7/10/2023
Meridian Speedway
Fries Sweeps to Top of Modified Standings
The weather was hot, and the action was hotter at Meridian Speedway on Saturday, July 8, as the American Staffing Twin 25’s presented by Idaho Central Credit Union took over the quarter-mile asphalt oval. The Bud Light NASCAR Modifieds, Pepsi Sprintcars, Zamp Pro-Late Models, Project Filter Pro-4s, and Trammel Construction Stingers all ran twin features in pursuit of the night’s Challenger Auto trophies.
The Bud Light NASCAR Modifieds ran a pair of hard-hitting 35-lap features Saturday. The night’s first feature saw Brendon Fries avoid a front stretch pileup before he motored to the lead and parked his ATS Inland Northwest, Carbon Designs Custom Vinyl modified in the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
The night’s second American Staffing Twin 25’s presented by Idaho Central Credit Union began with another frontstretch fracas that swept up six cars. One racing resumed Neal Latham overpowered Joe Thuss to take the early lead.
While Latham drove away from the field quick-qualifier Caity Miller raced her Kustom Fab, Insiduous Designs modified into the top five after just eight laps. With the help of a lap twelve caution flag Miller caught up with Latham, and easily dispatched the points leader as he pulled off track with a mechanical issue. This left Miller out front with first feature winner Fries in pursuit.
Fries wheeled his machine hard in a bid to catch up with Miller but made little progress until a caution flag waved and bunched the field. On the restart Fries stormed to the outside of Miller, and after a thrilling four lap fight took over the lead. Once in open racetrack Fries cruised to the victory ahead of Miller, Andrew Richardson, Chuck Youngblood, and Josh Jackson.
Dylan Caldwell and Johvan Dillon dueled for the Zamp Pro-Late Model victory. Dillon had his Dillon Toyota Lift machine up front when a late caution flag prompted a two-lap shootout for the win.
The green flag waved, and Dillon dove hard into turn one, but Caldwell matched pace on the outside and moved his Hotbox Farms, National Coatings racer ahead by half a car length. With the white flag in the air Dillon ripped around the inside in one last attempt to take the win, but Caldwell was too strong and crossed the line first.
In the division’s second feature Caldwell again found himself in a dogfight for the victory, this time with Melissa Weaver. Weaver made it to the front first and looked to have the race under control until her Marv’s Tire Service, Sonic Crush entry broke loose in turn two. Weaver reigned her racer in, but not before Caldwell arrived on the scene. After some light contact Caldwell slipped ahead of Weaver and charged to his second feature win of the night.
The Pepsi Sprintcars had the most adventurous night in the Concrete Jungle. In the first feature Jamo Stephenson and his YMC Mechanical, Gen 3 Electric sprinter jumped to the lead with Bryan Warf in tow. But all was not well with Warf’s machine as the hood of his Allan Marsh RV and Marine Center, CF Floor Covering racer came free from its mounting and tried to take flight.
Warf grabbed the unruly piece of sheet metal and soldiered on one-handed. But the strain was too much to handle, and as traffic closed in Warf was forced to the pit area. This left Stephenson to collect the division’s first Challenger Auto trophy of the night.
Warf featured heavily in the second Pepsi Sprintcar feature as he started on the pole and led until a restart with eight laps left pitted him against Kaleb Johnson. Johnson got a good jump on the outside and forced his way down in front of Warf in turn one. Warf took exception to this aggressive move and sent Johnson for a 360-degree tour of turn two. Johnson gathered his machine and sped away, while Warf pulled his sprinter into the pits early for a second time.
This left Tony Ackerland and Jett Nelson on the front row for the restart. Ackerland got out of the blocks first and moved his Dick’s Chevron sprinter to the top of the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard but came under immediate fire from Sierra Jackson. Jackson, her Giesler’s Auto Repair and Mulder’s Auto Machine sprinter ailing from earlier contact, applied what pressure she could to Ackerland. But Ackerland proved too strong, and he took home the night’s second American Staffing Twin 25 presented by Idaho Central Credit Union.
Trammel Construction Stingers point leader Makayla Trafford held off a hard charge from Ryat Gorringe to park her Pollo y Mariscos, Quality Alignment racer in the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle. Gorringe piloted his Fast Lane Indoor Karts mount to a second runner-up finish on the night behind Coleman Green’s HazTech Drilling, Affordable Transmission and Auto Repair machine in the division’s second feature.
Jordan Harris continued his domination of the Project Filter Pro-4 division. Harris piloted his Allan Marsh RV and Marine Center, H&H Auto Sales machine around Kenny Chandler’s Project Filter, Fairly Reliable Bob’s entry early, then set sail to victory in the first feature. The night’s second feature was a near replay of the first, with Harris hooking the inside line to blast past Chandler for the win and the sweep of the American Staffing Twin 25’s presented by Idaho Central Credit Union.
Meridian Speedway keeps the summer short track action in high gear this Saturday, July 15, with Ladies Night presented by RC Willey. General admission is just $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and military members, $8 for kids 7-11, and free for kids 6 and under. Gates open at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, with the first green flag at 6:30 p.m. Log on to www.meridianspeedway.com to purchase your advance tickets and stay up to speed with the latest news and notes from around the Concrete Jungle. We’ll see you under the big, yellow water tower Saturday, July 15, for Ladies Night presented by RC Willey at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild