BOISE, Idaho — BodyBuilding.Com/Minegar Racing driver’s David Minegar and Craig Bell are excited about the racing weekend ahead. For the first time, the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series will have races on consecutive nights at two very different racetracks. Friday night the team is set for battle in a special Independence Day celebration Pepsi “125” at Magic Valley Speedway located outside Twin Falls, Idaho then the team heads west to Meridian (ID) Speedway for the running of the NAPA Auto Parts Bottle Rocket “150” at the famed quarter-mile paved oval Saturday night.
While Dave Minegar has had greater success at Magic Valley including three wins, Craig Bell has notched 11 top five performances including two runner-up finishes since 2004. Meanwhile, Minegar has eight top five finishes including a fifth place effort back in June. Bell bested his teammate in June with a fourth place finish but is eyeing his first win of the season.
Minegar has 21 career Sharp Powder Coating Fast time Awards (series best) to his credit with ten of the awards coming at Magic Valley Speedway. Additionally, Minegar is the track record holder at Meridian Speedway with the quick lap record (13.520 seconds) set back in June of 2006. In five previous RMCS races at Meridian Speedway there have been five different winners. Minegar hopes to change that this Saturday as he is seeking his second win at the track. But if he were to get that win he will have to beat his teammate Craig Bell who has a mountain of wins and a handful of championship at the facility.
The event on Saturday marks the return of the series to Meridian Speedway for the first time since the 2006 season. In that 125-lap race, Minegar finished 3rd while Bell crossed the finish line in the 9th position in a race won by Tom Hill. Both Minegar and Bell started their racing careers at Meridian Speedway and both are second generation drivers who have successfully etched their names in the family record books and have become local racing icons.
“This is a big weekend for the not only the team but the series,” Minegar stated. “We have all been looking forward to this weekend all season and I can’t wait to get on track. It would be really cool to win both races but Craig will be tough to beat, especially at Meridian.”
“Pat Minegar has given me a great racecar to drive and compete in,” Bell said. “Returning to Meridian is going to be a lot of fun and this event will be exciting.”
Exciting may be an understatement as many of the local hot shoes along with Northwest racing legend Garrett Evans will join the always stout field of drivers this weekend. Dave Minegar sits second in the point standings after two races while Craig Bell holds down the third position in the standings. The race at Magic Valley Speedway this Friday is the second of three series stops this season at the fan favorite facility while the BodyBuilding.Com/Minegar Racing team returns to Meridian Speedway for the first of two races this season to be staged at the landmark racetrack.
Minegar racing is sponsored by BodyBuilding.com, Redline, Ultimate Nutrition, Supreme Nutrition, Muscletech, Sci Fit, Gaspari Nutrition, A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning, and Dillon Auto Craft. Both Minegar and Bell are in their sixth season in the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series. Dave Minegar is a two-time series champion (06, 08)with 50 career starts, six wins, 21 top five and 39 top ten finishes while Craig Bell has three wins, 28 top five and 35 top ten finishes in 43 career series starts. For the latest news about the series log onto to www.rmcsracing.com and please visit www.bodybuilding.com for all of your exercise and nutrition needs.
***On Air note: Dave Minegar will be on 1350 KTIK “The Ticket” Thursday, July 2 at 3:20pm with Caves and Prater discussing the team the racing events this weekend. If you are in the Treasure Valley tune into 1350AM or if you are outside the Boise area, log onto www.ktik.com.
