Idaho Racing News

By Jon Brown
MERIDIAN, Idaho — An up-and-coming NASCAR driver will return to his home track Saturday to jump into a decidedly smaller race car for the Eldon Cahill Memorial for Legends at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.
A former Late Model track champion at Meridian, Phil Dugan will be among the competitors turning out for the second-to-last weekend of 2009 racing on the paved quarter-mile. The 21-year-old Meridian, Idaho, driver has spent this season on the NASCAR Camping World Series West tour driving a Chevrolet sponsored by Syntek, FuelPerformance.net and D4D.
Dugan, who got his break in part through NASCAR’s Drive For Diversity program, has won $19,836 in 10 starts in the Camping World Series. He’s finished six of the last seven races on the tour after failing to see the checkered flag in two of the first three races.
Dugan’s best finish this year was a 10th-place showing on Aug. 15 at Colorado National Speedway, where he began the race 15th. He finished 11th after starting in the same spot during the June 6 Camping World stop at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore.
Saturday at Meridian, Dugan will see competition from regular Legends drivers as well as Kuna, Idaho’s Dennis Wurtz II.
In addition to the Legends race, the track’s Late Model Lite championship will be decided with a dramatic double main event to make up for a rainout from earlier this season. Middleton, Idaho’s Jim Bailey heads into the final race with a 40-point lead over Rob Powers and a 46-point edge over third-place Kale Freedman. Both Powers and Freedman hail from Meridian, Idaho.
The gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for military personnel with ID and senior citizens, $6 for children ages 7-11, and children 6 and younger are free.
Fans can avoid the long lines at the gate Saturday by purchasing advance tickets at the NAPA Auto Parts locations in Kuna and Meridian.
Also on the bill Saturday: Another double main event night for the ASA Modifieds as drivers continue to chase recognition in the ASA National Short Track Championship. Other classes running Saturday include the Domino’s Pizza Bandoleros and the wacky Honkin’ Hornets.
After the Fash Dash trophy presentations, Meridian Speedway corner official Del Ray Gould and his bride, Mindy Jo Adger, will tie the knot on the front stretch. An on-site reception follows the night’s races. Attire is simple: Jeans and T-shirts, Gould said.
Meridian Speedway will close out its season on Sept. 25-26 with a doubleheader of ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association championship action as well as the remainder of the class championships and the Sept. 26 Boat Race of Destruction.

Visit Meridian Speedway online at www.meridianspeedway.com or call (208) 888-2813 for track information. To learn more about the American Speed Association, log on to www.ASA-Racing.com.

Meridian Speedway
Meridian, ID
2009 points standings
(Through Sept. 12 races)
ASA Modifieds — 1. Tom Hill, Eagle, ID, 873 points; 2. Chris Fenton, Meridian, ID, 810; 3. Rus Ward, Boise, ID, 761; 4. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, ID, 751; 5. Charlie Ham Jr., Boise, ID, 722
Winged Sprints — 1. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, ID, 693 points; 2. Cory Lockwood, Nampa, ID, 647; 3. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, ID, 582; 4. Cody Veenstra, Emmett, ID, 532; 5. Matt Elliott, Nampa, ID, 411
Non-winged Sprints — 1. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, ID, 925 points; 2. Wyatt King, Meridian, ID, 870; 3. Rob Grice, Nampa, ID, 671; 4. Zach Wilson, Boise, ID, 466; 5. Erik Miller, Middleton, ID, 434
Super Stocks — 1. Dennis Brodigan, Nampa, ID, 502 points; 2. Phillip Zubizareta, Boise, ID, 449; 3. Terry Lydell, Mountain Home, ID, 432; 4. Rick Baldwin, Middleton, ID, 431; 5. Gale Carter, Boise, ID, 377
Late Model Lites — 1. Jim Bailey, Middleton, ID, 509 points; 2. Rob Powers, Meridian, ID, 469; 3. Kale Freedman, Meridian, ID, 463; 4. Shaun Tubbs, Nampa, ID, 408; 5. Joe Barton, Nampa, ID, 403
Street Stocks — 1. Jaramie Fuss, Kuna, ID, 936 points; 2. Marv Weaver, Nampa, ID, 774; 3. David Short, Meridian, ID, 686; 4. Chad Bess, Nampa, ID, 638; 5. Steve Bosselman, Nyssa, OR, 570
Mini Stocks — 1. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, ID, 735; 2. Eddie Abels, Meridian, ID, 724; 3. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, ID, 617; 4. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, ID, 511; 5. Donovan Parker, Boise, ID, 425
Late Models — 1. John Nesmith, Meridian, ID, 249 points; 2. Jeff Jefferson, Natches, WA, 215; 3. John Dillon, Meridian, ID, 190; 4. Dan Buckley, Emmett, ID, 171; 5. Travis Milburn, Eagle, ID, 165
Legends — 1. Travis Anderson, Boise, ID, 720; 2. Camron Madsen, Boise, ID, 634; 3. Rob Collins, McCall, ID, 475; 4. Ben Matheson, Pasco, WA, 394; 5. Don Milbourn, Nampa, ID, 360
Thunder Dogs — 1. Tommy White, Boise, ID, 578 points; 2. Jim Anderson, Meridian, ID, 477; 3. Chris Carlson, Boise, ID, 474; 4. Dion States, Meridian, ID, 427; 5. John Pinkston, Nampa, ID, 391
Hornets — 1. Vern Cornish, Nampa, ID, 620 points; 2. Eric Harry, Boise, ID, 592; 3. Travis Pavlacky, Fruitland, ID, 558; 4. Art Heath, Nampa, ID, 545; 5. Mike Davis, Boise, ID, 515
Jr. Stingers (final) — 1. Andrew Clark, Meridian, 343; 2. Chance Davis, Emmett, ID, 260; 3. Colton Nelson, Meridian, 252; 4. Jonathan Hull, 161; 5. Mike Williams, 153
Bandoleros — 1. Andrew Clark, Meridian, ID, 222; 2. Chase Gilbertson, 219; 3. Brok Kidd, Meridian, ID, 195; 4. Michael Hilliker, Sheridan, Mont., 72; 5. Russell Housel, 71