The Firecracker Fifties and the ASA Northwest Tour Project Filter 150
Meridian Speedway and the City of Meridian team up to provide a safe and fun environment for everyone with a combined night of fantastic racing action and an awesome fireworks show afterwards.
Friday night July 4th is the first of a two day event that brings out six classes of race cars to the fast quarter mile oval. On Friday the Firecracker 50s are what it’s all about with four 50 lap main events. The Winged Sprints, the Late Models, the Grand American Modifieds, and Non Winged Sprints will run 50 lap main events. After the racing action is done for the night the action moves up. Several hundred feet up to be more precise with one of the best fireworks shows in Southwestern Idaho provided by the City of Meridian and presented by Domino’s Pizza. The fire works will be set up and lit off by Fireworks America.
Then on Saturday, July 5th, the Late Models return for an additional 150 laps in the American Speed Association’s ASA Northwest Tour Project Filter 150. Some of the best Late Model stock cars and drivers will be traveling from all over the western United States and Canada. Drivers from California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and of course Idaho will be competing in the event.
This event is good for local race fans too. They can save gas and travel time and have a great time at a high class event with some of the best late model drivers in the northwest. One of those drivers is John Nesmith of Meridian Idaho. Nesmith owns and operates Meridian Automotive & Machine, Inc. but race fans know him better as the guy in the winners circle at Meridian Speedway. Nesmith overwhelmingly won the Meridian Speedway Late Model championship last year and is well on his way this year too with more wins than any other driver, however, Nesmith trails Chris Ratterree, in the ESI number 18 race machine, in points so far this season. Project Filter’s own driver Phil Dugan who is 6th in the points this year is looking knock-off the out of town drivers. Tyler Monroe, Late Model and Winged Sprint driver along with 2007 Late Model rookie of the year, 16 year old Travis Milburn, and many others from Meridian Speedway will be racing in the event. Monroe and Milburn traveled to Infineon Raceway last weekend to help out in the pits on a NASCAR Camping World West Series race supporting the team of California driver, Troy Ermish.
Also racing on Saturday night are the Grand American Modifieds, the Mini Stocks, the Hornets, and to cap off the two day show EVERY BODY’S the trailer races will be causing carnage and destruction on the track.
On Friday night the ticket prices will be $14 for adults, $11.50 for military, $10 for seniors and $9 for children with kids 5 and under free. On Saturday night the tickets prices will be $18 for adults, $15.50 for military, $14 for seniors, $13 for children (6-12) with kids 5 and under free. Fans can save money with a two day pass, $26 for adults, $22 for military, $19 for seniors, and $18 for children 6 to 12.
On both nights the gates open at 4 with the time trials at 5 and the racing begins at 6. After the races on Friday and Saturday nights fans can go to the pits to meet their favorite drivers.
With the high fuel prices some drivers opt to stay home and run their home tracks. The ASA Northwest Tour is one of the traveling series that drivers find worthwhile so it will be great event with a large car count. As far as racing action goes it will be huge.
As it says on the Meridian Speedway website, “Save your money, save your gas, come to the speedway and have a blast”.
