Factory Stock No. 5
Photo courtesy of JAF Racing Photo
Anthony Madrid
Larry Price, one of Manzanita Speedway’s old pros, when asked who the toughest competitors were, began with, “Anthony Madrid...He's probably the one most wrapped up with winning these days….” He should know because he was racing at Manzanita five years before Madrid was born. As a matter of fact, if Price was paying attention back in the late 1970’s, Madrid was one of the little tykes toddling back and forth behind the safety fence during the races. Today, it is Anthony’s boys, Zachary and Jacob, ages six and four respectively, who are chasing each other behind the safety fence as their father leads the pack on the race track. His 11 year old daughter, Amanda, however, has more class; she sits in the grandstand with her mother, Becky.
Anthony Madrid was born in Phoenix, Arizona on July 21, 1975, the son of Alfred Madrid and Linda Webber. The Madrids are one of the old time Phoenix families that pioneered the south Phoenix neighborhood west of Manzanita Speedway. Anthony’s grandparents, Mary and Benny Madrid, remember when Manzanita Speedway was a horse racing track in the 1940’s. Horse racing must have been too slow for the family because today almost the entire Madrid clan is, or has been, involved in stock car racing in some capacity. As a result of his family’s love of racing, it was easy for Anthony to build his life around it.
Like Anthony, Becky Caswell Madrid grew up with dirt track racing. She was born in Phoenix on April 9, 1973. Becky is one of those rare women marked with a wholesome, natural beauty and an easy smile. Her father was a big fan, and she was often with him
at Manzanita Speedway. Becky recalls, “I really didn’t know him, but I remember Anthony running around down front with the other little kids at the track.” Years later, in 1992, during 16 year old Anthony’s first year of racing in the Bomber Division, Becky was formally introduced to him after the race. When asked if it was love at first sight, both Anthony and Becky replied in unison with a long, “Noooo….” Then Becky said, “I had heard that he was a big troublemaker, so I didn’t think anything would last.” This is hard to believe because Madrid is so polite, soft-spoken, and has a low-key sense of humor. Surprisingly, Anthony concurred with Becky’s description of him and the potential relationship. But then she looked at him with a knowing smile, and added, “But I found the rumors not to be true. He did, however, lie about his age. He told me he was 18; his mother even backed him up on it.”
Madrid drove a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass in that first race in 1992. In Anthony’s words, “I was really pumped up, nervous, and my
adrenaline was pumping. Once the race started, I was okay.” Early on he was always worried about rolling the car, but never really had a major wreck. He ran the Olds all season and racked up three wins. It felt so good that he moved to the Factory Stock Division the next year.
Going into the 1996 season, Anthony got serious. Potential sponsors had watched him race over the previous three
seasons and liked what they saw. Challenger Engines, in particular, stepped up to help. “I won eight main events and won the season championship that year. Winning that first championship was just awesome!” However, that was just the beginning. Madrid was the 1997 Arizona Circle Truck champion followed by winning the Super Stock championship in 2001; the Factory Stock championship in 2002; and the Super Stock championship again in 2003. With two races remaining in the Dirt Modified Division in 2004, Madrid has an insurmountable lead and will win the championship this year. Anthony has a shot at a double this year as he leads the Factory Stock Division with two races remaining. “I’m going for it,” says Madrid, “Only two guys have ever won a double championship in a season, R. J. Johnson in 1994, and some guy in 1961.”
The 2002 Factory Stock championship was special. About halfway through the year Anthony became aware that he was on pace to break the track record for most main event wins in a season. The record, 28 wins, was set many years ago by Lealand McSpadden, one of Manzanita’s racing legends. So the chase began. In the end, Madrid came up short, winning 26 times. “I honestly thought I was going to do it,” he recently said, “but at the end of the year I was happy with myself.” Anthony thought it was okay that McSpadden still had the record; “I met him once, and he was a nice guy.”
The 2003 Super Stock title was the most amazing win in Anthony’s mind. George Fronsman, Super Stock No. 41, was a few points in front of Madrid going into the last race of the season. During the final race, Madrid’s motor broke but he kept going on
seven cylinders, slowly watching the championship drift away as Fronsman roared toward victory. But as Anthony got the white flag, he passed No. 41 who had just spun out. “Don’t tell me that just happened!” thought Madrid. He won his most improbable championship by eight points.
Madrid says, “I really like the Factory Stock Division. People are always suggesting that I compete in this or that, but I think Factory Stocks are the most fun. The Division is full of tough
competition, but it is also a good class to learn in. I love the competition; tough competition makes you go a lot faster. I still get butterflies when I’m in a real, tough competitive situation, and I’m still nervous before a race even though I’ve been doing this for 12 years.”
“I take special care of my race car,” says Madrid. “I have a shop at my home, and I work on my car every night. I change my air filter after every race, change my spark plugs, oil, and oil filter after every two races. I check every nut and bolt on the car before the next race. I learned this during my first championship run. The car’s suspension and wheel offsets are also really important. I have never seen a book on any of this stuff; you just have to learn by doing it and get advice where you can. I have never hesitated to help anyone who asks me.”
On race night, Anthony pays attention to the condition of the track. Heat races are usually tacky fast requiring a little lower air pressure in the tires. You have to stay alert because the track changes as the night goes on. “At the beginning of the race,”
states Anthony, “you have to watch flagman. Sometimes you can catch other drivers sleeping and get a good jump but, remember, you can’t win on the first lap. During the race, I try to stay away from the door slammers. If you can’t pass, just wait and follow. Most likely, at some point in the race, the driver ahead of you will make a mistake. I’m always trying to be consistent on the track.”
Both Anthony and Becky grew up with racing. Both agree that “racing is our family activity. Our sponsors take away the financial pressure, so all we do is race. And do you know what? We have a good family.” It is hard to argue with the Madrids’ level of success. The shop is full of trophies; Madrid has won six championships in 12 years of racing; and the entire family loves what they do. Eleven year old Amanda, along with Becky, was as much a part of this interview as was Anthony. And as we talked about racing, the two little boys, Zachary and Jacob, who know all about racing, were in the living room playing a NASCAR video game. They are the Madrids’ next fast generation.
Larry Price, one of Manzanita Speedway’s old pros, when asked who the toughest competitors were, began with, “Anthony Madrid...He's probably the one most wrapped up with winning these days….” He should know because he was racing at Manzanita five years before Madrid was born. As a matter of fact, if Price was paying attention back in the late 1970’s, Madrid was one of the little tykes toddling back and forth behind the safety fence during the races. Today, it is Anthony’s boys, Zachary and Jacob, ages six and four respectively, who are chasing each other behind the safety fence as their father leads the pack on the race track. His 11 year old daughter, Amanda, however, has more class; she sits in the grandstand with her mother, Becky.
Anthony Madrid was born in Phoenix, Arizona on July 21, 1975, the son of Alfred Madrid and Linda Webber. The Madrids are one of the old time Phoenix families that pioneered the south Phoenix neighborhood west of Manzanita Speedway. Anthony’s grandparents, Mary and Benny Madrid, remember when Manzanita Speedway was a horse racing track in the 1940’s. Horse racing must have been too slow for the family because today almost the entire Madrid clan is, or has been, involved in stock car racing in some capacity. As a result of his family’s love of racing, it was easy for Anthony to build his life around it.
Like Anthony, Becky Caswell Madrid grew up with dirt track racing. She was born in Phoenix on April 9, 1973. Becky is one of those rare women marked with a wholesome, natural beauty and an easy smile. Her father was a big fan, and she was often with him
at Manzanita Speedway. Becky recalls, “I really didn’t know him, but I remember Anthony running around down front with the other little kids at the track.” Years later, in 1992, during 16 year old Anthony’s first year of racing in the Bomber Division, Becky was formally introduced to him after the race. When asked if it was love at first sight, both Anthony and Becky replied in unison with a long, “Noooo….” Then Becky said, “I had heard that he was a big troublemaker, so I didn’t think anything would last.” This is hard to believe because Madrid is so polite, soft-spoken, and has a low-key sense of humor. Surprisingly, Anthony concurred with Becky’s description of him and the potential relationship. But then she looked at him with a knowing smile, and added, “But I found the rumors not to be true. He did, however, lie about his age. He told me he was 18; his mother even backed him up on it.”
Madrid drove a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass in that first race in 1992. In Anthony’s words, “I was really pumped up, nervous, and my
adrenaline was pumping. Once the race started, I was okay.” Early on he was always worried about rolling the car, but never really had a major wreck. He ran the Olds all season and racked up three wins. It felt so good that he moved to the Factory Stock Division the next year.
Going into the 1996 season, Anthony got serious. Potential sponsors had watched him race over the previous three
seasons and liked what they saw. Challenger Engines, in particular, stepped up to help. “I won eight main events and won the season championship that year. Winning that first championship was just awesome!” However, that was just the beginning. Madrid was the 1997 Arizona Circle Truck champion followed by winning the Super Stock championship in 2001; the Factory Stock championship in 2002; and the Super Stock championship again in 2003. With two races remaining in the Dirt Modified Division in 2004, Madrid has an insurmountable lead and will win the championship this year. Anthony has a shot at a double this year as he leads the Factory Stock Division with two races remaining. “I’m going for it,” says Madrid, “Only two guys have ever won a double championship in a season, R. J. Johnson in 1994, and some guy in 1961.”
The 2002 Factory Stock championship was special. About halfway through the year Anthony became aware that he was on pace to break the track record for most main event wins in a season. The record, 28 wins, was set many years ago by Lealand McSpadden, one of Manzanita’s racing legends. So the chase began. In the end, Madrid came up short, winning 26 times. “I honestly thought I was going to do it,” he recently said, “but at the end of the year I was happy with myself.” Anthony thought it was okay that McSpadden still had the record; “I met him once, and he was a nice guy.”
The 2003 Super Stock title was the most amazing win in Anthony’s mind. George Fronsman, Super Stock No. 41, was a few points in front of Madrid going into the last race of the season. During the final race, Madrid’s motor broke but he kept going on
seven cylinders, slowly watching the championship drift away as Fronsman roared toward victory. But as Anthony got the white flag, he passed No. 41 who had just spun out. “Don’t tell me that just happened!” thought Madrid. He won his most improbable championship by eight points.
Madrid says, “I really like the Factory Stock Division. People are always suggesting that I compete in this or that, but I think Factory Stocks are the most fun. The Division is full of tough
competition, but it is also a good class to learn in. I love the competition; tough competition makes you go a lot faster. I still get butterflies when I’m in a real, tough competitive situation, and I’m still nervous before a race even though I’ve been doing this for 12 years.”
“I take special care of my race car,” says Madrid. “I have a shop at my home, and I work on my car every night. I change my air filter after every race, change my spark plugs, oil, and oil filter after every two races. I check every nut and bolt on the car before the next race. I learned this during my first championship run. The car’s suspension and wheel offsets are also really important. I have never seen a book on any of this stuff; you just have to learn by doing it and get advice where you can. I have never hesitated to help anyone who asks me.”
On race night, Anthony pays attention to the condition of the track. Heat races are usually tacky fast requiring a little lower air pressure in the tires. You have to stay alert because the track changes as the night goes on. “At the beginning of the race,”
states Anthony, “you have to watch flagman. Sometimes you can catch other drivers sleeping and get a good jump but, remember, you can’t win on the first lap. During the race, I try to stay away from the door slammers. If you can’t pass, just wait and follow. Most likely, at some point in the race, the driver ahead of you will make a mistake. I’m always trying to be consistent on the track.”
Both Anthony and Becky grew up with racing. Both agree that “racing is our family activity. Our sponsors take away the financial pressure, so all we do is race. And do you know what? We have a good family.” It is hard to argue with the Madrids’ level of success. The shop is full of trophies; Madrid has won six championships in 12 years of racing; and the entire family loves what they do. Eleven year old Amanda, along with Becky, was as much a part of this interview as was Anthony. And as we talked about racing, the two little boys, Zachary and Jacob, who know all about racing, were in the living room playing a NASCAR video game. They are the Madrids’ next fast generation.