MERIDIAN SPEEDWAY RESULTS

Source: Meridian Speedway Media Relations/bc
Date: 07/20/2008

MERIDIAN, Idaho – The Mini Stocks at ASA member track, Meridian Speedway, ran a 50 lap main event on Saturday night July 19, 2008. Meridian Speedway rewarded the Mini Stock drivers with the 50 lap main due to increased car counts so far this year.

As the races progressed it seemed to be three wide pass night at the speedway with over half a dozen passes and attempts during the night of racing. The tight quarter mile oval at Meridian Speedway is too narrow for three wide passes in most cases but if a driver can find room on the outside and does not cause a wreck then it is usually allowed. But on Saturday night many drivers threw caution to the wind and went for the gusto and in at least one case was penalized for it.

After the trophy dashes and the heat races were out of the way the first main event was the Street Stocks. In the 35 lap main event Mark Finely took an early lead from the pole and stayed in front for several laps but Dave Harris, quick time for the night, moved up fast from the tail end of the pack and put the pressure on. With only eight laps down Harris moved to the outside and completed the pass in less than two laps but a spin involving Casey Scott and Mickey Williams on turn four brought out the caution and put Harris back behind Finley for the restart.

At the restart Harris again went to the high side while Darrell Lankford closed up his position forcing Harris to commit. In two more laps Harris had made the pass and Lankford followed for second. Harris tried to run away with the lead but Lankford closed the gap leaving third place, Scott Murri, far behind. With ten to go Harris had pulled away from Lankford but lapped traffic helped Lankford to close the gap again. At the checkered flag Harris led the race just ahead of Lankford and won the 35 lap main. Scott Murri, Mark Finley, and David Short rounded out the top five.

In the Thunder Stocks 15 lap main event Tommy White led the seven car field to the green with Bill Lacy on the outside. The leaders ran side by side for two laps but Ron Daniels stalled on the front stretch bringing out a caution and a single file restart putting Lacy in the lead. Lacy took advantage of the lead and ran away with it until RJ Lewis made his way around from a fourth place start to put pressure on the leader. Bill Lawrence moved to the outside of Lewis but could not hold the position and had to try again later but the laps were running out. At fifteen laps the race did run out with Bill Lacy in the lead and RJ Lewis, Bill Lawrence, Tommy White, and Verlon Wright following.

The 50 lap Mini Stock Main started with Kyle Stradley and Rick Brees on the front row. After one lap three cars spun on the back stretch bringing out the first of several cautions. At the restart Rick Brees and Scott Wilcox and Jamie Frostrom led the 24 car field to the green. The leaders encountered lapped traffic with only four laps down and Jeff Hasson worked his way from a mid pack start to take the lead with only nine laps down. Kirk Sanders moved to third place on the outside of Wilcox and then around Brees. Jason Sanders followed in his father's tracks to take fourth with only 15 down and at one point squeezed between two slower drivers to move to third place. Eddie Ables stalled on the back stretch bringing out another caution and another restart. Hasson took off leaving the Sanders father and son team a quarter lap behind in just five laps.

The third caution flag was thrown when Rick Brees' car started leaking oil and he pulled to the infield to keep the track clear. When the race restarted Sanders and Sanders had one lapped car between them and Hasson in the lead but Hasson pulled to the pits after passing the starting line leaving Kirk Sanders to hold off his son for the lead. On lap 29 Tommy Downs spun bringing out another caution and a restart. Ray Bolinger moved around the two lapped cars between him and the leaders at the green and then worked on closing the gap behind Sanders and Sanders.

Lapped traffic with ten to go still did not help Jason Sanders to pass his father but Ray Bolinger kept his eye on the leaders looking for a chance to pass. Another caution came out with less than ten to go so at the restart all of the lapped cars were sent to the rear letting those racing for position a clear shot at the leaders. Kirk Sanders took off at the start with Jason Sanders and Ray Bolinger close behind neither gaining nor giving anything back. As the laps ran out lapped traffic threatened to change up the lead but the veteran driver with his hot shot son crossed the finish line one and two leaving Ray Bolinger, Scott Shoecraft, and Josh Culley to settle for the rest of the top five.

The Non Winged Sprint 35 lap main started with Kole Bushman on the pole and Sharde Bement on the outside. After one lap Bement lost her position to Jerry Sullivan and the first two cars began to run away with the race. With only two laps down Don Kithcart in a surprise move flew around Kelly Perkins to gain a position to fifth place and then on lap eight passed Kyle Hossfield for fourth behind Bement. A spin by Kelly Perkins brought out the only caution of the race and the competitors were bunched back up for the restart.

Kithcart had by this time moved to third behind Sullivan but passed for second within two laps of the restart. Rob Grice was making a mad dash to the front with Johnny Giesler on his tail but before he could get there Giesler passed him and then began to work his way up from there. At mid point of the race minor contact between Giesler and Joe Ransom had Ransom's car in the air but Ransom saved it and the race continued with no stoppages. When Bushman got loose on lap 20 Kithcart was not in position to take advantage of the bobble and a few laps later Giesler took over the second spot from Kithcart. Giesler worked on the leader and with seven laps to go took the lead. The race ended with Giesler taking the checkered with Bushman, Kithcart, Grice, and Ransom in the top five.

The last race of the evening was the 35 lap Hornet main. The race was run with no yellow flags; only reds and greens to save time. Fred Nagele and Blake Coria shared the front row at the start but the sharing was over after the green was waved. One lap later the race was stopped and Art Heath's number 24 car left on the hook. Chet Thorson caught the leaders a few laps later and then took the lead on lap six. Thorson held the lead for a few laps until Larry Hull caught and passed him on lap 14. On lap 20 Miguel Lequerrica caught the leaders and the trio flew around the track showing all others how it's done. With 11 laps to go Larry Hull spun with some help from Thorson and the race was red flagged and then went green a few minutes later.

With Lequerrica in the lead and Thorson close behind the race continued but Kyle Burrill wanted a piece of the action too and moved around to the outside of Lequerrica for a pass for the lead on the last lap but Thorson saw a chance and passed Lequerrica on the inside creating a three wide condition and crossing the finish line first with Burrill close behind and Lequerrica trying to gain his spots back. After review by race officials Thorson was penalized four positions for rough driving and for taking the inside of a three wide pass. Burrill was proclaimed the winner with Lequerrica taking second, Tony Johns in third, Vernon Bolinger in fourth, and Chet Thorson in fifth. As of press time this race is still under review by officials.

Next week on July 26 the Winged Sprints return with the Grand American Modifieds, the Non Winged Sprints, the Mini Stocks, and the Hornets. The gates open at 4 with the time trials and green flag at 5 and 6. For more information call the speedway office at (208) 888-2813.

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