JR LATE MODEL CHALLENGE CAMP
JR LATE MODEL CHALLENGE CAMP
Welcome to the Jr Late Model Challenge Camp Website.
The camp was designed to give young racers between the ages of 10 and 15 the opportunity to apply for a chance to drive a Late Model Stock Car at Madera Speedway. The camp will give 12 drivers an opportunity, free of charge, to compete for the chance to drive a Naake-Klauer Motorsports-prepared junior late model during the 51FIFTY Championship Weekend at Madera in October.
The Junior Late Model Challenge Camp is an extension of the highly-successful 51FIFTY Junior Late Model Series, which was created by Madera Speedway owner Kenny Shepherd in 2016 to give younger drivers the chance to grow their skills in full-size race cars, with national television exposure on MAVTV.
The 12 drivers selected each year will have the chance to have 90 minutes of on-track time, as well as participate in off-track training seminars during their time at the camp. The 12 finalists will be graded on both on-track and off-track potential, and on-track speed will not be used as a deciding factor.
The Junior Late Model Challenge Camp will be filmed for broadcast on MAVTV as a one-hour special, as an offshoot of the successful Junior Late Model Series television package on the network.
Jr Late Model Series History
The Jr Late Model Series is the brainchild of Madera Track owner Kenny Shepherd who formed the series in 2016 giving young racers the opportunity to hone their skills in full-size race cars and compete on a National Stage broadcasted by MAV-TV. The idea for the 51FIFTY Jr Late Model Series came to life in 2006, when Shepherd saw the need to develop the best of the best talent in a full-size late model at a young age to keep pace with the changes in our sport that were driving the age of the drivers down at the top of the sport. I also saw the need to engage young drivers at a high level to ensure our youth would remain in car racing vs other options.
Many challenges delayed the series from coming to life, Shepherd began testing with 10-12-year-old drivers in restricted late models in 2013. He operated several test races in 2015, and finally, in 2016 he officially launched the series on MAVTV, and the rest is history.
Graduates of the 51FIFTY Jr Late Model program are making their mark on the sport today. TRD driver Hailie Deegan is winning on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Austin Herzog is the point leader on MAVTV in the Nut Up Pro Series and has a part-time late model touring series ride. Adam Lemke is part of the Chevrolet Drivers Edge Development Program and drives for JR Motorsports in the CARS late model tour. Dylan Zampa is making waves across the country with his wins on MAVTV in the Pro Series. Jesse Love is also TRD and has one of the top midget rides in the country plus a super late model touring ride.
About Naake-Klauer Motorsports
Naake-Klauer Motorsports is a well-known and highly successful race team known for helping young racers learn to win on and off the track that recently expanded its footprint to include a true stepladder that begins with Jr Late Models and also includes Pro Late Models, SRL Southwest Tour Super Late Models, and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Naake-Klauer won the Jr Late Model Championship in 2017 and 2018 with young racer Jesse Love who now races super late Models in the SRL Southwest Tour and the POWERi Midget League for Keith Kunz Motorsports. The team has also advanced other drivers like Hailie Deegan to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the ARCA Racing Series. Adam Lemke who is driving for Jr Motorsports in the CARS Tour is also a Jr Late Model alumni. Mike Naake and his team will provide championship caliber cars and support for the camp along with personal one on one driver coaching from Mike Naake. Drivers will also participate in a chassis seminar conducted by Naake-Klauer Motorsports championship crew chiefs.
The TV Show...
The Jr Late Model Challenge Camp will be filmed and aired on MAVTV as a one-hour special on Madera Racing. Each of the twelve finalists will receive national exposure as they compete both in the classroom and on the track for the right to race in the MAVTV 51FIFTY Jr Late Model Championship Weekend race on October 5th. MAVTV has played host to the 51FIFTY Jr Late Model Series since inception and has built a huge on air following.
For more information email us at:
info@jrlatemodelchallengecamp.com
