Idaho Racing News

By Jon Brown
MERIDIAN, Idaho — Another young child will get the thrill of being the center of attention Saturday night at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.
Racing for Smiles of the Northwest is a Boise-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that brings children suffering from serious injury or illness to a racetrack for the experience of a lifetime by meeting racecar drivers, getting autographs, taking part in trophy presentations on the track and even sitting in a racecar.
Saturday’s Racing For Smiles honoree will have the chance to meet drivers in the NAPA Latemodel Sportsman division, the Pepsi Sprintcars, Project Filter Pro-4s and Jr. Stingers.
The gates open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $6 for children 7-11, and children 6 and younger get in free. Fans can skip the lines at the admission gate by purchasing tickets in advance at 17 Treasure Valley NAPA Auto Parts locations. Ask for Speedway tickets at the counter.
Visit www.meridianspeedway.com for more information.
Ron Hayes, a Domino’s Pizza Legends driver at Meridian, is RFSNW president, and the organization’s advisors include Adam and Kelly Nelson of Meridian Speedway, Dennis Huth and Shannon Stenberg of the American Speed Association, LeeAnn Reed of the Make-a-Wish Foundation in Boise and multiple-time Indianapolis 500 participant Davey Hamilton, a Nampa, Idaho, native.
Racing the latest RFSNW child will see includes young Johnny Giesler of Meridian, Idaho, attempting to put even more of a cushion between himself and the rest of the Pepsi Sprintcars field. The track’s driver of the week, Giesler swept a doubleheader the last time out to build a 137-point lead over Boise’s Joe Ransom.
Giesler and all the other Meridian racers are vying for the Driver of the Year Award. Fans who buy a program at the track receive a ballot in the Idaho Racing News weekly edition. Balloting will continue through the Sept. 11 City of Meridian Night. The Driver of the Year will be announced during the season finale weekend, Sept. 17-18, when the USAC Sprintcars return to Meridian Speedway.
The other divisions on tap Saturday have just as big of a gap in the points standings as the Pepsi Sprints. Dan Buckley of Emmett, Idaho, holds a 188-point lead in NAPA Latemodel Sportsman, and Boise’s Kenny Chandler Jr., is 282 points clear of the field in the Project Filter Pro-4s.
In the Jr. Stingers, where the drivers aren’t much older than the Racing for Smiles honoree, fourth-generation racer Colton Nelson of Meridian has parlayed his first career victory into a slim three-point lead over Chance Davis of Emmett.

Meridian Speedway
2010 points standings
After Aug. 18 races
ESI Express ASA Modifieds — 1. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 868 points; 2. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, Idaho, 848; 2. Jeff Hill, Meridian, Idaho, 812; 4. Charlie Ham Jr., Kuna, Idaho, 733; 5. Chris Fenton, Meridian, 701; 6. Jentry Pisca, Nampa, 510; 7. Darrel Dolling, Boise, 443; 8. Kevin Zimmer, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, 288; 9. Mike Winchel, Kuna, 255; 10. Alex Smith, Kuna, 224
Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, 843 points; 2. Joe Ransom, Boise, 706; 3. Carl Marcum, Meridian, 626; 4. Wyatt King, Meridian, 618; 5. Kelly Newman, Boise, 483; 6. Eric Ransom, Boise, 414; 7. Aly Clark, Meridian, 337; 8. Josh Allen, Meridian, 331; 9. Erik Miller, Caldwell, Idaho, 288; 10. Tyler Barrow, Boise, 204
