MERIDIAN, Idaho — A hometown driver looks to maintain the fast start to his season Saturday night when the Carbon X Rocky Mountain Challenge Series Latemodels come to ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.
Steve Jones of Meridian, Idaho, leads a strong contingent of local racers into the NAPA Auto Parts Treasure Valley 100, which is the first of two RMCS stops at the historic paved quarter-mile oval.
“That guy is running his butt off,” RMCS promoter, and Treasure Valley businessman, Mike Minegar said. “He got off to a real good points lead off the bat.”
Jones leads a field of about 20 cars into the fifth RMCS race of the season. He has been in the top 10 for all four races this season, including wins at Utah’s Rocky Mountain Raceways on May 8 and May 31.
Boise’s David Minegar, whose RMCS season ended last year at Meridian in a spectacular Turn 3 crash, sits in fifth place in this year’s series standings.
The two-time series champion holds the RMCS qualifying record at Meridian with a 13.520-second lap. He also is tied with another driver returning to his home track — John Dillon of Eagle, Idaho — and former RMCS competitor James Eaton of West Jordan, Utah, for the most career RMCS victories at six.
Defending series champion Dillon will be in the running again Saturday. He has won his only RMCS start this year, taking down his competitors with relative ease a week ago at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls.
With Dillon making his second start Saturday night, it could be an all-Treasure Valley shootout for the trophy. Jones looks to rebound from his only bad outing of the season and Minegar and Dillon could rekindle a rivalry that saw them finish 1-2 in the 2008 championship chase.
“Steve Jones has been doing really, really well, and I think David is back on his game after a bad start to the season,” Mike Minegar said.
Other classes competing Saturday night include the Pepsi Sprintcars, the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School Street Stocks and the Tates Rents Hornets.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $11 for children ages 7-11 and free, as always, for children 6 and younger. Fans can save $3 each on admission when they buy advance tickets from participating NAPA Auto Parts locations in Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Emmett, Homedale, Marsing, Parma, Council and McCall.
The gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.meridianspeedway.com or call (208) 888-2813.
Meridian Speedway
2010 points standings
After June 16 races
ESI Express ASA Modifieds — 1. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 530 points; 2. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, Idaho, 472; 3. Charlie Ham Jr., Kuna, Idaho, 403; 4. Jeff Hill, Meridian, Idaho, 400; 5. Chris Fenton, Meridian, 356
Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, 381 points; 2. Wyatt King, Meridian, 357; 3. Joe Ransom, Boise, 326; 4. Carl Marcum, Meridian, 301; 5. Kelly Newman, Boise, 242
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints — 1. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 281 points; 2. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, 255; 3. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 211; 4. Kirk Wartman, Boise, 179; 5. Matt Hein, Roseburg, Ore., 137
NAPA Late Model Sportsman — 1. Dan Buckley, Emmett, Idaho, 276 points; 2. Dylan Caldwell, Nampa, 200; 3. John Nesmith, Meridian, 196; 4. Jaramie Fuss, Kuna, 182; 5. Dennis Brodigan, Nampa, 175
Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Kenny Chandler, Boise, 457 points; 2. Casey Tillman, Kuna, 334; 3. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, 266; 4. Kale Freedman, Meridian, 233; 5. Rob Powers, Meridian, 228
CWI PTDS Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Scott, Nampa, 381 points; 2. Marv Weaver, Nampa, 296; 3. Chad Bess, Nampa, 228; 4. Nick Lane, Caldwell, 218; 5. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, 207
Mini Stocks — 1. Dell Scott, Nampa, 423 points; 2. Eddie Ables, Middleton, 410; 3. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, 352; 4. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, 333; 5. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, 211
Domino’s Pizza Legends — 1. Camron Madsen, Boise, 439 points; 2. Sara Henry, Nampa, 351; 3. (tie) Austin Hager, Meridian, 331; Travis Anderson, Boise, 331; 5. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 225
Tates Rents Hornets — 1. Art Heath, Nampa, 230 points; 2. Marshall Burnham, Nampa, 200; 3. David Tankersley, Nampa, 182; 4. Danielle Summers, Nampa, 163; 5. Mary Johnson, Meridian, 153
Jr. Stingers — 1. (tie) Colton Nelson, Meridian, 109 points; Jonathan Hull, Boise, 109; 3. Chance Davis, Emmett, 106; 4. Devin Lee, Boise, 92; 5. (tie) Hunter Gates, Boise, 89; Zach Blume, Eagle, 89
Thunder Dogs — 1. Fare Lady (Kennan Irons, Boise), 223; 2. Winged Snot Rod (Chris Carlson, Boise), 178; 3. Hot Wheels (Brett Sullivan and Martin Anderson, Boise), 176; 4. Sledge Hammer (David Jolley), 168; 5. Old Skool (Dakota Allen, Kuna), 165
