Idaho Racing News

By Jon Brown
MERIDIAN, Idaho — With the nights of the 2010 racing season winding down at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway, drivers in the middle of tight points races found hard luck Saturday night.
Both Mike Murgoitio in the Mtn. Dew Winged Sprintcars and Tom Hill in the ESI Express ASA Modifieds had rough nights and watched close rivals grabbed checkered flags.
Main event winners included Chris Ratterree of Nampa, Idaho, in the Winged Sprints; Meridian, Idaho's Jeff Hill in the ESI Express ASA Modifieds; Melissa Scott of Nampa stretching her lead in the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School Street Stocks series with another win; Tony Martinez of Nampa getting his first career victory in the Tates Rents Hornets; and Fatimus Prime, with Kuna, Idaho's Ryan Allen at the wheel, surviving a crash-filled Thunder Dogs main.
Entering the second-to-last Winged Sprints race of the year just 15 points behind Murgoitio, defending champ Chris Ratterree of Nampa, Idaho, continued his charge to the top.
Ratterree pulled off a triple Saturday night and probably vaulted into the points lead with just a Sept. 5 race night remaining on the schedule for the division.
Murgoitio floundered throughout the 35-lap main with handling problems after his pit crew rebuilt his suspension in the wake of a mishap with the front stretch wall during the Fast Dash. Meanwhile, Ratterree gobbled up points, setting the quick time at 11.682 seconds in qualifying and winning the Fast Dash as Murgoitio failed to finish after he and Boise, Idaho's Kirk Wartman ran into the wall three laps into the eight-lap heat race.
Finally, Ratterree took advantage with Mugoitio and Middleton, Idaho's Sierra Jackson crashed with 15 laps remaining in the feature while battling for the lead. Ratterree outran Caldwell, Idaho's Brandon Johnson to the checkered. The race ended with Johnson shredding his right rear tire as he crossed the finish line.
Tom Hill's younger brother, Jeff Hill, made his move in the ASA Modifieds division Saturday by snagging the checkered at the end of an exciting 35-lap feature race. Meanwhile, Nampa's Shelby Stroebel's championship hopes took a big hit because of a flat tire and a wreck to finish near the back at the end of a night that began with him only 20 points behind defending series champion Tom Hill. The wreck, which came six laps into the feature, occurred when he and Tom Hill were battling for position in the middle of Turns 3-4.
Jeff Hill, a Boise Police officer, began Saturday in third place in the series standings, 46 points behind his brother. A Fast Dash win and his walk-in-the-park triumph in the feature helped him narrow the gap.
"It's called luck of the draw. We just had a good car," Jeff Hill said, adding that his racecar seemed to thrive in the cool August air.
Tom rallied from the mishap with Stroebel to notch a thrilling third-place finish, passing Darrell Dolling of Boise at the checkered flag in the main event. Tom also picked up points for fast time.
There are only three main events left in the Modifieds season, including Saturday and a double main event season finale on Sept. 17.
Tony Martinez's first career win cost him the rest of the season at the speedway in Tates Rents Hornets.
The Nampa racecar driver resisted the track management's attempt to claim his Hornet car after taking the checkered flag at the end of 25 laps.
"It ain't going nowhere because it ain't mine," he told managing partner Adam Nelson at the start-finish line.
Nelson informed Martinez that refusal means he loses the trophy and also can't race the car for the rest of the year.
"That's OK," Martinez said after his fourth career main event start. "The fans know I won."
Nelson was determined to claim a car per division rules. Series leader Art Heath, also of Nampa, gave up his No. 84 station wagon and was rewarded with the victory and the points.
"There's always more cars. There's always more trophies," Heath said. "We'll be back out here to kick some more butt."
Heath's racecar now belongs to the track, and management will blow it up during the Eve of Destruction III during the 2011 season, Nelson said.
Series leader Melissa Scott came from the back of the pack to win the 30-lap feature for the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School. She pulled away from Kuna, Idaho's Pat Young after a side-by-side restart following a yellow flag for debris in Turn 1 with seven laps left.
Young drove side-by-side with Scott for more than a lap before the No. 92 nosed ahead.
"It is very competitive. We're all racing pretty close and it's just awesome. It's good," Scott said.
Rick Baldwin looked destined to write a storybook ending to a frustrating day at the track. After struggling to even get his car to run well enough to qualify, the Middleton resident led the first 25 laps of the 35-lap feature.
All the while, though, Scott was methodically moving up through the field. She began the pursuit of Baldwin in earnest with a dozen laps to go.
Two laps after Baldwin smacked the wall trying to stay in front, Scott moved ahead. Baldwin, who had dueled with Dan Field of Weiser, Idaho, for several laps in the middle of the race, finished third.
Fatimus Prime took advantage of a "promoter" caution with two laps left in the Thunder Dogs race for the victory in the 25-lap feature.
Fatimus Prime was one of nine different leaders in the 25-lap race that features the frontrunner being sent to the back whenever there is a caution flag.
That means jockey Ryan Allen had some strategy, right?
"I didn't have one. Just try to finish," he said. "Just let everyone else beat each other up and try to win."
There was plenty of smashing and bashing.
One of the caution flags was brought out by one of the most frightening crashes this year at the track. Series leader Cab Fare barrel-rolled on the front stretch five laps into the race, destroying the car that was formerly a taxi cab and a police car. Thunder Dog jockey Kennon Irons was fine attempted to drive off the track after the multiple rolls.
Next weekend provides two nights of action for the Labor Day holiday.
The Carbon X Rocky Mountain Challenge Series late model tour returns for the Pepsi Gem State 75 on Saturday. Also on the schedule are the ESI Express ASA Modifieds, the Domino's Pizza Legends, Mini Stocks and Tates Rents Hornets.
Another round of Spectacular Drags are scheduled, too, allowing fans to bring their own cars and drag race around the quarter-mile oval.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $9.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $8 for ages 7-11 and, as always, free for children 6 and younger.
Sunday is Tates Rents Fan Appreciation Night with a schedule including the Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints, the Pepsi Sprintcars, the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School Street Stocks and Thunder Dogs.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $6 for children ages 7-11 and free for children 6-and-younger.
Pick up advance tickets at participating Treasure Valley NAPA Auto Parts stores and save time waiting in line Saturday night. Ask for "Speedway" tickets.
Gates open both nights at 4 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the speedway's Web site or call (208) 888-2813.
Meridian Speedway
Racing for a Reason
Boise Special Olympics Lions Club Night
Saturday's unofficial results
Main events
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprintcars (35 laps) —
1. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, Idaho; 2. Brandon Johnson, Caldwell, Idaho; 3. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho; 4. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, Idaho; 5. Darren Spiers, Adrian, Ore.
College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School Street Stocks (35 laps) —
1. Melissa Scott, Nampa, Idaho; 2. Pat Young, Kuna, Idaho; 3. Rick Baldwin, Middleton, Idaho; 4. Dan Field, Weiser, Idaho; 5. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa
ESI Express ASA Modifieds (35 laps) —
1. Jeff Hill, Meridian, Idaho; 2. Charlie Ham Jr., Kuna; 3. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho; 4. Darrell Dolling, Boise; 5. Tony Ackerland, Star, Idaho
Taco Bell Hornets (25 laps) —
1. Art Heath, Nampa; 2. Danny Canington, Nampa; 3. Travis Pavlacky, Fruitland, Idaho; 4. Eric Harry, Boise
Thunder Dogs (25 laps) —
1. Fatimus Prime (Ryan Allen, Kuna); 2. The Cougar (Scott Sudduth, Meridian); 3. Redneck Rampage (Kane Thomasson, Kuna); 4. Sledgehammer (David Jolley, Nampa); 5. Winged Snot Rod
Heat races
(Six laps each)
Taco Bell Hornets
A Heat —
1. Art Heath, Nampa; 2. Kaitlyn Stroebel, Nampa; 3. Fred Nagele, Meridian; 4. Larry Hull, Boise; 5. Mary Johnson, Meridian
B Heat —
1. Tony Martinez, Nampa; 2. Mike Fortin, Durkee, Ore.; 3. Amber Rogers, Meridian; 4. Sharlet Pataro, Mountain Home, Idaho; 5. Danny Canington, Nampa
C Heat —
1. Eric Harry, Boise; 2. Matthew Burger, Meridian; 3. Travis Pavlacky, Fruitland, Idaho; 4. Gary Kyle Jr., Boise; 5. Blake Correia
(Eight laps each)
CWI PTDS Street Stocks
Fast Dash —
1. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa; 2. Melissa Scott, Nampa; 3. Marv Weaver, Nampa; 4. Chad Bess, Nampa; 5. Tim Elam, Boise
B Heat —
1. Daniel Vanderveen, Nampa; 2. Bobby Riggs, Fruitland; 3. Pat Young, Kuna, Idaho; 4. Shawn Hansen, Boise; 5. Jim Anderson, Meridian
C Heat —
1. Nick Lane, Caldwell, Idaho; 2. Mark Finley, Boise; 3. Andrew Tuttle, Eagle; 4. Daniel Field, Weiser, Idaho
ESI Express ASA Modifieds
Fast Dash —
1. Jeff Hill; 2. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa; 3. Ham; 4. Tom Hill; 5. Tony Ackerland
B Heat —
1. Sam Harris, Twin Falls, Idaho; 2. Jentry Pisca, Nampa; 3. Mike Winchel, Kuna; 4. Darvin Ackerland, Boise; 5. Chris Fenton, Meridian
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprintcars
Fast Dash —
1. Chris Ratterree, Nampa; 2. Brandon Johnson, Caldwell; 3. Darren Spiers, Adrian, Ore.; 4. Don Kithcart, Eagle; 5. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian
Thunder Dogs
A Heat —
1. Hot Wheels (Brett Sullivan, Boise); 2. Old Skool (Dakota Allen, Kuna); 3. Cab Fare (Kennon Irons, Boise); 4. Sledgehammer (David Jolley, Nampa); 5. Winged Snot Rod (Chris Carlson, Boise)
B Heat —
1. Bumble Bee (David Romero, Boise); 2. The Cougar (Scott Sudduth, Meridian); 3. Redneck Rampage (Kane Thomasson, Kuna); 4. IP Freely (Brian Duval, Kuna); 5. Fatimus Prime (Ryan Allen, Kuna) C Heat —
1. Street Madness (Mark Finley, Boise); 2. IP Freely 2 (Nic Forsea, Richland, Wash.); 3. Hot Rod Lincoln (Cody Huddleston); 4. Buzz Kill; 5. Lowrider (Miguel Quebrado, Marsing, Idaho)
Fast times
CWI PTDS Street Stocks —
Scott, 15.086 seconds ESI Express ASA Modifieds —
Tom Hill, 14.173
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints —
Ratterree, 11.682