5/12/2025
Meridian Speedway
Fries, Strikwerda Split Wild NASCAR Modified Main Events
Summer came early to Meridian Speedway last Saturday, May 10, as temperatures soared for Grace Assisted Living Night at the Races. The NASCAR Modifieds, NASCAR Trucks, Idaho Vintage Racers, Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets, and Trammel Construction Stingers battled to win the night’s Notus Baptist Church trophies.
The hits kept coming for the NASCAR Modifieds in their first feature Saturday. After a halting start that featured all manner of beating and banging mid-pack, a cut tire on the front stretch turned fourth-place runner Joe Daily sideways in front of the field. When the smoke cleared seven cars sat in a heap at the entrance to turn one with several others relegated to the pit area for repairs.
Once the track was cleared James Strikwerda flexed his muscles and drove his All Parts Brokers modified to the top spot while the rest of the field continued to tussle for position. When the checkers flew Strickwerda flashed across the line for his first feature win in the NASCAR Modified division. Kyle Latham finished second ahead of Brendon Fries, Alex Duda, and Josh Randolph.
The second feature saw Taylor Occhipinti rip his Idaho CDL Training, Boise Windshields machine around the high side to take the early lead while the rest of the field remained stacked two-by-two behind him.
As the early race congestion cleared up Fries and Randolph popped out of the scrum and raced their way into the lead fight. First to Occhipinti’s bumper was Fries and his Ryan Shelby at Guild Mortgage, Dirty Dough machine. In three short laps defending division champion Fries overpowered the rookie of the year contender and settled into the lead. This left Occhipinti to ward off new third place runner Tommy Harrod. Harrod’s PBT Auto Sales modified was fast on the inside, but Occhipinti found something in the outside groove and was able to keep pace. This battle raged until the final lap where Occhipinti wheeled his car through turns three and four and took second place by half a car length.
But it all happened behind Brendon Fries who cruised into the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
Jesse James Lawson and Tanner Wong split feature wins in the NASCAR Truck division Saturday night. Lawson piloted his Antler’s Boutique, S Porters, Inc. pickup to victory in race number one. In the final feature Wong worked his Champion Produce, Wong Farms truck to the top of the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard and kept it there as he led wire-to-wire.
The Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets ran up, down, and all around the track for their wild and wacky Grace Assisted Living Night at the Races feature. When the dust settled Ron Clausen stood beside his PBT Auto Sales machine victorious and collect the Notus Baptist Church trophy to add to his quickly growing collection.
Kenny Hamilton brought the Pink Lady, a Grant King-built roadster, to bear on the Idaho Vintage Racers field Saturday. Hamilton bided his time early, then struck with lighting quick maneuvers to take the lead. Hamilton never looked back as he rumbled across the Caleb’s Chop Shop Victory Stripe.
The Trammel Construction Stingers saw the return of last year’s division dominator Makayla Trafford. And the young racer picked up right where she left off, by cruising to a feature win. Kalli Weller brought her car home second in front of Alannah Trammel, Trinity Sheckells, and Drake Morin.
Meridian Speedway turns the excitement all the way up this Saturday, May 17, as a night of Conrad and Bischoff High Octane Thrills takes over the quarter-mile. The Speed Tour Sprint Cars, Zamp NASCAR Latemodels, Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Pepsi Sprintcars, Project Filter Pro-4s and Mini Modifieds, and Firehouse Pub and Grill Thunderdogs are slated to take on the Concrete Jungle for their shot at the night’s Crown Rentals and Services trophies. General admission 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 on-track thrills to start at 6:30 p.m. Get your advance tickets while they last at www.meridianspeedway.com. We’ll see you under the big, yellow water tower this Saturday, May 17, for Conrad and Bischoff High Octane Thrills night at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild