MERIDIAN, Idaho -- Twenty-Two Pro Four cars from Idaho, California, Washington and Utah meet at Meridian Speedway to start the battle for the 3rd Annual Fairly Reliable Bob’s Independence Day Cup. Stu Gronewoller, Meridian, Idaho blew an engine in practice and the field was reduced to 21. Fifteen year old, Kale Freedman from Meridian, Idaho continued his streak of setting the fastest qualifying lap at Meridian Speedway.
Freedman is the current points leader in the local Mulder’s Auto Machine Late Model Lites division and has dominated the qualifying session this season. With season veterans from throughout the northwest competing in this 4-cylinder stock car challenge, Freedman kept his composure and qualified with a 14.067 lap besting last years Independence Day Cup winner, Eddie Secord, Bloomington, Ca, who qualified second quick with a 14.190. Dennis Andrews, Redland, Ca, was third quick with a 14.209.
All twenty-one cars made the starting grip for the 75 lap main event, however on the warm up laps, Mike Bailey, Meridian, Idaho lost power and could not refire. He was forced to retire from the race before it started. Kyle Cline took the lead on the first lap from the pole. The filed started to settle when Kurt Madsen, West Jordan, Ut, made contact with a car on the outside coming down the front stretch. Madsen drove into the infield and was able to maintain control of his ride but brought debris back onto the track when he returned to the racing surface bringing out the first of 5 caution periods.
Jeff Hill, Boise, Id, starting on the outside pole stayed close to Cline and moved into the lead on the 14th lap. Kenny Chandler, Boise, Id, started 8th on the grid and was running in the 3rd spot followed Hill and moved into the 2nd spot. Chandler raced Hill hard over the next several laps and moved past Hill for the lead on lap 22, but a huge pile up in turn 3 brought out the 2nd caution flag reverting the field back to the previous lap and Hill in the lead. Dan Madsen, South Jordan, Ut, Jodi Davis, Ventura, Ca, Jim Bailey, Middleton, Id, Scott Davis, Boise, Id, Joe Barton, Kuna, Id, Cline, and Andrews, were scattered from top to bottom of the track in between turn 3 and 4 bringing out the red flag. All drivers were ok, however only Barton and Davis’ cars were able to continue the race.
On the restart Freedman running 4th went outside of Rex Lockwood, Victorville, Ca, attempting to make a pass for third. Freedman got loose and made contact with Lockwood, Freedman looked like he had save it but the car then veered hard left into the back stretch wall. Although the car received heavy damage to the front clip Freedman was able to drive away and continue the race.
Chandler raced Hill over the next few laps and passed again for the lead on the 25th circuit, this time he kept it. Secord moved past Hill for the 2nd spot on lap 35 and the track stayed green with several cars changing position and the leaders began lapping slower cars on lap 40. Lap 52 saw the 4th caution when Dave Callendar, Tacoma, Wa, stalled in turn 2 trying to exit the track with mechanical problems.
Secord was right behind Chandler on the restart while Jeff hill had several lapped cars between him and 2nd place on the restart. Chandler and Secord provided the fans with some close racing action over the next 14 laps before the fifth and final caution flew on lap 68 when Rob Powers, Meridian, Id spun on his own into the infield. With less than 10 laps remaining in the race the field was lined up with lapped cars behind the lead lap cars.
