9/4/2025
Meridian Speedway
Speedway Stars Endure Physical Military Appreciation Night
The Meridian Speedway stands were packed on Labor Day Monday, September 1, as the quarter-mile asphalt oval played host to Freedom Payments Military Appreciation Night presented by A-1 Heating and Air Conditioning. The NASCAR Modifieds, Zamp NASCAR Latemodels, Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Mini Stocks, Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets, and the Firehouse Pub and Grill Thunderdogs raced door-to-door for the night’s Ferguson Waterworks trophies.
Caity Miller worked her way to the lead in the NASCAR Modifieds’ first feature of the night. Behind Miller the fight for third went sour late in the running as Kyle Latham and Andrew Richardson tangled on the back stretch. Both drivers would drive away from the scene of the incident and finish the race. But it all happened behind Miller, who piloted her Joe’s Race Products, Major Tire and Hitch machine to the victory.
Latham and Richardson would duel for the win in the division’s second Monday night feature. After 35 hard laps Latham sped across the Caleb’s Chop Shop Victory Stripe first followed by Richardson, Alex Duda, Tommy Harrod, and Titus Clancy.
An early scuffle in the Boise Bath and Kitchen Company Mini Stock division sidelined second place point runner Chase Parker. After a hard-fought thirty laps Mike Anderson parked his Bender Electric, Eagle Flooring machine in the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
Idaho CDL Training Street Stock point leader Andrew Palmer’s night was nearly ended in the heat race as contact sent him piling into the front stretch wall. But Palmer’s Freedom Payments, Bobby’s Transmission crew was able to make repairs in time for him to start the feature. Palmer wheeled his racer hard as he sliced through the pack but met his match in Kendra Occhipinti. In the closing laps Palmer drew even with Occhipinti’s Marv’s Tire Service, Sonic of Nampa mount, but the lady driver was up to the challenge, and she beat Palmer across the finish line by half of a car length.
Palmer continued his winning ways with a dominant showing in the Zamp NASCAR Latemodel feature. Palmer roared around early race leader Niko Heinzel’s Loya Tire, Palm Meto Automations entry to lead the final ten laps to score the Ferguson Waterworks trophy.
The Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets honored fallen speedway staple Dan Breach with a feature that saw an epic duel between Cody Ballantyne and Travis Pavlacky. Pavlacky employed every trick he had to get past Ballantyne, but when the checkered flag waved it was Ballantyne who picked up the win.
In the Firehouse Pub and Grill Thunderdog ranks Pink Pony galloped through the chaos and claimed the victory.
Meridian Speedway gears up for the stretch run this Saturday, September 13, as it hosts Zamp Night at the Races featuring the Outhouse Grand Prix presented by Beacon Plumbing. The Zamp NASCAR Latemodels, Idaho Vintage Racers, Pepsi Sprintcars, Project Filter Pro-4s, Trammel Construction Stingers, and the Firehouse Pub and Grill Thunderdogs. 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. with races going green at 6:30 p.m. Log on to www.meridianspeedway.com to purchase your advance tickets now. We’ll see you under the big, yellow water tower Saturday, Septmber 13, for Zamp Night at the Races featuring the Outhouse Grand Prix presented by Beacon Plumbing at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild