MERIDIAN, Idaho — The Tates Rents Hornets put on a clean race with few caution flags a week ago in their season opener at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.
A similar performance for the Tates Hornets 100 on Saturday at the tight, paved quarter-mile oval should not be anticipated.
The Hornets have the spotlight for one of the division’s longest races of the year, but three other race classes will drop the green flag on their season, too.
The Thunder Dogs, one of Meridian’s entry-level classes, makes its debut. The NAPA Late Model Sportsman and the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving Street Stocks also will run their first main events of the season.
Admission is $6 for everyone on a special Economic Stimulus night at the racetrack. Children 6 and younger get in free as always.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m.
Fans can avoid the long lines at the gate on race night by purchasing and printing tickets from home. Visit www.meridianspeedway.com for details.
For more information, visit the website or call (208) 888-2813.
The Late Models and Street Stocks drivers have experienced the Meridian pavement in 2011, but both had their April 16 features rained out.
Hometown hot shoe Chris Fenton, the division’s 2010 rookie of the year, holds a one-point lead in the Late Model Sportsman standings over Middleton, Idaho’s Tyler Bailey and Star, Idaho’s Tyler Monroe.
Melissa Weaver of Nampa, Idaho, has gotten off to a successful start in an attempt to defend the Street Stocks championship. She has a four-point lead over her father, Marv, who first won a championship at Meridian when the track that is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year had barely finished its first decade of operation. Fellow Nampa drivers Jeffrey Meads and Chad Bess are locked into a third-place tie with 18 points each.
In the Hornets class, another Nampa driver, Art Heath, has a point to prove after losing the series championship to Boise, Idaho’s Larry Hull on the last race of 2010. Hull’s younger brother, Jonathan, finds himself just seven points behind Heath after one main event in 2011.
After taking the checkered flag in last Saturday’s Hornets feature, Heath showed his signature style by bumping his Ford Escort into the wall just for the fun of it.
There’s sure to be a fair amount of bumping — of walls and competitors’ fenders, doors and bumpers — when the Thunder Dogs take to the track for the first time this season. Bump-to-pass mentalities have been encouraged by the race fans in previous seasons.
Meridian Speedway
2011 points standings
After April 23 races
NAPA Late Model Sportsman — 1. Chris Fenton, Meridian, Idaho, 21 points; 2. (tie) Tyler Bailey, Middleton, Idaho, 20; Tyler Monroe, Star, Idaho, 20; 4. Dennis Wurtz II, Boise, Idaho, 15; 5. Dan Lowther, Boise, 14; 6. Josh Jackson, Ontario, Ore., 12; 7. Kane Thomasson, Kuna, Idaho, 9; 8. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, Idaho, 8; 9. Connor Elliott, Meridian, 7; 10. Jeffrey Wilson, Mountain Home, Idaho, 6
CWI PTD Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Weaver, Nampa, 23 points; 2. Marv Weaver, Nampa, 19; 3. (tie) Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, 18; Chad Bess, Nampa, 18; 5. Shawn Hansen, Boise, 12; 6. Jim Anderson, Meridian, 11; 7. Gale Carter, Boise, 10; 8. Doug Loon, Caldwell, 8; 9. Travis Pavlacky, Fruitland, Idaho, 7
Tates Rents Hornets — 1. Art Heath, Nampa, 72 points; 2. Jonathan Hull, Boise, 65; 3. Josh Parkkila, Boise, 64; 4. Amber Rogers, Meridian, 60; 5. James Pahl, Caldwell, 56; 6. (tie) Rob Powers, Meridian, 51; Lance Vanderpool, Nampa, 51; 8. Rosalee Weller, Caldwell, 48; 9. Monica Heath, Caldwell, 47; 10. Stacy Heath, Nampa, 47
ESI Express ASA Modifieds — 1. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 95 points; 2. Chris Fenton, Meridian, 84; 3. (tie) Tony Ackerland, Star, Idaho, 80; Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, 80; 5. Jentry Pisca, Nampa, 52; 6. Jeffrey Hill, Meridian, 51; 7. Lee Hackney, Boise, 40; 8. Darrel Dolling, Boise, 39; 9. Rick Fowble, Twin Falls, Idaho, 38; 10. Rus Ward, Boise, 33
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints — 1. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 79 points; 2. (tie) Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 64; Bryan Warf, Meridian, 64; 4. Cody Veenstra, Emmett, Idaho, 60; 5. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, 55; 6. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, 43; 7. Wyatt King, Meridian, 39
Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Joe Ransom, Boise, 96 points; 2. Eric Ransom, Boise, 72; 3. Kelly Newman, Boise, 69; 4. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 63; 5. Rob Grice, Boise, 55; 6. Josh Allen, Meridian, 51; 7. Carl Marcum, Meridian, 46; 8. (tie) Kelly Perkins, Nampa, 40; Erik Miller, Caldwell, 40; 10. (tie) Ryan Wiederich, Meridian, 29; Doyle Hartman, Boise, 29
Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Ken Chandler, Boise, 23 points; 2. Joe Barton, Nampa, 22; 3. Jim Bailey, Middleton, 17; 4. Jordan Fitch, Meridian, 16; 5. D.J. Lyons, Nampa, 12; 6. Dayne Amyx, Boise, 9
Edmark Mini Stocks — 1. (tie) Scott Shoecraft, Boise, 20 points; Eddie Ables, Middleton, 20; 3. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, 17; 4. (tie) Ray Bolinger, Meridian, 14; Larry Hull, Boise, 14; 6. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, 13; 7. Josh Jackson, 10; 8. Jerry Perkins, Nampa, 9; 9. Duane Gerber, Boise, 8; 10. (tie) Mary Johnson, Meridian, 7; Sarah Shaw, Boise, 7
Domino’s Pizza Legends — 1. Camron Madsen, Boise, 75 points; Cameron Cotta, Meridian, 75; 3. Phil Zubizareta, Boise, 71; 4. Jimmy Ingham, Meridian, 70; 5. Johnathan Davis, Emmett, Idaho, 52; 6. Rod Stiller, Meridian, 45; 7. Chase Gilbertson, Boise, 41; 8. Zach Blume, Eagle, Idaho, 37; 9. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 35; 10. Caitlin Stroebel, Nampa, 32
