Twin Falls, Idaho (May 19) - The second trip to the Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, Idaho saw the ILMS put on three heat races and a 50 lap main event for the fans who packed the stands.
The first heat race saw #2 Kevin Stauffer use his pole position to lead the first lap. Jeremy Zeiler #72 grabbed the lead on the second lap, moments later #49 Jeff Flynn and #63 Marty Zehr got together between turns three and four bringing out the first caution of the heat race. This earned Flynn and Zehr a trip to the back of the field. Two laps later #27 Rick Webster spun coming out of turn three bringing out the caution flag again. Zeiler held his lead for the final six laps to win his first heat race of the season.
Heat race number two saw #50 Fred Walker lose his engine on the second lap oiling down the track in turn three. This caused the #99 car of Jared Elwell to go off the track then come back on, when he did so, he put a hole in his oil pan, and oiled down the rest of the track causing the heat race to be red flagged while the track crew cleaned up the mess. Once this was done the cars where allowed to hot lap to get some heat in the tires and help clean off the track. The cars where then allowed to clean off their windshields before going back to green. The restart saw Rookie #14 Dave Davis hold onto his lead. Lap 4 saw the caution fly when #84 Zan Sharp spun between turns one and two. Davis held his lead on the restart, with #37 Joe Hood pushing hard looking for away around Davis, but was unable to and Davis won his first Heat Race of the season
The third heat race had #30 Kenny Rich taking the lead from #73u Joe Miller on the first lap. Rookies Travis Kidd #55 and Greg Hillock in his brother car #41 for the night, where close behind for about a lap, but rich was hooked up and started to pull away and was able to finish almost a half a lap ahead of the field and take his first heat race of the season.
In the main event the yellow flew early when #63 Marty Zehr and #95 Rookie Art Smith got together in turn four. Kevin Stauffer #2 took the lead once again on the restart, with #73u Joe Miller tucked in tight behind him. The second yellow of the race flew on lap eleven when #95 rookie Art Smith spun out on the backstretch. On the restart Greg Hillock #41 spun coming out of turn 2 bringing the yellow flag right back out. The restart was tried again with Stauffer still in the number one spot, followed by #73u Joe Miller, #77 Gary Porter, #30 Kenny Rich and #37 Joe Hood rounding out the top five.
Lap 15 once again saw the yellow, this time for #27 Rick Webster spinning out coming out of turn one, #49 Jeff Flynn checked up hard to avoid Webster and spun down into the infield. Once again the restart found Stauffer still in first where he still was when the yellow came out for the #99 of Jared Elwell spinning coming out of turn two. Four laps later when the leader #2 Kevin Stauffer and the 2nd place car of #77 Gary Porter got together going into turn four earning the a trip to the back of the field. While checking up for the spin #30 Kenny Rich slid into Porter trying to avoid them, ripping of the right front fender. Mean while on the backstretch the #14 car of Dave Davis was checking up and had the #95 of Art Smith get into the back of Davis, spinning them both down into the infield and hitting the inside retaining wall hard. Smith stayed in his car while it was towed off, Davis decided to walk off while the tow truck had to get the rear of his car of the top of the wall. Both drivers where done for the night.
Kenny Rich was now the leader on the restart, with #37 Joe Hood, #88 Clint Kidd, #49 Jeff Flynn and Russell Butler #25 rounding out the top five. The halfway mark had Rich taking the Pro Racing Supply Halfway challenge on lap 25 where he was really battling to keep Hood and Kidd behind him. Lap 43 saw the yellow fly again for #27 Rick Webster going into turn three this time. Joe Miller #73u left the track with overheating problems which had caused him to drop back earlier in the race. One lap later the #11 car of Brad Young spun going into turn four bringing out the yellow once again.
Lap 45 again saw yellow as number #84 Zan Sharp and #77 Gary Porter got together coming out of turn one. The field was only able to get two more laps in before caution came out again. This time it was #41 Greg Hillock spinning out of turn two. This left a three lap shoot out. At the drop of the green #25 Russell Butler was able to get by #49 Jeff Flynn to move into the fourth position.
The white flag waved with Rich still in the lead ad both Hood and Kidd looking for a way around Rich, who was unable to pull away from them. Coming out of turn four for the checkered flag Kidd went High, While Hood went low, but Rich was able to able to hold them both off for his first win of the season.
