By: Kevin Ramsell

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Thursday, June 25, 2009) – Meridian Speedway in Meridian, Idaho has been a long standing member of the ASA Member Track program and this year they want to make it known that they want to be one of the top ASA Member Tracks in the country. Adam Nelson, the new General Manager, is very familiar with the track as he is the third generation to run it.



“I grew up around this track and it’s really cool to be running a place that my grandfather and my father ran before I came in,” Nelson stated.



The 2009 season got off to a great start at the quarter-mile oval located west of Boise, ID, “We have had really good crowds with over 2,000 at each of our events and consistently been averaging about 20 cars in our ASA Modified division,” Nelson said. “Even though we recently had a couple of rainouts, we are off to a stellar start.”



Also off to a great start is Russ Ward, the current point leader in the ASA Modified division at Meridian who holds a 52-point lead over Chris Fenton in the standings. “Russ is a driver in his mid-30’s that has been racing for a long time,” Nelson stated. “He consistently qualifies in the top-four and typically starts in the back of the feature events. But I will tell you that he is getting some great pressure from Fenton and I could see the two swapping the points lead back and forth.” In their last event on June 13th, Fenton was able to cut into Ward’s lead as he finished second behind Dustin Stephenson, Ward was 11th.



That point’s battle could also lead to a high point average in the American Speed Association Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil National Championship chase. “Russ started out near the top of the overall standings at the beginning of the year, but having a couple of rainouts recently hasn’t helped gained more points so hopefully we can get some shows in, run double features so they can get to have 14 events to challenge for the championship,” Nelson exclaimed. “I know that either he or Fenton would love the opportunity to go to Joe Gibbs Racing and get a tryout with them and we are going to do what we can here to make sure they get that shot.”



Meridian Speedway has been a part of the ASA Member Track program since 2003 and Nelson stated that their drivers are very aware and appreciate the benefits of the program. “We have had some drivers get injured and had to use the insurance that comes with as part of the membership and for them it’s a great reassurance that they have that insurance and not have to worry about the medical bills,” Nelson said. “Our drivers have seen firsthand the benefits of that and now with the ASA Member Track National Championship and Joe Gibbs Racing involvement in it, they really appreciate it now.”



This Saturday night, Meridian Speedway will have Winged Sprint Cars in action along with non-winged sprints, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Legends and Thunder Dogs.



You can find more information at www.meridianspeedwayonline.com.



Looking over the current American Speed Association Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil Member Track Championship standings, Clint LaFont of Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, TX continues to stay at the top of the standings with an average of 1.54.72. Ken Reiser’s feature win at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells, WI this past Saturday night propelled him to the points lead and second in the overall standings with an average of 1.4622.



Jeremy Miller of Madison International Speedway in Oregon, WI stays in third place with an average of 1.4350 even though they had a rainout this past Friday night. Jeff Matthews of Eastbay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL is fourth with an average of 1.3751. Matthews came up short to Phillip Cobb this past Saturday night as the two raced door-to-door to the finish line.



Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, sponsor of the American Speed Association National Short Track National Championship, is the same oil developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing. The team sells the oil so racers across the country can have access to the latest technology in racing lubricants.

Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs - a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame - JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.

The American Speed Association Short Track National Championship is another step by the industry leader in creating new and innovative programs. This follows the recent announcement about extending the insurance coverage for ASA members traveling to, from, and during an ASA-sanctioned event. For updated ASA National Points, just click on the "Points" link at www.asa-racing.com.

ASA members in good standing are eligible for a $500,000 Excess Medical Benefit as well as a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit. Coverage for the member begins while traveling to a location promoting an ASA-sanctioned event and continues until arrival home again. The American Speed Association, in conjunction with WSIB Motorsports Insurance, is the only sanctioning body to offer insurance coverage which extends beyond the boundary of the racetrack itself (complete details are available online at www.ASA-Racing.com).

The ASA Member Track program is comprised of more than 35 short tracks around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.

ASA™, ASA Racing™ and American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to or affiliated with ASA LATE MODEL SERIES, LLC.




Have an opinion on this story? E-MAIL KARNAC to send a letter to the editor!