Joe Flowers avoided an incident at the front of the field with 10 laps remaining, and charged away to become the seventh different winner of the Olga’s California Dream 100 for Mini Stocks on at Madera Speedway.
Flowers earned $3,000 for the victory and is only the second California winner in seven editions of Saturday’s event.
“I can’t believe it. I brought another car down, and blew it up yesterday. This is my Stockton car and I just can’t believe it. I just wanted to finish this race. I’ve never made it past (lap 50). This is a big win for me,” Flowers said. “I was holding my breath the whole time. Our team – we have no shop, we work beside our house. We build all our own cars.”
Nearly 40 four-cylinder race teams from five states participated in the event. A field of 25 was set following a 30-lap B-Main earlier in the evening.
The traditional 20-car invert made for an electric start to the race. The first 24-laps of the feature ran caution free with drivers maneuvering all over the speedway.
Jayden Cross, Kevin Thompson, Trevor Anderson, and Dan Myrick each took turns at the front of the field. Seventeenth starting Jarrett Mayo, the defending winner, used a restart take over the lead position on lap 29.
Fast-time qualifier, and former winner, Drew Crenshaw drove into second place as well. A restart on lap 33 gave Crenshaw an opening to charge past Mayo to take the lead on the high side.
Crenshaw and Mayo then collided in turn two after Crenshaw slowed with an apparent electrical issue. Crenshaw retired from the race while Mayo was sent to the rear to attempt to navigate through the pack a second time.
Thompson went airborne over Fred Vigil in turn three, but the field stayed green. Josh Cross, the 2025 runner-up, took the lead at the lap 50 break for adjustments and TV interviews. Vigil ran second, followed by Tyler Palmer, Anderson, and Roseville points leader, Vic Theberge.
The second half of the event was highlighted by the spirited comeback from Mayo. He drove past Palmer for second on lap 70, then worked to run down Josh Cross. Mayo took the lead on the outside on lap 88. Two laps later, Mayo slid through the grass in turn two, and collected Cross. The caution flew, and both drivers were relegated to the rear of the field.
Flowers had run within the top five throughout the second half, and was suddenly thrust into the lead.
Flowers soared ahead over the final 10 circuits to claim the victory with Palmer winning a strong duel for second. Vigil took third over Cross by inches with Mayo recovering to finish fifth.
Madera Speedway’s 2026 season continues on August 22 with the Mission Pro Late Models, 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models, Pro Sportsman Series, and INEX Legends. More details at www.racemadera.com.
La temporada 2026 no sería posible sin el apoyo de 51FIFTY LTM, Mission Foods, 805 Beer, Race 2B Drug Free, Competition Carburetion, Hoosier Tires, Franks Radio y Sunoco Race Fuel.
Madera Racing en RACER Network se transmite los lunes por la noche.