NORTHWEST PRO4 ALLIANCE FINISHES UP SEASON AT MERIDIAN SPEEDWAY

Source: Meridian Speedway/bc
Date: 08/31/2008

MERIDIAN, Id — The Labor Day weekend started off with a big race night at ASA member track, Meridian Speedway. There were only four classes racing at Meridian Speedway on Saturday night but there were over 120 cars in the pits.

The Late Model Lites came out in full force to the tight quarter mile oval at Meridian Speedway with the last race night for the 2008 season of the Northwest Pro4 Alliance. Cars and drivers came from all over the west to race at Meridian Speedway. The top three cars in the class were only separated by 11 points with Kameron McKeehan of Lewiston, Idaho in the lead followed by Steve Thompson of West Richland, Washington and Rob Powers of Meridian, Idaho.

The Late Model Lites had both a C and B main scheduled due to the 35 cars at the track.

The ten race cars in the Late Model Lite C main started with Casey Tillman on the pole and Jim Bailey on the outside. The arraignment must have been okay with both of them because they stayed side by side until a caution flag on lap five restarted them single file with Tillman in the lead. The head start was all Tillman needed to put some space behind him and Bailey, who had to settle for second. On the last lap Tillman caught lapped cars but did not slow down as he came up to the checkered flag for the win. Jim Bailey, John Jackson, Johnny Rumsey and Pat Young rounded out the top five but only the top four transferred to the B main. The top four transferred to the B main.

Kyle McGrady started on the pole for the 25 lap Late Model Lite B main and instantly moved ahead of the pack. Bud Rumsey took second after six laps but a caution after lap seven restacked the cars for a restart. A second caution gave Rumsey a second chance but McGrady again moved away from the others. With the race over half done Brandon McLean moved to second and stayed there until the end of the race. Bud Ramsey, Eric Kaas, and Tom Keehan rounded out the top five. Again the top four transferred to the 75 lap feature to be run right after the Legends 40 lap invitational.

The Legends 40 lap invitational Austin Christopherson memorial traveling cup race started with Darin Turpin on the pole flanked by Rob Collins on the outside. As the green flag flew Turpin pulled ahead but Tyler Monroe moved up and put some pressure on the leader. An early wreck on turn one involving Lloyd Bigler, Rob Collins, and another driver stopped the race for cleanup. As the race restarted Turpin had the lead with Monroe and Camron Madsen right behind. Monroe and Madsen moved to side by side but after one lap a disabled car brought out another caution. Turpin again had the lead at the restart but last week's mid race leader, Travis Anderson, had by this point moved to fourth place on a mad dash to the front. After two laps Nick Johnson, who started tenth, moved up beside the leaders and passed on the outside and ran away from the pack putting lapped cars and over a half lap between him and Monroe by the time the race was a third over. Another caution on lap 14 brought the leader back in sight of the second place Monroe except for three lapped cars that partially blocked his view. Johnson took off at the green and Monroe quickly dispatched the lapped cars but still could not keep up. One more lap brought out one more caution but this time Monroe was tight to Johnson's bumper at the restart and held on for a lap or two but Johnson again left the pack behind. As the race wound down to 25 laps Johnson had a large lead followed by TJ Monroe Camron Madsen and Travis Anderson.

The Grand American Modifieds split the racing up into two 25 lap mains as qualifying races for Sunday night's 150 lap main event. In the first one Jeff Wurtz started on the pole with Lee Hackney on the outside. Travis Milburn moved to the back bumper of Wurtz and the cars ran several laps of single file racing with out any passing. With six laps to go Wurtz and Milburn put two cars a lap down but were still running single file. As the race ended it was Jeff Wurtz as the winner with Milburn in second followed by Hackney, Rick Fowble and Steve Fisher.

The second of the two qualifying races started with Shelby Stroebel on the pole and Dennis Wurtz on the outside row. Stroebel quickly took off but Wurtz stayed fairly close. Jeff Hill and Charlie Hamm Jr. followed a few car lengths back and the only passing done was between the leaders and lapped cars. Shelby Stroebel took the checkered followed by Wurtz, Hill, Hamm and Al Colwell.

The Northwest Pro4 Alliance 75 lap Late Model Lite main started with Terry Rennick of Brooks, Oregon on the pole and his teammate, Eddie Secord on the outside. At the green Rennick took off with Kurt Madsen on his tail. Points leader of the Pro4 Alliance series, Kamron KcKeehan had moved up to third but a wreck on the back stretch stopped all forward movement for the time being. As the race continued the other contenders for the championship were working their way to the front until a wreck on turn one collected both Steve Thompson and Rob Powers who were in second and third in season points. Powers returned to the race after some time in the pits but Thompson was put completely out of contention.

As the race restarted McKeehan took up his position in third and had a real good lead over the other contenders for the title but he could not get around Madsen or Rennick. By lap 40 Kale Freedman moved to third and put the pressure on the leaders. Another caution and a restart gave all the drivers a chance for some strategic passing and holeshots. Wayne Dillon took advantage of this and moved to fourth but then lost the position again. Madsen was running in first followed by Freedman and Grosvenor. Dillon and McKeehan were running in fourth and fifth. With four laps to go another spin collected two other cars but Freedman and Madsen were just barely able to avoid the mishap and retain their positions. As the race restarted again for a green white checkered finish Madsen got a good jump but Buddy Rumsey spun and the race finished under yellow. Madsen took the win followed by Freedman, Grosvenor, Wayne Dillon, and McKeehan. Unofficial results for the Northwest Pro4 Alliance championship looks to be Kameron McKeehan for the winner.

The hornets started their 35 lap main with John Williams on the pole but Miguel Lequerrica moved to the outside for the lead while Mike Davis looked to the inside at the same time. Lequerrica moved away from Williams while lapped traffic held back the others. On the eighth lap a spin collected five other cars but when the race restarted Lequerrica led Mike Davis by a good margin. Vern Cornish moved up to second place and by lap 26 moved to the lead on the inside. Lequerrica moved to the inside of Cornish and bumped him loose but Cornish saved it and maintained his lead by a bumper and finished the race with a two race winning streak in spite of Lequerrica's best efforts to muscle his way in. Mike Davis, Vernon Bolinger and David Haslam rounded out the top five.

The next night of racing for Meridian Speedway will be Sunday, August 31, reprising Saturday's classes but not the schedule. While The Northwest Pro4 Alliance ran a 75 lap main event on Saturday the Grand American Modifieds will be running a 125 lap main called the Grand American Labor Day Invitational 125. There will be a mandatory race stoppage and pit stop at 75 laps. All other classes will be running a regular schedule. After the end of the racing action it will be time for some more lighthearted entertainment. The trailer races will cap off the night with some much anticipated carnage.

Next weekend at Meridian Speedway the Winged Sprint Tater Cup 100 will bring out the Winged Sprint Cars in the first 100 lap race in over 30 years at the tight quarter mile oval. The "Showdown in Downtown" will be sponsored by Bill Buckner Dodge in Emmett, Idaho and Canyon Honda in Nampa, Idaho.

The Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and the Thunder Stocks will also be running a regular race schedule. The Thunder Stocks will be completing their season with championship night for the class. The championship point spread is close so don't miss it. The regular gate prices will be in effect so it is a bargain for individuals and families desiring a fun night at the races. For more information log on to www.meridianspeedway.com or call the speedway office at (208) 888-2813.

See Also .:

• Meridian Speedway Track Page

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