5/29/2024
Meridian Speedway
Dillon Survives Slugfest, Scores Third Bill Crow 50
Military families packed the stands at Meridian Speedway on Monday, May 27, as the quarter-mile asphalt oval hosted the Memorial Day Races. The Speed Tour Sprint Cars powered by Pit Stop USA, Zamp NASCAR Latemodels, Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Pepsi Sprintcars, and Trammel Construction Stingers raced wheel-to-wheel for the night’s Kim’s Kars trophies.
The Zamp NASCAR Latemodels continued the tradition of thrilling Bill Crow 50 finishes Monday. Andrew Palmer wrested the top spot from early leader Dylan Caldwell on a lap twenty restart and set sail from the field. But Johvan Dillon was also on the move, and in just twelve short laps Dillon dispatched Caldwell to put his Dillon Toyota Lift mount in the runner up position.
Dillon drove hard to catch Palmer but couldn’t close the gap on the leader’s Bobby’s Transmission machine until a caution flag flew with seven circuits left. Dillon lined up outside of Palmer for the restart, and as soon as the green flag flew so did the haymakers.
Dillon worked to pinch Palmer down, while Palmer threw hip checks to make room for himself. Turn after turn the two leaned on one another until hard contact from Palmer sent Dillon spinning into third place Caldwell’s door. Palmer and Dillon were relegated to the back of the pack for bringing out the caution flag, which left the lead with an overheating Caldwell and second place in care of Melissa Weaver, whose Marv’s Tire Service, Sonic Crush machine had its own mechanical issues.
Once the race restarted Caldwell soldiered back to the top spot and nursed his ailing National Coatings, Hotbox Farms racer to his second-straight Bill Crow 50 victory.
“Man, that’s three of these things,” Caldwell said as he collected the traveling Bill Crow 50 trophy. “What a night!”
Brent Collins and Aaron McPeak led the Speed Tour Sprint Cars powered by Pit Stop USA field to the green flag Monday. McPeak powered past Collins to take the early lead while sixth-place starter Kyle Tellstrom blasted his way into third on the first lap. As the pack jockeyed for position Tellstrom kept up his torrid pace and shot around McPeak to the top spot on lap five.
Racing was halted on lap twelve for a vicious crash in turn three that sent Collins’ machine headlong into the turn three barrier before it overturned. Once Collins caught his breath, he climbed from the remains of his racer shaken, but okay. Six other racers were swept up in the ensuing melee, all of whom emerged unscathed from their machines.
On the restart Tellstrom took his Hunziker Racing, K1 Race Gear machine back to the top spot with Matt Elliott second and a fight between Cory Lockwood and Mike Anderson for third. Lockwood rolled his Eloy and Sons Landscaping, Sunroc sprinter around the high side and dispatched Anderson after a handful of hard laps. But it all happened behind Tellstrom, who cruised to the victory.
Idaho CDL Training Street Stock competitors Scott Groom and Taylor Occhipinti dueled for the LeeRoy Nelson 40 victory. Groom and Occhipinti worked their way forward until a mid-race caution flag lined them up side-by-side for the restart.
Groom slid his machine around the inside line while Occhipinti tried to motor around the high line. Behind the lead fight Taylor’s sister Kendra Taylor beat and banged with Andrew Palmer for the third spot. Palmer got a good run on the inside and took third for himself, which dropped Kendra into the clutches of Pat Tully.
As Tully ripped around the outside of Kendra the two made contact. Tully spun onto the front stretch while Kendra slammed the concrete wall and ground to a stop just short of the flag stand. Kendra was okay after the big hit, but was forced to retire her Marv’s Tire Service, Sonic Crush machine from the race.
On the restart Groom and Taylor Occhipinti renewed their brawl for it all. But Groom’s racer was too strong, and he once again took over the top spot. A caution flag with three laps to go lined Palmer up outside of Groom, but his Bobby’s Transmission mount couldn’t keep pace, and Groom roared across the Caleb’s Chop Shop Victory Stripe to take the win.
“It really means a lot to put my name on that trophy,” Groom said of the LeeRoy Nelson 40 memorial trophy.
A dozen Pepsi Sprintcars chased the Kim’s Kars feature flag in Monday’s first feature race. Kate Jackson got out of the blocks best and piloted her Jackson Custom Machining, Pisca Trucking sprinter from the second row to second behind Daytona Wurtz in the first corner. But point leader Casey Tillman came to grief on lap three and drew a caution flag.
On the restart Jackson dispatched Wurtz to second place and brought Tony Ackerland with her to the front of the pack. Ackerland immediately set to work on Jackson, but couldn’t find a way around the Middleton, Idaho racer before his sprinter shut off in turn two with three laps left. This left Wurtz to settle for second behind Jackson.
Ryat Gorringe looked to have the Trammel Construction Stinger feature won before contact with a lapped car sent his Fast Lane Indoor Kart Racing car caroming off the backstretch wall. This left Makayla Trafford and her Quality Alignment, Advanced Synthetic Lubes racer in the lead, and she never looked back on her way to the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle.
Meridian Speedway puts chaos on full display this Saturday, June 1, as Busch Light Smash-O-Rama presented by Idaho Asphalt Services takes over the quarter-mile. Before the Boat Race of Destruction, The Beast Jet Dragster Hornet Meltdown, and Fireworks, the NASCAR Modifieds, Speed Tour Modifieds powered by Pit Stop USA, Pepsi Sprintcars, Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets, and Firehouse Pub and Grill Bombers race wheel-to-wheel for the night’s PBT Auto Sales trophies. General admission to Saturday’s Busch Light Smash-O-Rama presented by Idaho Asphalt Services is just $21 for adults, $19 for seniors and military members, $8 for kids 7-11, and free for kids 6 and under. Gates open at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, with racing at 6:30 p.m. and all the smashing and crashing you crave not long after that. Tickets are going fast! Purchase yours at www.meridianspeedway.com now. We’ll see you under the big, yellow water tower this Saturday, June 1, for Busch Light Smash-O-Rama presented by Idaho Asphalt Services at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild