6/25/2020
Magic Valley Speedway
A New Track Record Is The Headline On This Night!!
By DJ Everett
The biggest crowd of the year so far came out for Brennan’s Carpet & Design Night featuring the lightning quick Speed Tour Wing Sprint Cars along with the Speed Tour Modifieds, Northwest Tour Trucks, Denny’s Minis, and Project Filter Bombers!! With a lineup like that, the fans were treated to plenty of action!!
We kicked off the exciting evening with the Denny’s Minis first of two main events. The green flag flew and Andrew Prince led the way for the first couple of laps. Chad Everett found a way to get by Prince to be the race’s next leader. Cecil Miles challenged Prince for the second spot with Miles getting underneath Prince going through turn 2 when the back end came around on Miles collecting the lapped machine of Travis Adams which brought out the yellow. Miles went to the pit area to get service for his car. The restart saw an exciting 3 wide battle going back into turn 1 with Everett, Prince, and Jordan Carpenter. They would stay that way down the backstretch and into turn 3 when Everett used the extreme high line to get the lead back. John Quinton and Manda Haye found themselves in the top 5 but soon after Haye’s car slowed down the frontstretch making the right hand turn into the pit area. The caution flag flew after Ryan Adams and Cecil Miles got together on the frontstretch and sliding to the infield. Back under green and Jordan Carpenter jumped out to the lead but that would last a couple of laps before Chad Everett got back out in front again. Everett was able to hold off Carpenter to the line to pick up another Denny’s Minis main event win.
The Project Filter Bombers rolled out onto the speedway for their first main event of the evening. Grandma Bev, Beverly Meyers, led it early with Robyn Finch and Brandon Adams following close behind. Craig McCann soon joined the trio up front that made for an exciting 4 car battle for the lead. Adams used the high groove to get by Meyers for the lead bringing McCann through for second. Finch and Meyers now had a good battle going on for third. Adams and McCann started to pull away from the field and started to encounter lapped traffic. Behind them, Finch and Gracie Pehrson was able to get by Meyers putting them in third and fourth. Up front, McCann still on the rear bumper of Adams but wasn’t able to get by giving Adams another win for 2020.
The Northwest Tour Trucks making their 2nd visit of the year came out for their first main event of the evening. Jeff Wade led it at the green then Parker Jones was able to get out in front to the lead next. Jones led for the next few laps with heavy pressure from Jerry Rice. Fast qualifier, Jacob Smith joined Rice and Jones with John Newhouse also in the mix making it a four truck battle for the lead. Jones received a tap on the rear bumper from Smith moving Jones up the track in turn 4 allowing Rice to grab the lead with Smith following through into second. The yellow flew for contact between Newhouse and Reitsma which sent the two spinning while battling for third and collecting Jenna Quale. On the restart, Smith and Rice battled side by side for the lead but that battle would be short lived as the yellow flew again for a spinning Ron Lawser in turn 2. The restart again saw a battle between Smith and Rice for the top spot for five laps. As the two entered turn 1, contact was made shoving Rice up into the marbles sending him to the back of the pack. That left Smith all alone out in front with a fast closing Newhouse but Smith was able to drive it to the checkers picking up his first career NW Tour Truck main event win for the 15-year-old rookie.
During intermission, the Big Wheelz Race sponsored by R&A Trucking took place and it was 6-year-old, Kole Wagner taking the win and the trophy.
The Denny’s Minis made a return to the track for their 2nd main event of the night. Our Jr Flagger for the evening, 8-year-old Ryder Jeffers flew the green flag and it was Manda Haye as the early leader. Haye led for the first 6 laps until Cecil Miles found a way around Haye to be the new leader. Haye stayed on Miles’ rear bumper when the yellow flew for Ryan Adams coming to a stop on the infield grass going into turn 3. The green flew for the restart and the two cars of Miles and Haye were side by side for the lead for a few laps until Haye was able to take the lead back. Roy Boots Jr and Jordan Carpenter joined the two up front making it an exciting 4 car battle for the top spot. A few laps from the finish and Miles retook the lead back from Haye with Boots following through into second. Boots did all he could to get by Miles for the lead and as they rounded turn 4 heading for the checkers, Boots stuck it to the high side of Miles to make a run to the finish line and fell a half a car length short giving the win to Miles. Jr Trophy Presenter, 6-year-old Skylar Cunningham, handed the trophy to Miles and joined in on the celebration.
The Speed Tour Modifieds rolled out for their 50 lap main event. Outside front row starter, Dylan Caldwell, jumped out to the early lead at the drop of the green. The caution came out immediately a couple of laps later for a tangle in turn 2 between Kyle Latham and Pat Petrie. On the restart, Caldwell again jumped out in front and immediately put some distance between himself and the rest of the field. Tim Fahrner who was running second at the time, started showing some smoke out of the back of his machine and pulled off into the pit area. A few laps later the caution flew for oil on the track. The field eventually was put under red flag conditions to clean up the situation. Back under green, it was still Caldwell holding the top spot. The battle was behind Caldwell with Zach Telford, Lynn Hardy, and Zach Webster going at it for the 2nd spot. Hardy was able to put his nose underneath Telford coming out of turn 4 and the two made contact. Great saves by both drivers to keep their cars pointing forward and that would be the opening Hardy needed to get by Telford for second with Webster following Hardy through into third. Webster now put the heat on Hardy for the runner up spot and at times was able to get underneath Hardy but wasn’t able to make the pass. Behind them Eric Rhead found his way past Telford and was scored in the fourth spot. The yellow flew for Jonathan Hull spinning off of turn 4 with 8 laps to go. The field bunched up for the restart with some heavy hitters up front. The restart saw Caldwell maintaining his lead but Hardy was not letting Caldwell get away. With three laps to go, Hardy was able to give Caldwell a shot in the rear bumper in turn 4 but that wouldn’t phase Caldwell as he drove away to the checkers. Dylan Caldwell led every lap of the main event in dominating fashion.
The Project Filter Bombers were next for their second main event of the night. Dondo Morton was out in front early with Craig McCann and Brandon Adams charging up through the field. The two caught Morton and as they went into turn 3, McCann and Adams came together sending both to the wall and bringing out the caution. Back under way and Robin Finch was able to get by Morton for the lead. Finch started to run away from the field and hide as he put a straightway lead on everyone. Adams was able to get back up into second and tried to chase down leader Finch. Finch proved to be too strong and put it in victory lane for his first career Project Filter Bomber win and a popular win as well.
The Northwest Tour Trucks were out next for their second main event. Fireworks happened early as the front row of Jeff Wade and Parker Jones made contact on the frontstretch when they took the green sending Wade into the frontstretch wall. Wade was able to drive away and restart in his pole position next to Parker. The second start proved to be much better and Jones was able to jump out in front. Reitsma put it to the high side of Wade to get around for the second spot and tracked down leader Jones. A fierce battle between Reitsma and Jones with contact at times brought the crowd to their feet. Reitsma eventually got by Jones for the lead and started to drive away from the field. Another battle started to form behind Reitsma as Jones, Jacob Smith, Jenna Quale, John Newhouse, and Jerry Rice were all clumped together in a battle for the second spot. Smith was able to climb into second with Newhouse following through into third. The two now tried to chase after leader Reitsma. Newhouse got by Smith for second and the two hooked up nose to tail to still try to track down leader Reitsma. Behind them, Quale and Jones were side by side battling for the fourth spot. That side by side battle between the two young drivers lasted an amazing 20 or more laps. In the end, Reitsma was able to maintain his gap between himself and second place Newhouse and pickup another main event win in 2020. The incredible side by side battle between Jones and Quale came down to the last turn and unfortunately Quale spun coming to the line but huge props to both drivers giving each other respect to race side by side for that many laps.
The final main event of the night was the Speed Tour Wing Sprint Cars. Earlier in the day during qualifying, Casey Tillman was able to reset the all-time 1 lap track record at Magic Valley Speedway with a blistering 11.808 seconds covering the 1/3 mile oval. The green flag flew for their 35 lap main event and Matt Elliott showed the way early. Elliott looked impressive as he started to pull away but the yellow flew for Mike Anderson spinning to the grass on the inside of turns 3 and 4. On the restart Elliott again jumped back out in front with Rob Grice holding down the second spot. Colton Nelson put the heat on Grice and eventually got by putting himself now in the runner up position. Next it was Tillman’s turn to get by Grice for the third spot. The veteran Bryan Warf trapped mid pack was now starting to work his way forward at this time. Tillman’s charge kept going as he worked his way past Nelson for second. Nelson’s car started to slow with sparks coming from the back of that machine. The yellow flew again for Mike Anderson’s car going up in smoke as he and Nelson pulled off the track. During the caution, Nelson was able to rejoin the field at the back. The restart took place and Tillman pulled a cross over move on leader Elliott going through turns 1 and 2 and put him in the lead but as the field went into turn 3, Hunter Stanley’s left front made contact with Grice’s right rear sending Stanley into the turn 3 wall. Stanley rode the wall for a short time and eventually went over the wall and into the darkness he disappeared. Rescue workers were on the scene quickly and stated that Stanley had already exited his car by the time they got there. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief to see Hunter Stanley walk away from that one. After a red flag period, the field was again back to racing. Tillman again pulled a cross over move on Elliott to shoot himself back into the lead. Warf was able to find his way to the front of the field and move himself up into second. Elliott’s great run would come to an end as his car started to slow and pull off into the pit area. Tillman and Warf left the field behind them and started to encounter lapped traffic. Grice’s run came to end as he came to a stop on the backstretch bringing out the caution. This put Cory Lockwood into third and Kyle Bergener into fourth on the restart. Another quick yellow for Colton Nelson spinning off of turn 4. The green flew one final time, and Tillman left town. He put a straightaway between himself and second place Bryan Warf. At the checkers it was Tillman, Warf, and Lockwood holding off Bergener at the line. Tillman just about had the perfect night!
We would like to congratulate other winners on the evening! Congratulations to James Springer winning the free Shari’s Pie and congratulations go out to Angela Bird, Mark James, Chrissy Solt, Jeremee Elting, and Meghan Clark for winning the Saturday Race Track Selfie Contest!! This Saturday night is Project Filter – Idaho Fights Tobacco Night! The Brennan’s Carpet Midgets, Cactus Petes Streets, Project Filter Bombers, Valley Office Systems Hornets, Quale’s Electronics Jr Stingers, and a visit by the Snake River Legends make up the card on the evening. Another full night of racing so you will want to get their early! Gates open at 5pm and McDonalds Time Trials at 5:30pm! Bring your friends and family and we will look forward to seeing you this Saturday night at Magic Valley Speedway!!
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