BOISE, Idaho — February 24, 2009) Officials for the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series and Meridian Speedway are back together after a two-year hiatus. Dates that were originally scheduled for the old Chaparral Speedway have now transitioned to Meridian Speedway in 2009 after the new ownership group closed the deal late last week.
"I could not be more excited about the schedule in 2009 now that we have Meridian back in the mix," stated Mike Minegar, president of the RMCS. The Boise market is real important to our series, its fans and sponsors. To be back at Meridian Speedway in 2009 is a big deal for the series and for a lot of our teams it means that they can race at home in front of family and friends."
Heading up the new management team at Meridian Speedway is Adam Nelson. Nelson along with his wife Kelly will manage the day-to-day operation and promotion duties at the track. The Nelson's are joined at HWY 16 LLC by Don Newman and Al Russell, both fixtures at the quarter-mile facility for many years.
HWY 16 LLC originally sought to acquire the rights to Chaparral Speedway which has laid dormant for the past couple of year but after negotiations stalled and the opportunity to take over the operation at Meridian was a deal too good to pass up.
"We are real excited about the chance to showcase Meridian Speedway," Russell said. "We plan to give the fans and competitors a little bit of the old, a little bit of the new and whole lot of value for their entertainment dollar."
The Rocky Mountain Challenge Series, the regions premier Late Model touring series, will visit Meridian Speedway twice in 2009 with the first stop on Saturday, July 4 as part of a double-header weekend. The series will race Friday night July 3 at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls then head west to Meridian for the biggest Late Model show of the year at the 59-year old speed plant. The RMCS will return to Meridian Speedway again on Saturday, August 29.
"The July 4th race is a big deal and we are thrilled to be a part of it," Minegar stated. "The race could easily produce the largest crowd we race in front of all season and with Adam promoting the track the fans are sure to have a great time."
When word got out that the RMCS was going back to Meridian, Minegar's phone started ringing off the hook. "One of the first calls I received was from Garrett Evans saying his would be here to race the double-header. With Jeff Jefferson joining the series this year and guys like Garrett Evans wanting to run with us, it could be a heck of a season and events no one will want to miss."
"I love that old race track," Evans said. "I used to love going down there and racing years ago. It is real racing, fender-to-fender, and a no holds barred type of track. I have wanted to run with Mike and the RMCS for a long time and this was the perfect opportunity to do it." Evans is a Northwest racing legend and a four-time NASCAR NW Tour champion.
Two-time and defending RMCS champion Dave Minegar is happy to bring the racing back home to the fans. "As a guy who grew up around Meridian Speedway and the place where I first starting racing, it is pretty special to showcase our series at home," Minegar said. "Craig Bell, John Dillon, and I all started here and we have had such loyal fans follow our series over the years it is real special to bring the show to them."
The Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is a regional touring series that puts fun back into racing. The series features a 20-car invert ensuring race fans see plenty of passing. It is a high-quality, professional racing series that offers maximum opportunity at an affordable price serving the Intermountain West. The motto of the series is to "Race Hard and Have Fun!" For additional series information please contact Mike Minegar at 208/375-6328 or mikeminegar@cableone.net or our website at www.rmcsracing.com.
Revised 2009 Rocky Mountain Challenge Series Schedule
May 2nd Rocky Mountain Raceway (SLC, Utah) TBD 100
May 25th Rocky Mountain Raceway TBD 100
June 6th Magic Valley Speedway (Twin Falls, Idaho) 125
July 3rd Magic Valley Speedway Firecracker 125
July 4th Meridian Speedway (Meridian, Idaho) Independence Day 125
July 18th Rocky Mountain Raceway TBD 100
Aug 1st Stateline Speedway (Post Falls, Idaho) NAPA Dual for the 200
Aug 2nd Stateline Speedway NAPA Idaho 200
Aug 22nd Rocky Mountain Raceway NAPA 125
Aug 29th Meridian Speedway TBD 100
Sept 12th Magic Valley Speedway 150
***All dates and race distances subject to change and event sponsors are still being finalized.
