabbed the lead for good on lap 23.
Ryan Reynolds topped a strong field for the Modified Super Toyota 25-lap victory. Patrick Geiger led the opening lap before Reynolds took over.