Idaho Racing News

MERIDIAN, Idaho -- Dan Buckley parlayed one of the fastest laps of the night into a victory Saturday, but it didn't come without a little nail-biting drama at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.

Once poised to walk away with the trophy in the first NAPA Late Model Sportsman feature of the year, the Emmett, Idaho driver wound up employing survival skills to cap the season-opening night at the quarter-mile oval.

Other feature winners included Nampa, Idaho's Melissa Scott in the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School Street Stocks; Harriman, Utah, racer Kurt Madsen in the Project Filter Pro-4s; Shelby Stroebel in the ESI Express ASA Modifieds and Art Heath in the Tates Hornets.

Buckley held a half-lap lead in the waning moments of the 35-lap feature. But two yellow flags over the final three laps forced Buckley to out-run Nampa's Dylan Caldwell on a pair of restarts.

He beat Caldwell well to the line for the checkered flag after a third yellow flag flew as five competitors careened around the backstretch with Buckley less than two turns from victory.

Buckley was fast qualifier in the new racing class that combines Late Models with Super Stocks. He was clocked a 13.971 seconds over new pavement and banking on the historic quarter-mile.

He wasn't the only racer to run fast lap and then take top honors in their respective mains.

Veteran racers Melissa Scott maintained her consistency and title as Street Stocks speed queen with the fastest qualifying lap in the Meridian history of the class (15.088) followed by a victory in the 35-lap main event.

Scott sounded relieved to get off to a positive start after out-dueling Kuna, Idaho's Pat Young for the lead 20 laps into the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School Street Stocks.

"Anything is better than last year. We had a horrible year last year," Scott said.

More racers get their first feel for the new pavement during this week's Sprintcar season opener on Saturday night. The Mtn. Dew 360 Sprints, Pepsi Sprintcars, Domino's Legends and Mini Stocks take the track. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID and $6 for children ages 7-11.

For more information, visit www.meridianspeedway.com or call (208) 888-2813.

As anticipated, race cars circled the new pavement in times never before seen during Saturday's first races of 2010.

Kurt Madsen towed from Utah and set the Pro-4 qualifying mark at 13.655 seconds. He ran out front for most of the main event to take the checkered.

After overtaking Kuna's Casey Tillman for the lead on Lap 6, Madsen held off Boise, Idaho's Kenny Chandler in the class formerly known as the Late Model Lites to win a 30-lap feature. Madsen gained momentum after the race's only yellow flag, caused when Kyle Latham of Boise spun.

Eagle, Idaho's Tom Hill dipped into the 13-second realm in the ASA Modifieds with a quick time of 13.974, but he had a hard time keeping the race car straight in the 35-lap main event.

While Hill caused two of four caution flags with spins, Meridian's Shelby Stroebel found himself in a race-long battle for the lead against Star, Idaho's Tony Ackerland.

Stroebel got the last push with eight laps to go when Ackerland braked hard to avoid contact and lost momentum going into Turn 1 on the final restart. Stroebel used the high groove in every restart.

"The outside groove worked well," he said in his post-race remarks before apologizing to Ackerland in case he came down on him during the final restart.

"I hope there's no hard feelings," Stroebel said.

The two drivers fought hard throughout the race. Ackerland grabbed the advantage after Boise's Darrell Dolling spun to bring out the second yellow. But Stroebel surged to the front a lap before Hill spun out for the first time on Lap 15.

In a typically wacky Hornets finish, Nampa's Art Heath was given the nod in a feature during drivers had to honk their horns as they completed each lap or risk penalty. Officials determined Danny Cannington of Nampa had honked 23 times to Heath 22, so the two drivers split first-place points as the championship chase began.

Meridian Speedway

Season opener

Saturday's results

(unofficial)

Main events

Project Filter Pro-4s (30 laps) --

1. Kurt Madsen, Harriman, Utah; 2. Kenny Chandler, Boise, Idaho; 3. Casey Tillman, Kuna, Idaho; 4. John Peterson, Boise; 5. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, Idaho
CWI PTD Street Stocks (35 laps) --

1. Melissa Scott, Nampa, Idaho; 2. Chad Bess; 3. Marv Weaver, Nampa; 4. Pat Young, Kuna, Idaho; 5. Nick Lane, Caldwell, Idaho
Tates Hornets (30 laps) --

1. Art Heath, Nampa; 2. Danny Cannington, Nampa. Both awarded winning points.
ESI Express ASA Modifieds (35 laps) --

1. Shelby Stroebel, Meridian, Idaho; 2. Jeff Hill, Meridian, Idaho; 3. Tony Ackerland, Star, Idaho; 4. Jentry Pisca, Nampa; 5. Charlie Ham Jr., Kuna
NAPA Late Model Sportsman (30 laps) --

1. Dan Buckley, Emmett, Idaho; 2. Dylan Caldwell, Nampa
Ultra Touch Car Wash best-looking car

Project Filter Pro-4s --

Rob Powers, Meridian, Idaho
CWI PTD Street Stocks --

Melissa Scott, Nampa, Idaho
Tates Hornets --

Danny Cannington, Nampa
ESI Express ASA Modifieds --

Keri Davey, Nampa
NAPA Late Model Sportsman --

Terry Lydell, Mountain Home, Idaho

Heat races

Project Filter Pro-4s

Fast Dash (8 laps) --

1. John Peterson, Boise, Idaho; 2. Jordan Fitch; 3. Kenny Chandler, Boise; 4. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, Idaho
B Heat (8 laps) --

1. Casey Tillman, Kuna, Idaho; 2. Rob Powers, Meridian; 3. Dave Short, Meridian; 4. Kyle Latham, Boise; 5. Dan Smith, Emmett, Idaho
ESI Express ASA Modifieds

Fast Dash (8 laps) --

1. Jeff Hill, Meridian; 2. Charlie Ham Jr., Kuna, Idaho; 3. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho; 4. Jentry Pisca, Nampa; 5. Shelby Stroebel, Meridian
B Heat (8 laps) --

1. Mike Winchel, Kuna; 2. Keri Davey, Nampa; 3. Darrell Dolling, Boise; 4. Tony Wonacott, Boise; 5. Tony Ackerland, Star, Idaho
NAPA Late Model Sportsman

Fast Dash (8 laps) --

1. Jaramie Fuss, Kuna; 2. Dennis Brodigan, Nampa; 3. Dylan Caldwell, Nampa; 4. John Nesmith, Meridian; 5. Dan Buckley, Emmett, Idaho
B Heat (8 laps) --

1. Dan Lowther, Boise; 2. Josh Jackson, Ontario, Ore.; 3. Terry Lydell, Mountain Home, Idaho; 4. Jeff Wilson, Mountain Home
CWI PTD Street Stocks

Fast Dash (8 laps) --

1. Melissa Scott, Nampa, Idaho; 2. Jim Anderson, Meridian, Idaho; 3. Marv Weaver, Nampa; 4. Chad Bess; 5. Pat Tully
B Heat (8 laps) --

1. Pat Young, Kuna; 2. Shawn Hansen; 3. Bobby Riggs, Fruitland, Idaho; 4. Micky Lawson, Caldwell; 5. Bret Buchanan, Emmett
C Heat (8 laps) --

1. Nick Lane, Caldwell, Idaho; 2. Steve Hansen; 3. Jay Doughty; 4. Doug Loon; 5. Daniel Vanderveen
Tates Hornets

A Heat (8 laps) --

1. Marshall Burnham, Nampa; 2. Mike Fortin, Durkee, Ore.; 3. Brandon Monson, Kuna; 4. Cody McCoo, Baker City, Ore.; 5. Riley Whitman, Baker City, Ore.
B Heat (8 laps) --

1. David Tankersley, Nampa; 2. Danny Cannington, Nampa; 3. Mary Johnson; 4. Larry Hull; 5. Brian Berger
C Heat (8 laps) --

1. Ken Cannington, Nampa; 2. Art Heath, Nampa; 3. Miguel Lequerica, Nampa; 4. Jennifer Cirelli, Meridian; 5. Sharlet Potaro, Mountain Home
Fast times

Pro-4s --

Kurt Madsen, 13.655 seconds
Street Stocks --

1. Melissa Scott, 15.088
Modifieds --

1. Tom Hill, 13.974
Late Model Sportsman --

1. Dan Buckley, 13.971