6/14/2021
Meridian Speedway
Caldwell Claims Stroebel Memorial
First responders and short track patriots poured into Meridian Speedway on Saturday, June 12, as the quarter-mile asphalt oval hosed EMS-Police-Fire and Patriot’s Night. The Speed Tour Modifieds presented by Pit Stop USA contested the 65-lap Allen Stroebel Memorial, while the Bud Light NASCAR Modifieds, Pauly’s Bar Room Street Stocks, Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Mini Stocks, and Zamp Stingers pursued their own Trammel Construction Feature Flags.
Dylan Caldwell and Allen Stroebel’s granddaughter Caitlin Kerbs led the Speed Tour Modified field to green for a 65-lap feature. The green flag waved and Caldwell motored to the top spot while Kerbs bounced her Luxery Lawn Care, Trinity Curb Appeal modified off the backstretch wall on lap one. This allowed Donovan Barr and Andrew Richardson to take over second and third on the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard.
On the move from his mid-pack starting spot was Meridian, Idaho’s Shelby Stroebel. The veteran campaigner methodically moved his Gibson Diesel Performance, Trinity Construction machine through the pack and took the third position from Barr on lap fifteen.
Next in Stroebel’s sights was Richardson’s Renegade Race Fuel, Quickcar Racing Products entry. Richardson was strong on the inside, and kept Stroebel at bay through the race’s middle stages. But a slip in turn three and four allowed Stroebel to muscle his way by with 23 circuits left to run.
As Stroebel fought to get around Richardson, Barr and Dalton Cristiani tussled for fourth and fifth place. This fight went bad with fifteen laps left on the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard when contact was made and the pair went spinning town the front stretch.
The restart lined Stroebel up outside of Caldwell for the restart. Stroebel got out of the blocks quickly, but Caldwell was faster and piloted his Hot Box Farms, Nana’s Crispy Cheese racer back to the top spot. But Stroebel, already a seven-time winner of his father’s memorial race, battled back. With two laps to go Caldwell slipped up as he entered turn one, and Stroebel bashed his way to the inside.
Somehow, both racers kept control of their sideways machines down the backstretch. With his best shot at the top spot gone, Stroebel could only watch as Caldwell sped across the Caleb’s Chop Shop Victory Stripe first.
So excited was Caldwell with his win that he stopped his car in turn four and scaled the catch fence to raucous applause of the Independence Indoor Shooting North End Animals.
“This is a long time coming,” Caldwell said as he caught his breath. “We let one slip in the late model a couple weeks ago to an old guy and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.”
The Bud Light NASCAR Modifieds fought their way through a pair of 25-lap features. Camron Madsen diced his way through the pack to take home the night’s first victory. The second feature was all Josh Fanopoulos, who tore through the field and claimed his second feature win of the night handily in his Allan Marsh Travel Center, JesusChristInternational.com modified.
Josh Fanopoulos’ dominance in the Pauly’s Bar Room Street Stock division continued as he held off a late-race charge from Troy Evans and raced his Certified Services, CP Express Vinyl car to the Trammel Construction Feature Flag.
The Boise Bath and Kitchen Company once again brought a full field of racers to green. Despite the close quarters of a crowded track, the race was never slowed by a caution flag, which allowed pole sitter Morgan Trammel to drive his Trammel Construction, Bobby’s Transmission Center straight into the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
Aaden Fanopoulos followed in his father’s footsteps and raced his way to the Zamp Stinger victory.
It’s all main events and tacos this Saturday, June 19, as Walking Sombrero sponsors the Dollar Taco Night Twin 25’s. The Pepsi Sprintcars do battle for a $3,000 payday, while the Coors Big 12 Pro-Late Models, Domino’s Legends, Zamp Stingers, and Mulder Engineered Race Engines Junior Late Models do battle for the final Feature Flags of Spring. General admission to Saturday night’s event is just $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and military members, $7 for kids 7 to 11, and free for kids 6 and under. Gates open at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, with races going green at 6:30 p.m. Log on to www.meridianspeedway.com to purchase your advance tickets now. Can’t make it out to the Concrete Jungle? Live, flag-to-flag coverage of Saturday night’s racing action is available at SpeedCast.tv. We’ll see you under the big yellow water tower this Saturday, June 19, for the Walking Sombrero Dollar Taco Night Twin 25’s at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Clint Doll