8/4/2025
Meridian Speedway
Tellstrom Takes Thrilling NAPA Auto Care Idaho 208
The Speed Tour Modifieds took the toughest test of their season at Meridian Speedway on Saturday, August 2, as they took the green flag on the NAPA Auto Care Idaho 208 presented by Idaho Central Credit Union. The Zamp NASCAR Latemodels, Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Project Filter Pro-4s, and Speedway Bandoleros rounded out a full night of short track racing thrills and spills as competitors raced for the night’s Lakeside Barn trophies.
A full field of 21 Speed Tour Modifieds shook the stands as they took the green flag on the NAPA Auto Care Idaho 208 presented by Idaho Central Credit Union. Polesitter Rosalee Weller got out of the blocks fast to lead lap one but was soon overcome by Shelby Stroebel and Zach Webster. Stroebel, whose Trinity Construction and Excavation, The Dirty Shame Saloon and Restaurant machine developed a clutch issue, soon conceded to Webster and settled into the runner up spot.
While Webster wheeled his Advanced Maintenance, Ramblin’ Roads Diner modified up front, quick-qualifier Kyle Tellstrom was on the move. With his Joe’s Racing Products, Rocket Science Concepts machine planted in the high line Tellstrom stormed from his eighth-place starting spot to second in just fifteen laps and immediately erased the gap to Webster.
On lap 23 Tellstrom arrived at Webster’s rear bumper. Webster claimed the high line in order to keep his momentum up, put less strain on his tires, and force Tellstrom into a difficult pass. Tellstrom accepted the challenge, hooked the inside line, and made the pass.
Behind the lead duo Stroebel, Stephen Brucker, and Donovan Barr fought tooth and nail with each other for position through a heaping helping of lapped traffic. Some casual contact was made, but all drivers kept their mounts under control.
Lap after lap wound off the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard as battles raged throughout the field. With 63 blistering laps in the books something had to give, and finally Willie Dalton’s Coldwell Banker, High Mountain Logistics entry broke traction and spun into turn one. Dalton’s car emerged from a cloud of dust unscathed, and more than one driver waved a ‘thank you’ as they caught their breath.
The fireworks resumed as the green flag waved and Speed Tour Modifieds got back to wheel-to-wheel action. Despite the numerous battles for position and through lapped traffic no further incidents occurred and the second caution flag was for the lap 104 halfway break.
After an eight-minute hydration and adjustment break the field fired again with Tellstrom out front followed by Webster, Stroebel, Barr, and Brucker.
Energized after their breather, the field took the green flag and immediately got back to beating and banging for position. After two quick caution flags for contact-induced spins the green flag waved for the final time with 101 laps remaining.
Barr wasted no time on the restart as he jumped below Webster and zipped into the runner up spot. Stroebel and Brucker followed Barr through as Webster clipped the backstretch wall and fell to fifth.
With ninety laps to go Josh Rudolph’s KTR, Carbon Designs Vinyl machine expired in turns three and four. Out of power Rudolph steered hard left to the infield—and right into the path of the leader. Tellstrom stomped the brakes and luckily avoided a collision, but the sudden stop did bring Barr’s IBEW Local 291, Allied DCS Electrical entry into striking distance.
Barr saw the opportunity and dropped the hammer, desperate to make the pass for the lead. But Tellstrom saw Barr grow in his rearview mirror, didn’t panic, and worked himself back into a rhythm and back into control of the race.
Barr, his tires hot from the effort of trying to catch Tellstrom, now faced Brucker and his STR Racecars, ACI Concrete mount. Brucker stalked Barr and waited patiently for a chance to make his move. Lapped traffic moved Barr up the track in turn two and Brucker pounced. The Alpine, California driver saw daylight between Barr and the lapped car and shot the gap. Barr fought back and the pair traded paint and body blows through turn four. After two wild and wooly laps slower traffic stymied Brucker and allowed Barr back into the second position.
But it all happened behind Tellstrom, who managed his car, tires, and lapped traffic to perfection to win his third NAPA Auto Care Idaho 208. When the checkered flag flew just five cars were scored on the lead lap, and Tellstrom’s closest competitor, Barr, was over six second behind him. Brucker came home third ahead of Stroebel and Webster.
“That was the toughest race I’ve ever had in my entire life,” said Brucker post-race.
Barr echoed the same sentiment, “I’m tired and I need some water.”
“I really love modified racing,” Tellstrom said as he collected his $5,000 check in the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle. “It’s the hardest car to drive and the most fun racing.”
The Zamp NASCAR Latemodels had thirty laps to find a race winner Saturday. Brady Williams and Scott Murri each took a turn atop the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard early, but Niko Heinzel and division dominator Andrew Palmer made quick work of the pack and took over the top two spots after seven short circuits.
Once in clear racetrack Heinzel committed his Kim’s Kars, Metro State Automation, LLC racer to the high side while Palmer hooked the short way around down low. Heinzel put up a valiant defense, but Palmer’s Freedom Payments, One Truss machine was too strong to fend off and Palmer took over the lead with nine laps left.
A late caution flag afforded Heinzel one last shot at the win, but Palmer would not be denied as he ripped around the high side to take the lead and the win.
“Yeah, Niko’s coming,” said Palmer in the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle. “We need to figure something else out.”
Emotions ran high after the Idaho CDL Training Street Stock feature. Kendra Occhipinti, sporting the number of her late grandfather, fought her way through the field to take the lead at the race’s halfway point. But Occhipinti couldn’t hold off a hard charging Josh Fanopoulos, who roared around the outside and took the lead with authority.
It looked like Occhipinti would only manage a runner-up finish in her Marv’s Tire Service, Sonic of Nampa mount when, with just two laps left, Fanopoulos’ machine lost fire in turn two. Occhipinti shot back to the lead while Fanopoulos refired and joined the battle for second place. With just one lap left nobody could mount a challenge on Occhipinti and she flashed across the Caleb’s Chop Shop Victory Stripe first.
The Project Filter Pro-4 feature was dominated by a bizarre feud between Alannah Trammel and Jessika Harris that boiled over several times in the race’s first half. Once Trammel and Harris were separated focus turned to Niko Heinzel and his machine. Heinzel cruised to a four-second lead while Trammel raced her way to second and Jessika Harris took third from Sam Harris due to a spin.
In the closing laps Jessika Harris’ Allan Marsh Travel Center, H&H Auto machine came alive, and she began to reel in Heinzel. Harris’ march to the front would be aided by a caution flag that lined her up on Heinzel’s rear bumper for the restart. The green flag waved, and Harris erupted off the line to take the top spot from Heinzel. As the lead duo charged into the abnormally slick turns one and two Harris held the lead, but lost control and spun into the infield. This handed the lead and the victory to Heinzel.
“I don’t really know what was going on,” Heinzel admitted as he collected his Lakeside Barn trophy.
A swarm of Speedway Bandoleros packed the track for a twenty-lap feature. Jhett Phipps piloted his Western Mountain Inc racer to yet another 2025 feature win. Behind Phipps, Tayton Monroe wheeled his Torch Towing machine hard to stay ahead of Mason Martin, Tayton’s sister Bristol Monroe, and Jax Flores.
In Firehouse Pub and Grill Thunderdog action the This N That Auto Sales-sponsored Knight Rider once again galloped over the infield and through the chicane and then in reverse to win.
Meridian Speedway’s focus shifts from racing to wrecking this Saturday, August 9, as Dirty Dough Eve of Destruction 17 slams onto the quarter-mile asphalt oval. Featuring a World Famous Boat Race of Destruction, Hornets versus The Gauntlet, The Beast Jet Dragster Meltdown, and more mayhem tickets are going fast. Secure yours by logging onto www.meridianspeedway.com before they’re gone! General admission to the full night of Dirty Dough Eve of Destruction 17 carnage is just $22 for adults, $20 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 races kicking off with a bang at 6:30 p.m. Also on the night’s card are the NASCAR Modifieds, Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Mini Stocks, Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets, Firehouse Pub and Grill Thunderdogs, and an Apex Idaho drift competition. We’ll see you under the big, yellow water tower this Saturday, August 9, for Dirty Dough Eve of Destruction 17 at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild