Nesmith gets victory at Meridian

 

 

by Bob Coply, Meridian Speedway Media
Meridian, ID – John Nesmith drove to victory in the shortened ASA Late Model 100-lap special honoring our US servicemen and women at home and abroad. With a full moon shining, it was shear madness from the drop of the green through seven yellows and one red flag.

Darvin Ackerman took the early lead but a smooth Nesmith worked his way to the front, taking the point on lap 23. Blown motors were the threat of the night, with several cars suffering engine failures that oiled down the racing surface and required lengthy clean-up before proceeding with the race.  Due to time constraints, the checkered flag would wave at lap 78, allowing the ever-so-patient Nesmith to take home the $2,500.00 winners share of the nights purse.  Mike Marston finished second ahead of youngster Travis Milburn, Ackerman, and Sierra Jackson.

ASA Late Model Lite action saw Kale Freedman become the first repeat winner in the class this season, which helped increases his point lead over Joe Barton. Scott Wilcox jumped out to take the early lead, holding onto the point for 28 laps until a spin by Neil Latham put Freedman on the bumper of the Ranger pickup. On the restart Freedman took the lead, but on lap 32 Jim Bailey would spin wildly in front of the pack as a broken driveshaft ended his night early.  Another long clean-up would cause the event to be cut from 40 laps to 35, allowing Freedman to lead the remaing three laps and secure the win.  Barton was second with Wilcox hanging onto third ahead of Matt Wolfkiel and Brandon McLean.

The ASA Street Stocks ran a near caution-free event that saw Terry Lydell put all but the second, third and forth down a lap to his bright green Camaro #75 on the way to his win. Shawn Hansen ran a very consistent race in the feature, holding off a very determined Darrell Lankford to take second. Fourth went to Keri Sigman while Rodney Houpt rounded out the top five. Lydell came into the night with a 117 point lead in the championship standings and added to it with his win.

The ASA Mini Stocks kicked of their night with a wreck that saw Matthew Barfuss turned around and a chain reaction bump and bang that took a toll on almost every car in the field. The Dodge of Casey Hart suffered the worst damage, thus ending his run for the win.  Kirt Sanders worked into the lead and took control of the event all the way to the checkered flag.  A hoodless Jason Sanders finished second after working his way back to the front. Scott Heap got his best finish of the year as he held on to finish in third. Jeff Hasson held off Ray Bollinger to make up the top five.

The Thunder Stock feature belonged to Bill Lacy, as he drove a smooth race dodging spins by other cars and a couple of challenges from R.J. Lewis. Lewis, on the other hand, was in the thick of the action but hung onto second ahead of championship points leader Edward Griffith rounding out the top three.