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints — 1. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 710 points; 2. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, 695; 3. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 443; 4. Kirk Wartman, Boise, 420; 5. Don Kithcart, Eagle, 393; 6. Darren Spiers, Adrian, Ore., 335; 7. Dave Parrie, Boise, 277; 8. Chris Adams, Nampa, 257; 9. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 161; 10. Matt Elliott, Nampa, 158
NAPA Late Model Sportsman — 1. Dan Buckley, Emmett, Idaho, 523 points; 2. Jaramie Fuss, Kuna, 335; 3. John Nesmith, Meridian, 311; 4. Dennis Brodigan, Nampa, 296; 5. Dylan Caldwell, Nampa, 288; 6. Josh Jackson, Ontario, Ore., 252; 7. Tyler Monroe, Star, Idaho, 248; 8. Jeff Wilson, Mountain Home, Idaho, 187; 9. Dan Lowther, Boise, 184; 10. Richard Urrutia, Caldwell, 156
Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Kenny Chandler, Boise, 767 points; 2. Casey Tillman, Kuna, 485; 3. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, 450; 4. Jim Bailey, Middleton, 447; 5. Kale Freedman, Meridian, 435; 6. David Short, Meridian, 310; 7. Rob Powers, Meridian, 292; 8. John Peterson, Boise, 278; 9. Kyle Latham, Boise, 246; 10. Dan Smith, Emmett, 198
CWI PTDS Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Scott, Nampa, 868 points; 2. Marv Weaver, Nampa, 773; 3. Chad Bess, Nampa, 692; 4. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, 563; 5. Jim Anderson, Meridian, 507; 6. Pat Young, Kuna, 454; 7. Shawn Hansen, Boise, 406; 8. Tim Elam, Boise, 361; 9. Nick Lane, Caldwell, 357; 10. Micky Lawson, Caldwell, 278
Mini Stocks — 1. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, 742 points; 2. Eddie Ables, Middleton, 658; 3. Dell Scott, Nampa, 648; 4. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, 644; 5. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, 573; 6. Jason Lampman, Middleton, 500; 7. Scott Shoecraft, Boise, 403; 8. Vern Bolinger, Emmett, 301; 9. Kirk Sanders, Nampa, 291; 10. Quentin Ward, Meridian, 248
Domino’s Pizza Legends — 1. Camron Madsen, Boise, 904 points; 2. Travis Anderson, Boise, 801; 3. Austin Hager, Meridian, 730; 4. Sara Henry, Nampa, 724; 5. Cameron Cotta, Meridian, 492; 6. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 409; 7. Ron Hayes, Boise, 404; 8. Rod Stiller, Meridian, 396; 9. Brent Collins, McCall, Idaho, 379; 10. Randy Keckley, Boise, 300
Tates Rents Hornets — 1. Larry Hull, Boise, 488 points; 2. Art Heath, Nampa, 474; 3. Mary Johnson, Meridian, 360; 4. Catilin Stroebel, Nampa, 358; 5. David Tankersley, Nampa, 350; 6. Fred Nagele, Boise, 329; 7. Stacy Heath, Nampa, 325; 8. (tie) Danielle Summers, Nampa, 322; Mike Fortin, Durkee, Ore., 322; 10. Marshall Burnham, Nampa, 230
Jr. Stingers — 1. Colton Nelson, Meridian, 223 points; 2. Chance Davis, Emmett, 220; 3. Jonathan Hull, Boise, 170; 4. Matthew Burger, Meridian, 167; 5. Hunter Gates, Boise, 162; 6. Tyson Fuss, Kuna, 142; 7. Zach Blume, Eagle, 141; 8. Nick Isaacson, 124; 9. Cody Garrett, 57; 10. Charlie Fiscus, 95
Thunder Dogs — 1. Fare Lady (Kennan Irons, Boise), 299; 2. Hot Wheels (Brett Sullivan and Martin Anderson, Boise), 282; 3. Winged Snot Rod (Chris Carlson, Boise), 261; 4. Old Skool (Dakota Allen, Kuna), 226; 5. Sledge Hammer (David Jolley, Nampa), 207; 6. The Cougar, 199; 7. Red Neck Rampage, 189; 8. Bumble Bee (David Romero, Boise), 186; 9. Fatimus Prime, 142; 10. IP Freely, 141