7/5/2023
Meridian Speedway
Tellstrom, Newhouse Shine in Super Late Model Slugfest
Freedom rang through the heart of downtown Meridian, Idaho on Tuesday, July 4, as the Stinker Firecracker 50 and Fireworks Spectacular invaded Meridian Speedway. The Speed Tour Sprint Cars and Super Late Models powered by Pit Stop USA did battle for the night’s YMC Mechanical trophies along with the Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Big Daddy’s Barbecue Hornets, and Bandoleros.
Riley Rogers roared to the Speed Tour Sprint Cars powered by Pit Stop USA lead early in Tuesday night’s Stinker Firecracker 50 feature. Rogers piloted his Boise Bath and Kitchen Company, Pro Source sprinter to a massive lead until a caution flag flew with five laps left.
On the restart Rob Grice got the drop on Rogers and, after a furious two-lap battle, moved his Lissa’s Learning Ladder, Snake River Edge machine to the top of the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard. Rogers’ last gasp effort to retake the lead came up short, and the Meridian, Idaho racer found himself backwards in the infield with two laps left. But it all happened behind Grice, who powered to his first victory of the season. Points leader Colton Nelson finished second ahead of West Valley City, Utah’s Anthony Quintana.
The Speed Tour Super Late Models powered by Pit Stop USA stole the show with a rousing 100-lap feature. It took just 25 laps for pre-race favorites Kyle Tellstrom and John Newhouse to take over the top two spots and once there, the pair went to war for the win.
A lap 28 restart provided a sneak peek at the battle to come as Tellstrom wheeled his QuickCar Racing Products, Carbon Designs Racing Vinyl machine around the outside while Newhouse dug hard on the inside in his The Car Store in Twin Falls, Kidd Performance racer. Before this battle could settle itself, Salt Lake City, Utah’s Dan Root, Junior spun into the infield, then emerged sideways in front of the lead duo. Tellstrom made it around the outside uninterrupted, while Newhouse was forced to bail out of the throttle and fall back to avoid a collision.
This put Newhouse on the comeback trail, and the Twin Falls, Idaho competitor put his head down and marched forward. A mid-race caution allowed Newhouse to catch Tellstrom and the on-track fireworks began again. Tellstrom motored around Newhouse to take back the lead, but Newhouse hung on the leader’s rear quarter panel to maintain pressure on the Ukiah, California driver.
Another caution flag slowed the field with 32 circuits remaining, and on the restart Newhouse went all out for the top spot and got. Now Tellstrom went on the offensive, and after a handful of jabs to the outside that Newhouse shut down, he decided to go with a more aggressive tactic.
Contact was made in turn two, and this allowed Tellstrom to take the lead down the back stretch. This favor was repaid in turn three by Newhouse, who scooted by a sideways Tellstrom to retake the top spot.
Lap after lap Newhouse and Tellstrom threw haymakers at one another and despite the contact, maintained control of their machines. The intensity ramped to a fever pitch before Root, Junior spun in turn two and once again shut down the lead fight, this time with a caution flag.
Six laps and a single file restart remained for leader Newhouse when the green flag waved. Newhouse got a great jump, but so did Tellstrom. With two laps left Tellstrom squeezed to the outside of Newhouse, and side-by-side the two took the white flag.
Newhouse edged ahead by half a car length in turns one and two, but Tellstrom would not be denied, and with one final surge he nosed ahead of Newhouse as the two left turn four. Contact was made for the final time, but Tellstrom kept his foot to the floor and crossed the line first, a mere seventy-nine one-thousandths of a second ahead of Newhouse. Nick Gibson brought his Gibson Diesel Performance, Karch Auto Body entry home third, with Zach Telford fourth and Larry Hull fifth.
“That’s Saturday night short track racing at its best there,” Tellstrom said. “Fourth of July. Tuesday afternoon. It doesn’t get much better than this.”
Jesse James Lawson navigated his Flapjack Flips, Boise River Logistics racer through a crowded Idaho CDL Training Street Stock field and outdueled defending division champion Taylor Occhipinti to take home the YMC Mechanical trophy. Dakota Allen raced his way past Scott Groom on the last lap for third place while Samantha Raymond finished fifth.
The Big Daddy’s Barbecue Hornet division got two feature races Tuesday night. Jody Moen won a hard-fought fifteen lap mini main event at the wheel of her Fast Lane Automotive, The Beach Tanning Company machine, while the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere trophy went to Ben Sommerfield.
Mason Martin raced his way to a surprise one-hundred-dollar payday in his The TI Company, Hayden Homes Bandolero. Alanna Bergseng finished second ahead of Alannah Trammel, Tucker Webster, and Bristol Monroe.
Meridian Speedway skip straight to main events this Saturday, July 8, with the American Staffing Twin 25’s presented by Idaho Central Credit Union. The Bud Light NASCAR Modifieds, Pepsi Sprintcars, Zamp Pro-Late Models, Project Filter Pro-4s, and Trammel Construction Stingers get two shots at the Concrete Jungle as they search for the night’s Challenger Auto trophies. General admission is just $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and military members, $8 for kids 7-11, 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 secure your advance tickets and keep up with all the news and notes from around the quarter-mile. We’ll see you under the big, yellow water tower this Saturday, July 8, for the American Staffing Twin 25’s presented by Idaho Central Credit Union at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild