5/12/2025
Meridian Speedway
Warf Wins Second Straight Speed Tour Sprint Car Opener
It was standing room only at Meridian Speedway on Saturday, April 26, as the Race to End Bullying Speed Tour Sprint Car Opener and Boat Race of Destruction presented by Create Spaces thundered onto the quarter-mile. The Speed Tour Sprint Cars made their 2025 debut alongside the Zamp NASCAR Latemodels, Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Pepsi Sprintcars, Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Mini Stocks, and Trammel Construction Stingers as they went wheel-to-wheel for the night’s Western Cargo Services trophies.
Nine Speed Tour Sprint Cars roared to green for their 35-lap feature. On the break Mike Anderson thundered around the outside of Nate Little to take the early lead with Colton Nelson on his tail tank. Behind the leaders Bryan Warf went to work on Casey Tillman and relieved Tillman of the third spot on lap five.
Warf’s charge forward wasn’t done and he soon found himself on the outside of Nelson’s Busch Light, Freedom Payments machine in turn two. Five laps later Warf dove his Allan Marsh Travel Center, Smania Fine Finishing sprinter inside of Anderson and roared to the lead in the North turns.
Once out front, Warf engaged cruise control and piloted his machine to the victory. Nelson and Anderson battled back and forth for the runner up spot with Nelson ultimately taking the second spot ahead of Anderson, Tillman came home fourth with Josh Fanopoulos fifth.
A dozen Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks rumbled to the start of their 25-lap feature. Sam Newcomer, Junior got to the gas pedal first and left Scott Cooper to battle with Tommy Harrod for the runner up spot early. But heavy hitters Scott Groom and Andrew Palmer and surprising speedsters Samantha Occhipinti and Jake Altman were quick to break through traffic and soon Newcomer, Junior found himself in a desperate battle for the lead.
Groom was first to reach Newcomer, Junior’s bumper, but the leader’s Antler’s Boutique entry was hard to overtake as he powered down the straightaway. As Groom looked for a way underneath Newcomer, Junior, Palmer worked his Bobby’s Transmission, Freedom Payments machine to his outside. That’s when the chaos started.
Newcomer, Junior’s car lost power momentarily in turns one and two. Groom, being just inches behind the youngster, tried to avoid contact but was unsuccessful as his car not only tagged the leader’s bumper, but also shot up the track into Palmer. The latter hit cut Groom’s right rear tire and sent him to the pit area.
Altman made the most of this skirmish and moved his Outlaw Excavation and Construction, All Pro Air racer past Palmer’s battered machine and into second place. But Newcomer, Junior’s entry was ailing, and Altman made the winning pass in turns three and four. With the white flag in the air Palmer tried to set up a pass on Altman but ran out of time as Altman dashed to his first feature victory and was nearly speechless as he collected his Western Cargo Services hardware.
Andrew Palmer survived a wild Zamp NASCAR Latemodel feature to race his Freedom Payments, Bobby’s Transmission machine into the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
Riley Rogers went two-for-two on the year as he piloted his YMC Mechanical, Performance Signs and Graphics sprinter to win the night’s Pepsi Sprintcar feature. Jordan Harris brought his Honor Automotive, Challenger Auto machine home second ahead of Carson Ackerland’s Dick’s Chevron entry.
Morgan Trammel outlasted the Boise Bath and Kitchen Company field to tally his second feature win of the season. Trammel’s son Michael also won his Race to End Bullying Speed Tour Sprint Car Season Opener presented by Create Spaces feature race in the Trammel Construction Stinger ranks.
Speedway season rolls on Saturday, May 10, with Grace Assisted Living Night at the Races. The NASCAR Modifieds, NASCAR Trucks, Idaho Vintage Racers, Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets, and Trammel Construction Stingers turn up the intensity in their pursuit of the night’s Notus Baptist Church trophies. General admission to Grace Assisted Living Night at the Races 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 the night’s first green flag waved at 6:30 p.m. Log on to www.meridianspeedway.com to purchase your advance tickets now. We’ll see you Saturday, May 10, under the big, yellow water tower at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild