MERIDIAN, Idaho — Emotion and adrenaline are working overtime Labor Day weekend at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.
The big boys return Saturday night for one of the final races on the Carbon X Rocky Mountain Challenge Series late model tour with the Pepsi Gem State 75.
Also on the card Saturday is the Austin Christopherson Memorial 50 for the Domino's Pizza Legends, another pivotal points race in the ESI Express ASA Modifieds, the Mini Stocks, Tates Rents Hornets and the Spectacular Drags for fans itching for track time.
The excitement level doesn't dip for Sunday night's Tates Rents Fan Appreciation Night agenda, though, as the Mtn. Dew Winged Sprintcars, the Pepsi Sprintcars, the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving School Street Stocks and the Thunder Dogs hit the track. The season's final Westby's Bike Race for Kids also is scheduled.
Gates open each night at 4 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at 17 NAPA Auto Parts Stores in the Treasure Valley, eliminating the need to stand in line on race night.
Saturday's admission is $12 for adults, $9.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID and $8 for children ages 7-11.
Sunday's ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and military, $6 for ages 7-11. Children 6 and younger get in free both nights.
For more information, visit the speedway's Web site or call (208) 888-2813.
Through hard work and consistency, John Newhouse of Twin Falls, Idaho, has found his way to the top of the RMCS standings after eight races. Although he doesn't have a win this season, Newhouse enters Saturday's Pepsi Gem State 75 with a 48-point lead over fellow Gem Stater Steve Jones from Meridian.
Jones is a two-time winner on the tour this season -- both victories coming in May at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Utah. Newhouse hasn't finished out of the top 10 in all eight starts this season and has five top-five showings.
The only other two-time winner on tour this season is A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning rookie points leader Eric Rhead of West Jordan, Utah. He took the checkered flag in the series' last start -- a 125-lap contest Aug. 21 at RMR -- and also won at the oval outside Salt Lake City on July 17.
In the first visit to Meridian Speedway this season for the best late model series in the Intermountain West, veteran NASCAR regional driver Brett Thompson of Jerome, Idaho, captured the hardware in the NAPA Auto Parts Treasure Valley 100 on June 26.
Also Saturday, Boise Police Officer Jeff Hill, who lives in Meridian, continues in hot pursuit of his brother, Tom of Eagle, Idaho, in the ESI Express ASA Modifieds. Jeff won last week's main event to leapfrog Shelby Stroebel of Nampa, Idaho, into second place in the season standings. He now sits just 64 points behind his brother with three races remaining.
Sunday's showcase is the Mtn. Dew Winged Sprintcar drivers' final shot at pulling down the $1,300 bounty for running a 10-second qualifying lap on the quarter-mile paved oval. It's also championship night for the speed demons.
Defending series champion Chris Ratterree of Nampa rode a second consecutive strong night into the points lead last week. Meridian's Mike Murgoitio, who has sat atop the standings for virtually the entire season, crashed out in the heat race and battled handling problems in the feature, allowing Ratterree to vault into the lead with a seven-point edge following his second straight main event win.
Emotions and memories will be strong Saturday night when the Legends drivers pay tribute to the August 2006 Racing for Smiles of the Northwest honoree with the fifth running of the Austin Christopherson Memorial.
Racers from Idaho and Washington state are expected for the 50-lap feature run in memory of the 14-year-old boy who died of muscular dystrophy on Aug. 29, 2006, just 24 days after serving as the RFSNW honoree at Meridian Speedway. That Labor Day weekend, Bryan Warf grabbed the inaugural memorial race in a 100-lap affair.
Ben Matheson of Pasco, Wash., won the tribute race last year, while 2009 Meridian series champion Travis Anderson of Boise, Idaho, claimed the perpetual trophy in 2008.
2010 points standings
Carbon X
Rocky Mountain Challenge Series
Through eight of 10 races —
1. John Newhouse, Twin Falls, Idaho, 1,366 points; 2. Steve Jones, Meridian, Idaho, 1,318; 3. Lynn Hardy, West Valley City, Utah, 1,208; 4. Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, 1,167; 5. Bruce Quale, Twin Falls, 1,139; 6. Eric Rhead, West Jordan, Utah, 1,017; 7. Dave Minegar, Boise, Idaho, 1,014; 8. Thane Alderman, Las Vegas, Nevada, 961; 9. Zan Sharp, Wellsville, Utah, 820; 10. Joe Miller, Tooele, Utah, 772
Meridian Speedway
After Aug. 28 races
ESI Express ASA Modifieds —
1. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 951 points; 2. Jeff Hill, Meridian, Idaho, 887; 3. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, Idaho, 877; 4. Charlie Ham Jr., Kuna, Idaho, 817; 5. Chris Fenton, Meridian, 738; 6. Jentry Pisca, Nampa, 554; 7. Darrel Dolling, Boise, 495; 8. Kevin Zimmer, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, 288; 9. Mike Winchel, Kuna, 277; 10. Tony Ackerland, Star, Idaho, 276
Pepsi Sprintcars —
1. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, 923 points; 2. Joe Ransom, Boise, 778; 3. Wyatt King, Meridian, 708; 4. Carl Marcum, Meridian, 667; 5. Kelly Newman, Boise, 540; 6. Eric Ransom, Boise, 500; 7. Aly Clark, Meridian, 376; 8. Josh Allen, Meridian, 362; 9. Erik Miller, Caldwell, Idaho, 288; 10. Tyler Barrow, Boise, 239
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints —
1. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, 778 points; 2. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 771; 2. 3. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 508; 4. Don Kithcart, Eagle, 442; 5. Kirk Wartman, Boise, 432; 6. Darren Spiers, Adrian, Ore., 393; 7. Dave Parrie, Boise, 277; 8. Chris Adams, Nampa, 257; 9. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 161; 10. Matt Elliott, Nampa, 158
NAPA Late Model Sportsman —
1. Dan Buckley, Emmett, Idaho, 589 points; 2. Jaramie Fuss, Kuna, 368; 3. Dennis Brodigan, Nampa, 366; 4. Dylan Caldwell, Nampa, 325; 5. John Nesmith, Meridian, 311; 6. Tyler Monroe, Star, Idaho, 290; 7. Josh Jackson, Ontario, Ore., 252; 8. Jeff Wilson, Mountain Home, Idaho, 225; 9. Chris Fenton, Meridian, 207; 10. Terry Lydell, Mountain Home, 193
Project Filter Pro-4s —
1. Kenny Chandler, Boise, 820 points; 2. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, 535; 3. Casey Tillman, Kuna, 525; 4. Jim Bailey, Middleton, 522; 5. Kale Freedman, Meridian, 450; 6. David Short, Meridian, 369; 7. Rob Powers, Meridian, 342; 8. John Peterson, Boise, 290; 9. Kyle Latham, Boise, 246; 10. Dan Smith, Emmett, 230
CWI PTDS Street Stocks —
1. Melissa Scott, Nampa, 1,007 points; 2. Marv Weaver, Nampa, 874; 3. Chad Bess, Nampa, 788; 4. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, 659; 5. Jim Anderson, Meridian, 559; 6. Pat Young, Kuna, 530; 7. Shawn Hansen, Boise, 445; 8. Tim Elam, Boise, 425; 9. Nick Lane, Caldwell, 385; 10. Micky Lawson, Caldwell, 297
Mini Stocks —
1. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, 784 points; 2. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, 689; 3. Eddie Ables, Middleton, 682; 4. Dell Scott, Nampa, 651; 5. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, 600; 6. Jason Lampman, Middleton, 530; 7. Scott Shoecraft, Boise, 418; 8. Vern Bolinger, Emmett, 331; 9. Kirk Sanders, Nampa, 315; 10. Quentin Ward, Meridian, 248
Domino’s Pizza Legends —
1. Camron Madsen, Boise, 916 points; 2. Travis Anderson, Boise, 819; 3. Austin Hager, Meridian, 739; 4. Sara Henry, Nampa, 733; 5. Cameron Cotta, Meridian, 492; 6. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 409; 7. Ron Hayes, Boise, 404; 8. Rod Stiller, Meridian, 396; 9. Brent Collins, McCall, Idaho, 379; 10. Randy Keckley, Boise, 300
Tates Rents Hornets —
1. Art Heath, Nampa, 536 points; 2. Larry Hull, Boise, 529; 3. Mary Johnson, Meridian, 385; 4. (tie) Catilin Stroebel, Nampa, 378; Danielle Summers, Nampa, 378; 6. Mike Fortin, Durkee, Ore., 372; 7. Fred Nagele, Boise, 365; 8. Stacy Heath, Nampa, 362; 9. David Tankersley, Nampa, 350; 10. Sharlet Patero, Mountain Home, 304
Jr. Stingers —
1. Colton Nelson, Meridian, 282 points; 2. Chance Davis, Emmett, 277; 3. Hunter Gates, Boise, 211; 4. Jonathan Hull, Boise, 210; 5. Matthew Burger, Meridian, 204; 6. Zach Blume, Eagle, 190; 7. Tyson Fuss, Kuna, 186; 8. Nick Isaacson, 157; 9. Charlie Fiscus, 149; 10. Cody Garrett, 142
Thunder Dogs —
1. Hot Wheels (Brett Sullivan and Martin Anderson, Boise), 367; 2. Winged Snot Rod (Chris Carlson, Boise), 351; 3. Old Skool (Dakota Allen, Kuna), 331; 4. Fare Lady (Kennan Irons, Boise), 307; 5. The Cougar (Scott Sudduth, Meridian), 249; 6. Sledge Hammer (David Jolley, Nampa), 304; 7. Red Neck Rampage (Kane Thomasson, Kuna), 290; 8. Fatimus Prime (Ryan Allen, Kuna), 250; 9. Bumble Bee (David Romero, Boise), 233; 10. IP Freely (Brian Duval, Kuna), 220
