MERIDIAN, Idaho — While Shelby Stroebel continues to chase a national championship, his ESI Express ASA Modifieds rival may be strapping in for his final 2011 race at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway on Saturday.
Several sources have confirmed that two-time reigning division champion Tom Hill of Eagle, Idaho, is seriously contemplating shutting down the ESI racing team for the rest of the season so he can focus on his construction business, Engineered Structures, Inc., which has a home office in Meridian and satellite operations in Missouri and Arizona.
Hill’s ESI racing team fields two cars in the ASA Modifieds division, which features ESI Express Service Division as a title sponsor. His brother, Jeff, also races Modifieds under the ESI banner.
Saturday is ESI Service Division Night at the quarter-mile paved oval, and event spokesman David Minegar said this week that the occasion will be used to celebrate subcontractors and contractors who have continued to thrive in the Treasure Valley despite the sagging economy. ESI has distributed thousands of tickets to contractors for Saturday’s races, he said.
While Tom Hill, who is running sixth in the standings, may be hanging up his helmet for the 2011 season, Stroebel looks to make ground he has recently lost in the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship standings.
Stroebel recently fell into third place in the national standings, but still has a stranglehold on the local series, which will run two main events Saturday night.
On Wednesday, the American Speed Association reporter that Stroebel’s 2.8603-point index ranks third in the national standings, trailing leader Barry Beggarly of Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C. (3.2460 points) and Chrissy Wallace of Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Missouri (2.8988).
In addition to the Modifieds, Meridian on Saturday plays host to the NAPA Late Model Sportsman division, the Pepsi Sprintcars, Domino’s Pizza Legends and Tates Rents Hornets.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m.
Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $7.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $6 for children ages 7-11. A family pass for admission for two adults and up to four children is available for $30.
As always, children 6 and younger get in free on Saturday and Monday.
Fans can buy tickets online at www.meridianspeedway.com, print them off at home and avoid the long lines on race night.
For more information, visit www.meridianspeedway.com or call (208) 888-2813.
Meridian Speedway
2011 points standings
After July 16 races
ESI Express ASA Modifieds — 1. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, Idaho, 785 points; 2. Chris Fenton, Meridian, Idaho, 544; 3. Jentry Pisca, Nampa, 466; 4. Rus Ward, Boise, 450; 5. Darrel Dolling, Boise, 383; 6. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 365; 7. (tie) Tony Ackerland, Star, Idaho, 218; Mike Winchel, Kuna, Idaho, 218; 9. Rick Fowble, Twin Falls, Idaho, 209; 10. Jeffrey Hill, Meridian, 189
Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Joe Ransom, Boise, Idaho, 456 points; 2. Eric Ransom, Boise, Idaho, 437; 3. Rob Grice, Nampa, Idaho, 397; 4. Josh Allen, Meridian, Idaho, 297; 5. Ryan Wiederich, Meridian, Idaho, 240; 6. Carl Marcum, Meridian, Idaho, 239; 7. Erik Miller, Caldwell, Idaho, 238; 8. Kelly Perkins, Nampa, 207; 9. Kelly Newman, Boise, Idaho, 162; 10. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, Idaho, 115
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints — 1. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 422 points; 2. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, Idaho, 410; 3. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, Idaho, 360; 4. Bryan Warf, Meridian, Idaho, 329; 5. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, Idaho, 324; 6. Cody Veenstra, Emmett, Idaho, 314; 7. Wyatt King, Meridian, Idaho, 177; 8. Matt Hein, Roseburg, Ore., 132; 9. Robert Beck, Redmond, Wash., 123; 10. Luis Ramos III, Clovis, Calif., 117
CWI PTD Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Weaver, Nampa, Idaho, 627 points; 2. Chad Bess, Nampa, Idaho, 495; 3. Tyler Nelson, Kuna, Idaho, 478; 4. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, Idaho, 469; 5. Marv Weaver, Nampa, Idaho, 442; 6. Shawn Hansen, Boise, Idaho, 328; 7. Jim Anderson, Meridian, Idaho, 310; 8. Bobby Riggs, Fruitland, Idaho, 215; 9. Roy Kirkland, Boise, Idaho, 200; 10. Patrick Tully, Caldwell, Idaho, 169
NAPA Late Model Sportsman — 1. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, Idaho, 418 points; 2. Chris Fenton, Meridian, Idaho, 393; 3. Tyler Monroe, Star, Idaho, 372; 4. Dennis Wurtz II, Boise, Idaho, 238; 5. Dan Lowther, Boise, Idaho, 226; 6. Travis Anderson, Boise, Idaho, 216; 7. Jeffrey Wilson, Mountain Home, Idaho, 212; 8. Connor Elliott, Meridian, Idaho, 203; 9. Richard Urrutia, Caldwell, Idaho, 122; 10. Josh Jackson, Ontario, Ore., 109
Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Joe Barton, Nampa, Idaho, 334 points; 2. Ken Chandler, Boise, Idaho, 333; 3. Jim Bailey, Middleton, Idaho, 272; 4. Dayne Amyx, Boise, Idaho, 178; 5. D.J. Lyons, Nampa, Idaho, 153; 6. Rob Taylor, Meridian, Idaho, 137; 7. Jordan Fitch, Meridian, Idaho, 136; 8. Casey Tillman, Kuna, Idaho, 88; 9. Rob Powers, Meridian, Idaho, 84; 10. Ron Peters, Meridian, Idaho, 76
Edmark Mini Stocks — 1. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, Idaho, 728 points; 2. Scott Shoecraft, Boise, Idaho, 698; 3. Dell Scott, Nampa, Idaho, 657; 4. Eddie Ables, Middleton, Idaho, 569; 5. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, Idaho, 457; 6. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, Idaho, 393; 7. Donovan Parker, Kuna, Idaho, 358; 8. Larry Hull III, Boise, Idaho, 320; 9. Sarah Shaw, Boise, Idaho, 310; 10. Chad Barker, Boise, Idaho, 202
Domino’s Pizza Legends — 1. Phil Zubizareta, Boise, Idaho, 495 points; 2. Cameron Cotta, Meridian, Idaho, 488; 3. Camron Madsen, Boise, Idaho, 461; 4. Brent Collins, McCall, Idaho, 373; 5. Sara Henry, Nampa, Idaho, 320; 6. Darin Turpen, Nampa, Idaho, 310; 7. Chase Gilbertson, Boise, Idaho, 270; 8. Jimmy Ingham, Meridian, Idaho, 261; 9. Jeremy Doss, Upper Lake, Calif., 247; 10. Rod Stiller, Meridian, Idaho, 223
Tates Rents Hornets — 1. Jonathan Hull, Boise, Idaho, 420 points; 2. Josh Parkkila, Boise, Idaho, 401; 3. Brodie Stote, Boise, Idaho, 371; 4. Amber Rogers, Meridian, Idaho, 349; 5. Art Heath, Nampa, Idaho, 342; 6. Fred Nagele, Caldwell, Idaho, 340; 7. Monica Heath, Caldwell, Idaho, 313; 8. Stacy Heath, Nampa, Idaho, 299; 9. Sharlet Patero, Mountain Home, Idaho, 290; 10. Brendon Fries, Meridian, Idaho, 278
Thunder Dogs — 1. The Sledgehammer (Dave Jolley, Nampa, Idaho), 726 points; 2. The Catfish (John Pinkston, Meridian, Idaho), 680; 3. Buzz Kill (John Wortendyke and Jimmy Miller), 429; 4. Big Tuna (Stan Irons, Boise, Idaho), 420; 5. Screaming Keegan (Cory Keegan, Meridian, Idaho), 381; 6. Fare Lady (Kennon Irons, Boise, Idaho), 365; 7. IP Freely Too (Nick Forsea, Kuna, Idaho), 324; 8. IP Freely (Brian Duvall, Kuna, Idaho), 258; 9. (tie) TP Freely (Dakota Allen, Kuna, Idaho, and Richard Scott), 166; Bucket List (Rob Bean, Kuna, Idaho), 166
Jr. Stingers — 1. Cody Garrett, Boise, Idaho, 314 points; 2. Hunter Gates, Nampa, Idaho, 234; 3. Chance Davis, Emmett, Idaho, 230; 4. Jordan Kirkland, Boise, Idaho, 206; 5. Kendra Occhipinti, Nampa, Idaho, 192; 6. Colton Nelson, Meridian, Idaho, 158; 7. Matt Burger, Meridian, Idaho, 136; 8. James Pahl, Caldwell, Idaho, 135; 9. (tie) Tyson Fuss, Kuna,Idaho, 94; Tyler Sharp, Nampa, 84
