8/6/2019
Magic Valley Speedway
Pickup trucks and sprint cars………..a marriage made in heaven!!!
By DJ Everett
On a day where temperatures reached the mid 90’s, the weather wasn’t the only thing that was hot as the racing action was even hotter this past Saturday on Magic Valley Electric night!!
The Northwest Tour Truck Series made another visit to Magic Valley Speedway where two 40 lap main events was their mission of the night that also featured the return of 2 time Rocky Mountain Challenge Series champion Dave Minegar behind the wheel substituting for John Newhouse. The first 40 lap main event saw series rookie driver Jenna Quale jump out to the top spot at the drop of the green. Impressively she led the first 20 plus laps before Drew Reitsma made his presence known. Reitsma jumped to the outside of Quale and the two would run side by side for the next lap in a half before Reitsma was finally able to clear Quale for the top spot and quick qualifier, John Wong, was able to follow through into second. Wong would now put the heat on Reitsma for the lead. They would also feature a side by side battle for the number one spot which got physical at times. The two would touch coming out of turn 4 sending both trucks pointing towards the infield but a great display of driving would keep both heading in the right direction in which Wong was able to grab the lead and hold it all the way to the checkers adding to his win total in 2019.
The Quale’s Electronics Jr Stingers rolled onto the speedway for their main event of the evening. Kristopher McKean would be the early leader as Kaili McKean would be on his rear bumper for a few laps running second. A great battle between the two siblings would end up with the two touching sending Kristopher sideways. He did a great job gathering it back in but the ripple effect behind would send Adam Johnson sideways on the frontstretch collecting Kaili McKean and Brayden Sweatfield. Minor damage to all cars and we were back under green flag racing. The battle up front between Kristopher and Kaili would continue with Kaili eventually grabbing the top spot when Krisopher’s car lost power. The former Jr Stinger champion would keep that top spot to the checkered flag and get her third win of the year.
The ISRL sprint cars made their fourth visit to the 1/3 mile oval this year as pole sitter Evan Brown jumped out in front for the early portion of the main event. Main event winner from earlier this year, Preston Henderson, was able to work his way in second and quick qualifier, Nate Little, was able to come up through the field from the back of the pack and land himself into third spot. Little would soon start challenging Henderson for the runner up spot. As the two entered turn 3, they would touch resulting in Henderson being turned around and collecting Ryan Newman, Tony Ackerland, and Pat Young. Heavy damage to all four cars and a couple of drivers a little sore would be the ending result of the mishap. The field was back under green with Brown resuming his lead but soon after that Rob Grice would be the next to take over the lead. Little would have to come from the back of the pack again because of the contact between himself and Henderson and work his way forward. He would do that and eventually catch leader Grice. He would get by Grice and ride that lead all the way to the checkered flag earning his first career sprint car win. Little was very apologetic in victory lane for the earlier incident the turns 3 and 4.
The Cactus Pete’s Streets and Denny’s Minis would have a combined race for their main events. In the streets main event, multi time winner Levi Rider would waste no time to get up to the front as Chad Everett would pass Jeremia Eden for the lead in the minis. The race featured an unfortunate incident where Mitch Pehrson would make contact with his dad, Dan Pehrson, going into turn 3 sending Mitch’s car airborne into the turn 3 wall. Mitch would receive an ambulance ride to the hospital where he was checked out and released with minor injuries. We all wish Mitch a speedy recovery. The race would be called official at that point giving Levi Rider the win in the streets main event and Chad Everett the winner of the minis main event.
The Northwest Tour Trucks came out for their second 40 lap main event of the night. Montana Ron Lawser would lead the opening laps until Drew Reitsma was able to steal the lead away. Reitsma would not be denied this time as he opened up a little over a full straightaway lead on second place Jerry Rice. From that point on it was lights out for the rest of the field as Reitsma made quick work of everyone and cruised it to his second win of the year. Incredible racing with the trucks as both main events went caution free.
The final main event featured the Sawtooth Auto Sales Hornets in action as defending champion Shelby Dalton led the way early. Zach Rydalch borrowing a car from Kaethyn Gilligan was running second when he lost the brakes in that machine causing him to run off into the grass. That handed second place over to Chad Everett in which he disposed of Dalton for the lead quickly and held it to the checkered flag adding to his numerous win total for 2019.
This coming Saturday night, August 10th, is Pacific Steel night featuring double main events for the Bud Modifieds along with the Project Filter Bombers, Quale’s Electronics Jr. Stingers, Snake River Legends, and Extreme Staffing Double Deckers. Gates open at 6pm and Nascar racing at 7pm. Get their early and bring a friend to the races!! We will see you this Saturday night at the entertainment capital of the valley………….Magic Valley Speedway!!