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Warm temperatures heated up the action on the track during PSI Night!!

By DJ Everett

With temperatures hitting the high 90’s, the fans settled in for another exciting night of racing on PSI Night with the Brennan’s Carpet Midgets, Cactus Pete’s Streets, Project Filter Bombers, Valley Office Systems Hornets, Quale’s Electronics Jr Stingers, and the Extreme Staffing Double Deckers!!  The warm weather definitely made for a tricky racing surface which was evident by the racing all night long!

First out was the Quale’s Electronics Jr Stingers for their first of two main events.  When the green flag flew, Kaethyn Gilligan was the early leader but behind him the action was starting to pick up.  Angel Newberry and Brayden Sweatfield started to race hard and eventually got together sending Newberry for a spin.  As a result of the contact, Sweatfield suffered a flat tire and a trip to the pit area. Gilligan would stay clear of all the drama and drive it all the way to the checkers picking up his first Jr Stinger main event win of 2020.

The Extreme Staffing Double Deckers were up next.  The team of Sid McElreath and Devin Westover were up front for the entire race but a fast closing team of Mark Fargo and Jenn Gray started to make a race of it in the closing laps.  As both double deckers rounded turn 4 for the checkers, Fargo and Gray made a last ditch effort move to the inside and almost to the grass down the frontstretch but it was McElreath and Westover getting the win by a half a car length at the line.  

The R&A Trucking Big Wheelz race entertained the fans as the young racers gave it their all.  Jocelyn Sweatfield was the first across the line to take the win and a big congratulations to all of the young participants for putting on a good show.

The Quale’s Electronics Jr Stingers were back out for their second main event of the night.  Polesitter Angel Newberry led the first 5 laps but Brayden Sweatfield closed in on her rear bumper.  Sweatfield was able to get by Newberry on the backstretch of the Jr Stinger track to take the lead and keep it all the way to the checkered flag to add to his win total this year.  Great job by all of the Jr Stinger drivers for keeping their cars together throughout the entire evening.

The Cactus Petes Streets rolled out onto the speedway for their main event and it was polesitter Mike Miller leading the way early.  Willie Dalton started to put pressure on Miller right away and was able to get by for the lead off of turn 2.  Shawn Lester followed Dalton through for the second spot.  The two ran just about nose to tail throughout the entire race but in the closing laps, Jeff Peck from the back found some speed and started to weave his way through the pack.  Peck caught the duo of Dalton and Lester making it a three car race for the lead.  With a few laps to go, Peck and Lester ran side by side for the runner up spot with Lester eventually getting by but up front, Dalton wouldn’t be denied on this night and picked up another main event win.  Lester's magnificent drive gave him a second place finish.

The Project Filter Bombers entered the track next and as a result of multi-car pileup in the heat race, many cars would not be able to return for the main event therefore the field was shortened but the action was still dicey.  At the drop of the green, Gracie Pehrson was the early leader.  Craig McCann was able to catch Pehrson and the race was on between the two.  McCann closed in within a car length of Pehrson but that was the best that he could do during the race’s entirety.  Pehrson and her car were strong on this night and she drove it to her second main event win of the year and a popular win at that as the entire family joined her in victory lane.  

The Brennan’s Carpet Midgets were up next for their main event.  Devin Westover led it early when the green flew but quick qualifier from earlier in the day, Natalie Waters started to put the heat on Westover for the top spot.  A few laps later Waters was able to get around Westover and start pulling away from the pack.  It seemed like Waters was going to be untouchable in this race when her car started to gradually slow just shy of the halfway point.  Chaz Groat and Sid McElreath took advantage of that and found their way around Waters and she continued to slow even more.  Waters eventually pulled off the track with a tire that was starting to go flat.  Tough break for the young Utah driver as it looks like they have finally got her car dialed in which could spell disaster for the rest of the competition.  This would leave the battle for the lead to Groat and McElreath.  McElreath stayed in Groat’s tire tracks but was unable to make a pass giving Groat his third midget win of the year.

The final race of the night was the Valley Office Systems Hornets main event.  When the green flew, it was Brittany Smith leading a train of hornets that snaked through the infield and back out onto the 1/3 mile oval.  That would be short-lived as Ryan Adams was the race’s next leader on lap 2.  Peggy Dean found problems a couple of times in this race after spinning on the frontstretch and also in the infield portion but would keep going.  Zach Rydalch had a turn at leading the race but when the yellow flag came out to turn the field around and go the opposite direction, Rydalch pulled off the track.  This handed the lead over to Scott Gilligan as he hung on for his third hornet main event win in a row and giving the Gilligan family two wins on the night with Kaethyn winning earlier as well.

We would also like to congratulate Peggy Dean for winning the free Shari’s Pie and to Kathy Reck for winning the Saturday Race Track Selfie Contest and a free ticket to this Saturday nights event.  This Saturday morning there will be a Magic Valley Speedway racecar show at Shari’s Café and Pies located at 1601 Blue Lakes Blvd N in Twin Falls!  It will take place starting at 10am and go until 12 noon.  Come out and take a look at these machines up close and meet the drivers, then go inside and enjoy some great food at Shari’s!!  This Saturday night is Falls Brand Night with the return of the lightning quick Speed Tour Wing Sprint Cars!!  Will the track record be broken again?  Along with them is the ICCU Modifieds, Denny’s Minis, Valley Office Systems Hornets, and the Quale’s Electronics Jr Stingers!  Another huge night of racing!!  Arrive early as we expect another big crowd!  Gates open at 5pm with McDonalds Racing taking place at 6:00pm!  It all happens at Idaho’s favorite racetrack……………..Magic Valley Speedway!!

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