6/21/2023
Meridian Speedway
Warf Dominates, Wins Supermodified JP Classic
The thunder of Speed Tour Supermodifieds powered by Pit Stop USA shook Meridian Speedway on Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17, as a full field of ground-pounding open wheelers competed for the JP Memorial Classic. Fellow open-wheelers the Speed Tour Sprint Cars powered by Pit Stop USA and Salt Lake City Midgets joined the sprinters for their own two-day races, as did the fender banging North West Tour Truck Series. Friday’s Stinker Family Pass night with trophies by True Racing 91 featured the Big Daddy’s Barbecue Hornets, with Saturday’s card filled by the Project Filter Pro-4s.
Friday’s Stinker Family Pass Night proved treacherous for a number of Speed Tour Supermodified powered by Pit Stop USA competitors. The action began early as the throttle hung wide open on defending JP Memorial Classic winner Jim Birges’ Full Circle Brewery, J. Birges Manufacturing and Machine mount. Despite heavy contact with the turn one concrete that catapulted the Fresno, California driver’s car on its side, Birges climbed from the remains of his machine under his own power.
A dozen Speed Tour Supermodifieds powered by Pit Stop USA rumbled to green Friday for the thirty-lap Naylor Classic. Ricky Otts got the jump on Jimmy White to take the early lead, but was soon under attack from Colton Nelson and his Hunziker Racing, Allan Marsh supermodified. Nelson got the better of this battle after two hard-fought laps. But Nelson wasn’t safe up front as open-wheel phenom Bryan Warf carved his way through the field and caught the leader at the race’s half way point.
No sooner had Warf worked his Allan Marsh Travel Center, Division Construction mount past Nelson than two slower cars tangled in front of the lead duo. The contact launched Kyle Alberding and the “Spirit of Madera” machine into the barriers at pit entry and forced Nelson to spin into the infield to avoid the crash.
On the restart Warf powered to the inside of Nelson and the two battled wheel-to-wheel for three thrilling laps before Warf finished the pass. One short lap later the nose on Nelson’s machine collapsed at the end of the frontstretch and, without steering or brakes, he pummeled the turn one concrete. Nelson was okay after the incident, but his car was too badly damaged to return for the weekend.
This left Warf out front with Justin Funkhouser second and Otts in third. The green flag waved and Funkhouser bobbled, which allowed Otts and Randy Whitman to speed by into second and third. Whitman looked to make a move under Otts, but before he could the left rear wheel departed his Rhinnies Small Engines, A Unique Storage racer and he spun hard into the turn one concrete. The impact tossed the car up in the air before it eventually rolled to a rest. The wheel caromed off the wall and landed in the infield at the exit of turn two. Whitman climbed from his battered racer under his own power. Due to time constraints the Naylor Memorial Classic was ended under this caution with Warf first, Otts second, and White in third.
“That was probably one of the most fun supermodified races I’ve had in a long time,” Warf said as he collected the night’s True Racing 91 trophy.
On Saturday night the Speed Tour Supermodifieds powered by Pit Stop USA honored long-time supermodified supporter Joseph “Joe” Pasquale with the JP Memorial Classic. Warf continued his winning ways in this 25-lap feature as he walked away from the competition. Behind Warf, Cody Castor got the best of a physical battle between himself, third place finisher Jimmy White, and Justin Funkhouser.
The North West Tour Truck Series found themselves chasing the 29 truck both Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday John Newhouse piloted the Jeff Wade-owned DL Evans Bank, Gaylon’s Auto Body machine to victory in both of the division’s feature races. Saturday saw Wade take over the driving duties and pick up right where Newhouse left off as he battled his way into the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle in the night’s first feature. This hot streak came to an end in Saturday’s final feature, where Wade brought his pickup home second behind Tanner Wong.
Devon Westover, at the controls of his Idaho Powder Coating, Grip Suspension racer, charged to the Salt Lake City Midget victory on Friday night. Saturday saw Cheyenne Merrill park her Powder Extreme Coatings, Genesis Racing Shocks midget in the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
The Big Daddy’s Barbecue Hornets thrilled Friday’s packed grandstands with three-wide restarts and chicane shenanigans on Friday. When the dust settled Cris Endicott stood atop his machine victorious.
Twin Falls, Idaho’s Andrew Prince dominated the Project Filter Pro-4 feature on Saturday night in his Picabo Angler, Highline Powersports racer.
For more coverage from Ninja Kitty Fireworks Diamond Cup presented by Neil Alan Fine Jewelry weekend, log on to www.meridianspeedway.com. The Idaho CDL Training Dairy Days Races are next up on the Meridian Speedway schedule. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. this Friday, June 23, with racing at 7:30 p.m. The Bud Light NASCAR Modifieds, Zamp Pro-Late Models, and Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Mini Stocks battle wheel-to-wheel until the cows come home in pursuit of the night’s Trammel Construction trophies. We’ll see you under the big, yellow water tower this Friday, June 23, for the Idaho CDL Training Dairy Days Races at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild