4/15/2024
Meridian Speedway
Warf Rockets to Speed Tour Opener Win
The weather was perfect and the grandstands were packed Saturday, April 13, as Meridian Speedway hosted the Speed Tour Sprint Car Opener powered by Pit Stop USA. The Speed Tour Sprint Cars powered by Pit Stop USA took their first green flag of the season alongside the Zamp NASCAR Latemodels, Pepsi Sprintcars, Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Mini Stocks, and Trammel Construction Stingers as they battled for the night’s Shafer Equipment trophies.
Bryan Warf erupted off the starting line in Saturday’s main event to take the lead over fellow Meridian, Idaho racer Colton Nelson. Warf piloted his Allan Marsh Travel Center, Smania Fine Finishings sprinter to a commanding lead while Nelson worked to hold off William Ginn for the runner-up spot. Nelson would accomplish this feat and bring his PBT Auto Sales, YMC Mechanical mount home second ahead of Ginn’s Grip Suspension, Idaho Powder Coating and Sandblasting machine. But it all happened behind Warf, who dedicated the victory to his late car owner Scott Bomogen.
Veteran Zamp NASCAR Latemodel racers Daniel Johnson and Melissa Weaver along with reigning Rookie of the Year Johvan Dillon navigated their way through a chaotic field to finish on the podium in the division’s first feature on the year. Behind the top three trouble broke out as Neil Wassmuth and Dave Thomasson tangled. The contact vaulted Wassmuth’s Neil Alan Fine Jewelry machine up and over Thomasson’s racer before they both slid into the front stretch wall. This allowed rookie contenders Niko Heinzel and Andrew Palmer to slip by for forth and fifth place, respectively.
Casey Tillman returned to the Pepsi Sprintcar ranks with a victorious run to the checkers. Tillman piloted his YMC Mechanical sprinter past Mike Anderson’s Bender Electric, Elda Property Management mount early and never looked back on his way to a dominating win. Carson Ackerland came home third ahead of rookie competitor Jordan Harris, Rich Montes and Dan Gunderman.
Don Trafford wheeled his latest creation through the Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Mini Stock field to take the win Saturday night. Morgan Trammel brought his Trammel Construction machine home in second place ahead of Craig Taylor’s American Staffing racer.
The Trammel Construction Stingers picked up where they left off last year, in pursuit of Ryat Gorringe and his Fast Lane Indoor Karts car. Gorringe worked his way to the lead early and held off familiar foe Makayla Trafford for the season-opening victory.
Warf, Johnson, and Don Trafford earned the night‘s Pit Stop USA Hard Charger awards. New for 2024, the Pit Stop USA Hard Charger awards the highest point earners in select divisions each race night.
Even more sparks fly at Meridian Speedway this Saturday, April 20, as the quarter-mile asphalt oval hosts the Crown Utilities Boat Race of Destruction. The NASCAR Modifieds, NASCAR Trucks, Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Domino’s Legends, Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets and Firehouse Pub and Grill Bombers take the track in pursuit of the night’s Trammel Construction trophies. Plus, Saturday night features the first Dairy Queen Bike Race for Kids of the year. Kids, grab a bike and a helmet and line up at the turn four gate before opening ceremonies to take your crack at the Concrete Jungle. Adult tickets are just $21, seniors and military $19, kids 7-11 are $8, and kids 6 and under get in free. Gates open at 4:45 p.m. Saturday with racing at 6:30 p.m. Log on to www.meridianspeedway.com for more information and be sure to text ‘meridianspeed’ to 84483 to receive exclusive updates from our text club. We’ll see you this Saturday, April 20, for the Crown Utilities Boat Race of Destruction under the big, yellow water tower at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild