6/3/2024
Meridian Speedway
Stroebel Speeds to Win in Father's Memorial Race
Fans of racing and wrecking packed Meridian Speedway on Saturday, June 1, as the quarter-mile asphalt oval hosted Busch Light Smash-O-Rama presented by Idaho Asphalt Services. The Speed Tour Modifieds powered by Pit Stop USA, NASCAR Modifieds, Pepsi Sprintcars, Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets, and Firehouse Pub and Grill Bombers raced to take home the night’s PBT Auto Sales feature flags before the chaos and carnage took over.
Lee Hackney and Chris Cook led the Speed Tour Modifieds powered by Pit Stop USA to green in Saturday’s Allen Stroebel Memorial Open Show 50. On the break Hackney’s mount lost power, but the veteran racer bailed to the infield and allowed the field to pass. Also in trouble early was Rosalee Weller, whose Idaho State Towing, Outlaw Excavation machine sprung a fuel leak and was forced to the pit area for repairs.
As the early race chaos unfolded Caitlin Kerbs and Shelby Stroebel, Allen’s granddaughter and son respectively, quietly moved forward. Kerbs hooked her Trinity Construction modified to the inside groove and worked past the ill-handling Zach Webster machine. Stroebel followed his daughter past Webster then motored into the runner up spot on lap fourteen. Just a handful of laps later Stroebel worked his way around Cook’s machine to take the lead.
As Stroebel walked away from the field Andrew Richardson sliced his way through traffic and took up residence in Kerbs’ rearview mirror. Richardson worked his racer high and low as he looked for a way around Kerbs. But Kerbs was too strong, and she held Richardson off down the stretch. But it all happened behind Stroebel, who sped across the Caleb’s Chop Shop Victory Stripe first. Saturday night’s win was Stroebel’s ninth in his father’s memorial race.
“I wanted her [Caitlin] to beat me so bad, you have no idea,” Stroebel said.
The NASCAR Modifieds followed Mike Davis and Nick Durbin to green Saturday. When the green flag dropped Durbin surged to the lead in his Mountain Metal, CF Floor Covering racer. But Durbin wasn’t safe up front and soon faced a challenge from Josh Jackson and his Ray’s Diesel and Auto machine.
On the move early was Caity Miller, who navigated her Joe’s Race Products modified through the field to third behind Jackson and Alex Duda. Miller caught Duda’s HD Concrete, Idaho Dairy Pro mount with fifteen laps to go and after a three-lap battle took over the runner up spot.
Miller immediately set her sights on Jackson. But no matter how hard she pushed her car she couldn’t catch Jackson, who cruised to the win.
“Above everything, I appreciate every one of you being here,” Jackson said to the packed grandstands. “Because without you we don’t have a place to race.”
For the second week in a row the Pepsi Sprintcars saw a female winner park in the Caleb’s Chop Shop Winner’s Circle. Kate Jackson blasted out of the blocks and piloted her Hazel Asphalt, LLC., Advanced Racing Suspensions sprinter to the early lead and looked like she would walk away with the win until, with six circuits left on the Pepsi-Cola scoreboard, Daytona Wurtz dove to the inside in turn three and wheeled her DD Salvage and Towing, All Makes Auto Salvage car to the lead. Casey Tillman followed Wurtz and tried some late race heroics of his own but came up short and had to settle for second behind Wurtz.
“Hell of a race to Kate,” Wurtz said as she collected her PBT Auto Sales feature flag, her first in the division.
The Idaho Asphalt Services Hornets took on each other, wacky rules, and a bevy of tipped over water barrels in their feature. As the white flag waved four drivers sped across the line side-by-side-by-side-by-side and piled into turn one. When the dust cleared Dale Bolinger found himself in the lead, so he put his foot to the floor in his Lone Sage Enterprises, Leisure Time machine and sped to the win.
Trent Wilson piloted Boss Hogg to victory in the Firehouse Pub and Grill Bomber feature.
World-famous stuntman Mr. Dizzy was busy on Busch Light Smash-O-Rama Saturday. First, he proved a camper is no match for a speeding Crown Vic and stuck the landing in the Camper Jump of Doom. Later, Mr. Dizzy climbed into a minivan soaked in fuel and had his crew strike a match. Dizzy burst out of the ensuing inferno and bowed to the crowd before he strolled out of the hot zone.
Brian Ditto mastered the disaster of Motor Home Figure 8 racing to walk away with the win in his first appearance in the Concrete Jungle.
“This is like all of my redneck dreams in one night,” Ditto said.
Boat Race of Destruction driver Casey Tillman battered the most boats in Firehouse Pub and Grill Bomber ‘Boss Hogg’ to take home the event’s PBT Auto Sales feature flag.
Meridian Speedway returns to action this Saturday, June 8, with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Twin 25’s. The NASCAR Modifieds, Idaho CDL Training Street Stocks, Domino’s Legends, Project Filter Pro-4s, and Speedway Bandoleros converge on the Concrete Jungle for a night full of double-features. Plus, Saturday sees the season’s second Dairy Queen Bike Races for Kids. Log on to www.meridianspeedway.com for advance tickets and further information. We’ll see you Saturday, June 8, under the big, yellow water tower for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Twin 25’s at your NASCAR Home Track, Meridian Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild