4/15/2025
Meridian Speedway
Latham Overcomes Qualifying Crash to Win Latemodel Feature
For the 75th season fans packed the stands and cars crowded the Meridian Speedway pit area for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Season Opener. The NASCAR Modifieds, Zamp NASCAR Latemodels, Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Pepsi Sprintcars, Meridian Speedway Midgets, Project Filter Pro-4s and Mini Modifieds, and Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets battled door-to-door for the night’s Prism Cleaning Services feature flags.
Action in the Zamp NASCAR Latemodel division started early as Neal Latham piled his Limitless Pressure Washing, Outlaw Excavation machine into the turn three barriers during his qualifying lap. Undeterred, Latham and his crew thrashed to rebuild his mount and were successful as Latham returned to the track for his heat race. Despite missing his front end sheet metal Latham fought his way to a runner up finish before his crew went back to work for the feature.
Coleman Green got out of the blocks first to take the early lead in the night’s final feature. As Green wheeled his Haztech Drilling, Beautiful Barker Art racer to a straightaway lead Latham weaved his way through the pack and after ten laps had tracked down the youngster. With a strong run around the outside of Green, Latham took over the top spot two laps later.
Now out front, Latham focused on laying down smooth, consistent laps. Green hung with the veteran campaigner for a moment, but the handling on his machine soured and he would lose the runner up spot to Andrew Palmer.
Palmer’s Bobby’s Transmission, Freedom Payments car was fast, and as soon as he hit open racetrack he began to close on Latham. Palmer’s run looked to be a case of too little too late until the caution flag flew with just six circuits left. Latham chose the inside line for the restart which allowed Palmer his preferred outside groove.
The green flag waved and the lead duo thundered into turn one side-by-side. For two laps Latham and Palmer ran deadlocked for the lead. But Latham’s car proved too strong and with three laps left he dispatched Palmer into a fight with Niko Heinzel for second. Palmer would hold on to the runner up spot but could only watch as Latham piloted his rebuilt racer to the checkers.
The NASCAR Modifieds followed Titus Clancy and Mike Davis to green on their 30-lap feature. Davis got to the gas first and took the early lead in his Bigelow Tea, Moodlight Welding Services racer, but soon came under fire from Alex Duda and Chuck Youngblood.
It took Duda five laps to make his way to the front, but only two laps later Youngblood dispatched Duda to the runner up spot. This dropped Duda into a battle with Rusty Houpt and defending champion Brendon Fries. Just before the halfway point Duda’s Carbon Designs Vinyl, HD Concrete modified expired and he was forced to pull to the infield.
Now in a battle for second Houpt and Fries made contact in turn two, then again on the back stretch, and again as they entered turn three. Both drivers recovered and got back to racing proper as Fries took over the second spot with ten circuits left on the Pepsi-Cola Scoreboard. Fries put his head down and sped to the rear bumper of Youngblood’s PBT Auto Sales, Idaho CDL Training machine, but broke loose coming to the white flag. This bobble was enough to hand the win to Youngblood, who celebrated his victory with a tongue-in-cheek Burt Reynolds impression in the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
Andrew Palmer got back to his winning ways in the Idaho CDL Training Street Stock feature. Palmer piloted his Bobby’s Transmission, Freedom payments machine through the field before a caution flag allowed him to line up side-by-side with early race leader Samantha Raymond for the restart. Once the green flag flew Palmer dashed to the top spot and cruised to victory. Austin Savery came home second ahead of Scott Groom, Raymond, and Kendra Occhipinti.
Jamo Stephenson and Mike Anderson led the Pepsi Sprintcar pack to the green flag of their 25-lap feature. Stephenson got to the gas pedal first and shot to the lead in his YMC Inc., Points Law PLLC sprinter. Further back Kate Jackson and AJ Luttmer dueled hard over the fourth position. Luttmer claimed the spot, but as he battled with Carson Ackerland, the young racer lost control on entry to turn one and spun his Kendalized Customs, Layton Garage Doors racer into the barriers.
On the restart Stephenson blasted back to the lead but was harassed by Anderson. Meanwhile, Jackson worked Ackerland over for third. With eight laps to go Jackson moved her Jackson Custom Machining, Porters Custom Cabinets sprinter into the second spot and set her sights on Anderson. Two laps later this tussle would go wrong in spectacular fashion as contact pitched Anderson’s machine up and over before it cartwheeled into the turn two barriers. Anderson popped out of his car as soon as it made landfall and walked to the pit area under his own power after his wild ride, but his car was much the worse for the wear.
With the crash site cleaned up it was time to settle the season’s first Pepsi Sprintcar feature. Again Stephenson shot to the top spot, but now faced attacks from Riley Rogers and his YMC, Inc, Boise Bath and Kitchen Company sprinter. Rogers worked the low line and with two laps to go dove into turn three to take the lead. Stephenson couldn’t mount a comeback and Rogers scored the first feature win of the season.
The Project Filter Pro-4s and Mini Modifieds combined for a quick four-cylinder feature. As usual Jordan Harris piloted his Allan Marsh RV and Marine, Kim’s Kars machine to the early lead with Ed Griffith’s Mr. Mudd Concrete Corp, Godwin Lawn Company modified in hot pursuit. But Harris’ night would be cut short by a flat right rear tire-induced spin with just a handful of laps left. This left the lead to Griffith, who held off a late-race charge by Josh Fanopoulos to take the win.
The Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets brought fifteen machines to bear on their 25-lap feature. Despite a chaotic race no cars were lost due to contact, though Michael Gann’s machine erupted in flames as he crossed the finish line third to winner Ron Clausen and runner up Tommy Harrod and their PBT Auto Sales racers. Gann scrambled from his car and was okay after the conflagration.
Casey Tillman dashed to the front of the Meridian Speedway Midget field and never looked back as he piloted his YMC, Inc, Westside Machine entry into the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
The Meridian Speedway season gains momentum this Saturday, April 19, with Toyota Dealer’s Night at the Races. General admission for Saturday’s event is just $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and military members, $9 for kids 7-11, and free for kids 6 and under. Gates open at 4:45 p.m. Saturday with Bike Races for Kids around 6 p.m. and the night’s first green flag waved at 6:30 p.m. Log on to www.meridianspeedway.com now to secure your advance tickets. We’ll see you under the big, yellow water tower this Saturday, April 19, for Toyota Dealers Night at the Races at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild