MOTHER NATURE CUTS DIAMOND CUP SHORT

Source: Meridian Speedway Media Relations/bc
Date: 06/02/2008

MERIDIAN, Idaho – At ASA member track, Meridian Speedway, mother nature and old man weather combined to wreak havoc with both the Annual Diamond Cup races and the first ever Super Stock Gold Cup event.

On Friday the Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association sprint cars set a record for the most racers ever to qualify faster than 12 seconds. Twelve cars broke the barrier on Friday night with two more added on Saturday for a total of 14 (over half of the field). In addition, Kenny Hamilton set a new track record with a blistering 11.440 shattering Brandon Johnson's 11.497 qualifying time from last year.

On Friday the NSRA winged sprints brought out 26 cars for the night's racing. The main event was limited to 20 starters so the B main sorted out who got the honors of continuing in the 40 lap main event. Thirteen cars lined up with only eight transfer positions available. R. J. Fronsman had the pole with Adam Roduner on his right side at the green with a quick ten lap dash for the checkered. Fronsman led the first lap and every lap to the end leaving the rest of the drivers to sort out the finishing order for themselves. At the end RJ Fronsman, Adam Roduner, Cory Lockwood, Jimmy Hamilton Jr., Greg Middendorf, Justin Mack, Matt Elliott, and Bob Witte transferred to the A main.

The Friday night winged sprint race started with Jake Mann on the pole and Mike Cullum on the outside. Jimmy Hamilton's car stalled and could not re-fire causing the only delay in the 40 lap race. Mann looked like he would stay in front for the entire race but trouble was brewing for him farther back in the field. That trouble was named Brandon Johnson. Johnson started eighth and was not content to stay there. Johnson moved up fast in the early laps and then stayed in fourth for several laps behind Mann, Cullum, and Cody Veenstra. Mann had left the rest of the field behind until traffic helped Cullum close the gap.

Traffic again came in to play and Johnson then passed Veenstra on lap 17 for third. With eight laps to go Johnson passed Cullum on the inside and then a few laps later he caught and passed Mann for the lead. As Johnson and Mann took the checkered flag Cullum spun on the front stretch and finished the race backwards and then slid safely onto the infield grass. The first and only caution for the entire winged sprint race night came out after the main event finished. At the end Johnson won with Mann, Culum, Matt Hein, and Andy Alberding in the top five.

On Saturday the winged sprints continued their race for the diamond ring and the cup. The racing continued but the lack of caution flags did not continue. During the third of the four heat races two of the drivers piled up in the turn one wall bringing out a red flag stop for safety and clean up. Matt Hein and Jake Mann both climbed out of their cars and waved to the crowds. As the racing continued Hein's pit crew worked franticly to repair the car, replacing the entire front axle and much of the suspension to be able to return for the main event later in the evening. As the heat races for the rest of the classes completed the weather turned wet again causing a slight delay. The ten lap B Main started and ended with Matt Hein in the lead leaving the other seven transfer positions up for grabs. With the clouds turning black the officials hurried to get the winged sprint 50 lap main event started to hopefully outrun the rain. But the luck of Friday night did not continue on Saturday when the leader Robert Beck got tangled up with Bob Witte and the two of them careened down the front stretch and wadded up on the turn one wall.

If the wreck had not stopped the race the rains that started a few minutes later would have. As the clean up and safety crews took care of the drivers, the cars, and the track the rains gradually increased in intensity to the point that the NSRA officials called the race as completed with only nine laps on the books. Todd Coleman was declared the winner of the nine lap A main with Adam Roduner, Sierra Jackson, Mike Cullum and Cody Veenstra rounding out the top five.

Even though Mike Cullum finished in the top five on both nights he did not have the overall best finish with qualifying, heat races and mains considered for both nights of racing. After the points were tallied on Saturday night it was announced that Brandon Johnson had won the diamond and the cup. Johnson qualified fastest on Saturday and won the main event on Friday.

Also up for grabs for the two day event was the first ever Super Stock Gold Cup with a gold ring to be awarded to the winner of the two day event. On Friday Dennis Brodigan was the second fastest qualifier right behind Dustin Stephenson. At the start of the 35 lap main Brodigan was near the back and had a long ways to go to the front. Brodigan quickly worked past the other cars on the track passing some on the outside, some on the inside and passing some when they were involved in spins or wrecks and were sent to the back for restarts. By lap 15 Brodigan had the lead and only trouble could take it away but this night his luck tempered with a great car and experience helped him along his way for the win. Dan Lowther, Terry Lydell, Charlie Hamm Jr., and Gale Carter rounded out the top five.

For the second night of Super Stock racing Dennis Brodigan qualified fastest and then took second in the A heat. The 35 lap main was not run due to the inclement weather so with the total points tallied Brodigan finished the weekend with his first main event win and the Super Stock Gold Cup trophy and Gold Ring. The Super Stock Gold Cup will be an annual event to be run in conjunction with the annual Diamond Cup race at Meridian Speedway.

Also out for the weekend were the Mini Stocks and Hornets on Friday and the Street Stocks and Thunder Stocks on Saturday.

The mini stocks brought out 25 cars for the main event. Kirk Sanders had the pole position and held on for 31 laps. Sanders held off Jamey Frostrom for the first third of the race until Ernie Dodson passed Frostrom for second. Frostrom took the position back a few laps later but could not get around Sanders for the lead. With ten laps to go Eddie Ables passed Dodson on the high side immediately followed by a pass around Frostrom. Ables attempted to work his way around Sanders but traffic set a pick that stopped his move. Two laps later different traffic blocked Sanders for a few short decisive seconds and Ables took the lead with four laps to go. A wreck on lap 34 brought out the caution and track officials called the race with Ables as the winner followed by Sanders, Dodson, Jason Sanders and Jamey Frostrom.

The Hornets were the last main event of Friday night with 24 cars on the track to take the green flag. Mike Hampton had the pole and led the first four laps until Chet Thorson took over in the hot seat. With every driver on the track gunning for him Thorson was able to hold on for nine laps until Kyle Burrill passed him just seconds before a yellow flag came out. Burrill lost the pass and had to do it all over again after the restart. Two laps later Burrill again had the lead and held it to the finish. Thorson, Tony Johns, David Haslam, and David Tankersley rounded out the top five.

Ten Thunder Stocks came out to play in the 25 lap main event Saturday night. Tommy White grabbed the pole position with Bill Lacy lined up beside him.

As the field took the green flag Lacy jumped ahead and led the first four laps with RJ Lewis, Bill Lawrence, White, and Denise Lacy rounding out the top five. Lewis moved outside to edge around Bill Lacy and was able to nose ahead to grab the top spot on lap five, but Darrell Stogsdill spun in turn four and brought out the caution. Lewis lost his pass and on the restart, started behind Lacy. Lewis once again regained the lead two laps later and held on for nine laps. The field spread out and each car seemed to pick a partner and held a couple's dance.

On lap 18 Dion States had right front tire problems and went into the water barrels in turn one, bringing out the second caution of the race. Bill Lawrence restarted in the top spot with Lewis, White, Denise Lacy and Bill Lacy filling out the top five spots. These top five drivers held on to their places to finish the race.

The rain soaked track was too much for the Winged Sprints on Saturday night but not for the Thunder Stocks with their trailers. Chaos reigned as six of these Thunder Stock Drivers came back to the rain soaked track to amuse the fans that stuck it out despite the foul weather. Dion States, Demo Darrell Stogsdill, Travis Pavlacky, Verlin Wright, Ron Daniels and Dan Tyler lined up side by side dragging trailers behind. They took the green at a standing start. Wright quickly pulled out ahead with States close behind. So close that States ran into the back of Wright's camper trailer and promptly got stuck. Wright pulled his trailer along with States, and his boat and trailer around the track a couple of times before States was able to break free. Pavlacky lost his trailer shortly after the race began but continued on the track to wreak havoc on the remaining trailers. Boats, camp trailers, and debris littered the track as Demo Darrell crossed the finish line to claim the hardware.

The Idaho Center for Professional Truck Driving Street Stocks brought 15 cars to the track on Saturday night. Brian Williams took the early lead with Micky Williams, Bruce Zacharias, Steve Hansen Jr, and Casey Hart, rounding out the top five. Terry Lydell took a short cut through the grass on turn one but was able to get it back on the track with no caution waved.

Darrell Lankford starting eighth quickly made his way to the front. On lap five Lankford was in third place. He moved to the outside of Micky Williams, and Brian Williams to snatch the top spot away from Brian Williams. Shawn Hansen was making his move around Brian Williams, got loose and spun in turn two bringing out the first caution.

At the restart Lankford, Brian Williams, Micky Williams, Zacharias, and Scott Murray held the top spots. Lankford quickly jumped out in front leaving the rest of the field to battle it out side by side for position.Micky Williams made an outside pass on Brian Williams to claim second on lap 14. Murray also on the move was able to take third away from Brian Williams one lap later. Williams struggling on the outside got freight trained and lost another spot to Dave Harris.

In lap 17 Steve Hansen Jr. went into the infield in turn two which brought out the second caution. The restart saw Lankford, Mickey Williams, Murray, Harris and Brian Williams in the top five positions. Two laps later Murray moved around Williams to claim second. Lydell jockeying for position was able to claim sixth place on lap nineteen. The twenty-five lap main event ended with Lankford, Murray, Mickey Williams, Harris and Lydell claiming the top five spots.

Next up for Meridian Speedway is Military Appreciation Day sponsored by Tates Rents on June 7th. The Grand American Modifieds, Non Wing Sprints, Late Model Lites, Mini Stocks, and the Hornets will be racing. Gates open at 4 with the time trials at 5 and the trophy dashes at 6.

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