Idaho Racing News

By Jon Brown

MERIDIAN, Idaho — Cash and diamonds are on the line this weekend when the ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association opens its season at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.
The 96.1 BOB FM Diamond Cup presented by Hendrickson’s Fine Jewelry is one of a pair of two-day shows the ASA NSRA racers will attend this season. With a diamond ring going to the driver with the most points at the end of the weekend, and at least $800 up for grabs for the first racer to dip into 10-second territory in qualifying, the action will be fast and furious on the newly paved quarter-mile oval.
“We’re excited,” ASA NSRA president and competitor Andy Alberding said. “That’s great that they’ve put it up. We’ve heard of some 11s at the track (this year), so it might be possible.”
More than 25 racecars are expected for the NSRA show. The Intermountain Vintage Sprintcar tour drivers will take to the track Friday, too.
Friday’s support classes include Project Filter Pro-4s and Domino’s Pizza Legends with the season’s first installment of Spectacular Drags thrown in for good measure (ordinary fans get a shot at racing each other on the track). The Pepsi Sprintcars, College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and Jr. Stingers bolster Saturday’s show.
Gates open both nights at 4 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m. NSRA ASA qualifying is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. both days.
Tickets each night are $15 for adults, $12.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $9 for children ages 7-11 and free for children 6 and younger. Tickets can be purchased in advance at participating Treasure Valley NAPA Auto Parts stores.
For more information, visit www.meridianspeedway.com or call (208) 888-2813.
Trevor Montgomery owns the ASA NSRA qualifying record at Meridian with an 11.237. But whoever has the fastest lap this weekend will get the record, too, because all marks start over with the new configuration.
Middleton, Idaho’s Sierra Jackson, a teenager who calls Meridian her home track but battles with the NSRA, too, holds the local record with an 11.426 set in the April 25 speedway opener.
Alberding said he hasn’t heard too much about the new configuration, but conversations with Nampa, Idaho’s Cory Lockwood — another NSRA regular — and Jackson’s father, Mike, have the Roseburg, Ore., driver optimistic about the weekend.
“Lockwood and Mike say the surface is great and will provide some good racing,” Alberding said. “It should be a good show.”
Lockwood and Jackson are expected to lead a strong contingent of Idaho drivers, including 2009 track champion Chris Ratterree of Nampa, Kirk Wartman of Boise, and Matt Elliott and 2010 Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints series leader Mike Murgoitio, both of whom drive out of Meridian.
Among the NSRA regulars expected this weekend are defending Diamond Cup champion Matt Hein, a 22-year-old from Roseburg; Todd Coleman of Lynnwood, Wash.; Rick Brown of Springfield, Ore., and the usual contingent of Canadian drivers, including Victoria, British Columbia drivers Jeff Montgomery and Matt Mansell and Jeff Bird of Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia.
Alberding said the idea of two actual grooves in the newly configured racetrack has made Meridian’s tight bullring more attractive to the NSRA drivers.
“It should make it more exciting,” he said, adding that many drivers in the past cringed at the thought of running Meridian because of the lack of room to maneuver and the risk of tearing up a racecar.
“Now everybody can run around and not fight for the same piece of real estate,” he said. “I hope we get a lot of cars there for a good show.”
Alberding said many competitors are champing at the bit to get on a track after the May 22 season-opening Hein/Deimert Memorial at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg was rained out.

Meridian Speedway
2010 points standings
After May 29 races
ESI Express ASA Modifieds — 1. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 307 points; 2. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, Idaho, 292; 3. Charlie Ham Jr., Boise, Idaho, 243; 4. Jentry Pisca, Nampa, 220; 5. (tie) Jeff Hill, Meridian, Idaho, 219; Chris Fenton, Meridian, 219
Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Wyatt King, Meridian, 281; 2. Joe Ransom, Boise, Idaho, 280; 3. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, 279; 4. Carl Marcum, Meridian, 219; 5. Eric Ransom, Boise, 186
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints — 1. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 158; 2. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, 153; 3. Kirk Wartman, Boise, 133; 4. Dave Parrie, Boise, 112; 5. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 101
NAPA Late Model Sportsman — 1. Dan Buckley, Emmett, Idaho, 188; Jaramie Fuss, Kuna, 130; 3. Dylan Caldwell, Nampa, 129; 4. Dennis Brodigan, Nampa, 125; 5. Dan Lowther, Boise, 117
Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Kenny Chandler, Boise, 269; 2. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, 186; 3. Casey Tillman, Kuna, 174; 4. Jordan Fitch, Meridian, 157; 5. Rob Powers, Meridian, 121
CWI PTDS Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Scott, Nampa, 285; 2. Marv Weaver, Nampa, 221; 3. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, 163; 4. Nick Lane, Caldwell, Idaho, 149; 5. Shawn Hansen, Boise, 143
Mini Stocks — 1. Eddie Abels, Middleton, 87 points; 2. Dell Scott, Nampa, 187; 3. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, 161; 4. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, 123; 5. Scott Shoecraft, Boise, 116
Domino’s Pizza Legends — 1. Camron Madsen, Boise, 276; 2. Sara Henry, Nampa, 214; 3. Travis Anderson, Boise, 179; 4. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 169; 5. Austin Hager, Meridian, 158
Tates Rents Hornets — 1. Art Heath, Nampa, 173; 2. Marshall Burnham, Nampa, 144; 3. Larry Hull, Boise, 141; 4. Mary Johnson, Meridian, 127; 5. Danielle Summers, Nampa, 122
Jr. Stingers — 1. Jonathan Hull, Boise, 62; 2. Cody Garrett, 57; 3. Chance Davis, Emmett, 54; 4. Colton Nelson, Meridian, 52; 5. Michael Williams, Caldwell, 49
Thunder Dogs — 1. Fare Lady (Kennan Irons, Boise), 178; 2. Hot Wheels (Brett Sullivan, Boise), 139; 3. Sledge Hammer (David Jolley), 123; 4. Winged Snot Rod (Chris Carlson, Boise), 116; 5. Old Skool (Dakota Allen, Kuna), 109