MERIDIAN, Idaho — The best sprintcar drivers from the Northwest and western Canada will call ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway home for the weekend when the 22nd annual 96.1 BOB FM Diamond Cup hits the quarter-mile oval.
The ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association opens its silver anniversary season with the first of two two-day Meridian shows on its schedule, and 2011 Bob and Tom Naylor Memorial Classic champion Sierra Jackson of Middleton will be waiting for them.
Jackson is one of five Idaho drivers who plan to run a competitive NSRA schedule. She finished third in the series standings last year.
“With the five Idaho cars that will travel, we should have a real good series this year,” reigning NSRA champion Andy Alberding said, adding that the NSRA regulars are looking forward to opening the season on the tight quarter-mile paved oval that’s celebrating its 60th anniversary season.
The Roseburg, Ore., driver who holds the Meridian Speedway qualifying record said that fans can expect upwards of 20 cars this weekend. Among the out-of-state series drivers expected is Matt Mansell of Victoria, British Columbia. Mansell scouted the Meridian oval Saturday night by driving in the Naylor Memorial Classic less than a week ago.
Everyone will be gunning for the speedway’s speed bounty. The jackpot for the first driver to run a 10-second qualifying lap has grown to $1,500 after no one claimed it in 2010. If the bounty stands, the NSRA will be back Sept. 9-10 to take another shot.
With a rainout of the April 2 season opener at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., it’s a good bet that NSRA drivers will be ready to put on a great show, too. Matt Hein of Roseburg, who was runner-up in the NSRA series a year ago, returns to try to reclaim a Diamond Cup title that he last won during 2009, the second of his back-to-back NSRA championship runs.
The speedway will be filled with champions this weekend as Alberding, Hein and Jeff Montgomery of Langford, British Columbia make the tow and represent every NSRA titlist since 2006.
Meridian fans will have plenty of locals for whom to cheer with former USAC sprintcar racer Mike Murgoitio, reigning Mtn. Dew Winged Sprint champion Chris Ratterree of Nampa, Idaho, Emmett, Idaho’s Cody Veenstra, Meridian, Idaho’s Bryan Warf and Adrian, Ore.’s Darren Spiers.
Warf and Spiers are among the Idahoans planning to run a full NSRA slate.
The trick to winning the Diamond Cup is consistency over Friday and Saturday night. The driver who earns the most points between the two nights will lay claim to a diamond ring furnished by Hendrickson’s Fine Jewelers.
Sharing the track with the sprintcars Friday night will be the Pepsi Sprintcars, Project Filter Pro-4s and Edmark Mini Stocks. The races are presented by Stinker Stores and Hendrickson’s Fine Jewelers.
Saturday’s supporting classes include the third appearance of the season for the SPI Sprintcars, the ESI Express ASA Modifieds, the College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving Street Stocks and the Jr. Stingers. Hendrickson’s Fine Jewelers presents this night of action.
Gates open at 4 p.m. both nights with racing at 6:30 p.m.
Admission is $15 each night for general admission, $12.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $11 for children 7-11 and, as always, free for children 6 and younger.
A family pass is available for $46, which is good for two adults and up to four children. You can pick up a free family pass by buying $10 worth of gasoline at participating Stinker Stations.
Fans can buy tickets online at www.meridianspeedway.com, print them off at home and avoid the long lines on race night. A $5 discount is available for tickets purchased online for Friday’s races.
For more information, visit www.meridianspeedway.com or call (208) 888-2813.
Meridian Speedway
2011 points standings
After May 30 races
ESI Express ASA Modifieds — 1. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, Idaho, 331 points; 2. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 281; 3. Chris Fenton, Meridian, Idaho, 254; 4. Jentry Pisca, Nampa, 184; 5. Tony Ackerland, Star, Idaho, 181; 6. Rus Ward, Boise, 172; 7. Rick Fowble, Twin Falls, Idaho, 162; 8. Darrel Dolling, Boise, 155; 9. Jeffrey Hill, Meridian, 134; 10. Mike Winchel, Kuna, Idaho, 99
Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Joe Ransom, Boise, 236 points; 2. Rob Grice, Nampa, 193; 3. Eric Ransom, Boise, 192; 4. Carl Marcum, Meridian, 187; 5. Josh Allen, Meridian, 158; 6. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 115; 7. Ryan Wiederich, Meridian, 111; 8. Kelly Newman, Boise, 108; 9. Kelly Perkins, Nampa, 107; 10. Erik Miller, Caldwell, Idaho, 106
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints — 1. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 156 points; 2. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 137; 3. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, 126; 4. Cody Veenstra, Emmett, Idaho, 111; 5. Bryan Warf, Meridian, 110; 6. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, 90; 7. Wyatt King, Meridian, 72; 8. Brandon Johnson, Meridian, 41; 9. Chris Adams, Nampa, 37; 10. Matt Mansell, Victoria, British Columbia, 33
CWI PTD Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Weaver, Nampa, 387 points; 2. Chad Bess, Nampa, 305; 3. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, 261; 4. Marv Weaver, Nampa, 254; 5. Tyler Nelson, Kuna, 245; 6. Shawn Hansen, Boise, 200; 7. Jim Anderson, Meridian, 192; 8. Patrick Tully, Caldwell, 137; 9. Bobby Riggs, Fruitland, Idaho, 108; 10. Gale Carter, Boise, 81
NAPA Late Model Sportsman — 1. Chris Fenton, Meridian, 252 points; 2. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, 249; 3. Tyler Monroe, Star, 247; 4. Connor Elliott, Meridian, 140; 5. Jeffrey Wilson, Mountain Home, Idaho, 131; 6. Travis Anderson, Boise, 122; 7. Dennis Wurtz II, Boise, 115; 8. Dan Lowther, Boise, 107; 9. Kane Thomasson, Kuna, 96; 10. (tie) Josh Jackson, Ontario, Ore., 70; Dave Thomasson, Meridian, 70
Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Joe Barton, Nampa, 192 points; 2. Ken Chandler, Boise, 181; 3. Jim Bailey, Middleton, 155; 4. Dayne Amyx, Boise, 103; 5. Rob Powers, Meridian, 84; 6. (tie) Rob Taylor, Boise, 61; Bud Rumsey, Prosser, Wash., 61; 8. Eddie Secord, Oak Hills, Calif., 51; 9 Jordan Fitch, Meridian, 50; 10. John Rumsey, Prosser, Wash., 41
Edmark Mini Stocks — 1. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, 255 points; 2. Scott Shoecraft, Boise, 252; 3. Dell Scott, Nampa, 246; 4. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, 239; 5. Eddie Ables, Middleton, 203; 6. Donovan Parker, Kuna, 193; 7. Larry Hull III, Boise, 159; 8. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, 147; 9. Sarah Shaw, Boise, 112; 10.Jeremy Perkins, Nampa, 89
Domino’s Pizza Legends — 1. Camron Madsen, Boise, 177 points; 2. Jimmy Ingham, Meridian, 147; 3. Cameron Cotta, Meridian, 136; 4. Phil Zubizareta, Boise, 101; 5. Johnathan Davis, Emmett, 86; 6. Chase Gilbertson, Boise, 84; 7. Rod Stiller, Meridian, 78; 8. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 76; 9. Brent Collins, McCall, Idaho, 68; 10. Zach Blume, Eagle, 67
Tates Rents Hornets — 1. Josh Parkkila, Boise, 230 points; 2. Jonathan Hull, Boise, 223; 3. Art Heath, Nampa, 205; 4. Fred Nagele, Caldwell, 183; 5. Brendon Fries, Meridian, 179; 6. Rosalee Weller, Caldwell, 178; 7. James Pahl, Caldwell, 176; 8. Lance Vanderpool, Nampa, 164; 9. Amber Rogers, Meridian, 161; 10. Monica Heath, Caldwell, 148
Thunder Dogs — 1. The Catfish (John Pinkston, Meridian), 246 points; 2. Screaming Keegan (Cory Keegan, Meridian), 218; 3. Big Tuna (Stan Irons, Boise), 196; 4. IP Freely Too (Nick Forsea, Richland, Ore.), 194; 5. The Sledgehammer (Dave Jolley, Nampa), 171; 6. IP Freely (Brian Duvall, Kuna), 166; 7. Fare Lady (Kennon Irons, Boise), 163; 8. Buzz Kill (John Wortendyke), 121; 9. Gone Fishin (Big Al), 100; 10. Furyus (Ben Frisbee, Meridian), 80
Jr. Stingers — 1. Cody Garrett, Boise, 94 points; 2. Hunter Gates, Nampa, 69; 3. Chance Davis, Emmett, Idaho, 66; 4. Tyson Fuss, Kuna, 51; 5. (tie) Tyler Sharp, 48; Jordan Kirkland, Boise, 48; 7. Matt Burger, Meridian, 45; 8. Kendra Occhipinti, Nampa, 44; 9. Andrew Hale, 35; 10. Ali Norton, Kuna, 30
