7/17/2025
Magic Valley Speedway
Crenshaw Dominates Mini Stock Dream Prelude
Summer sun and fun took over Magic Valley Speedway last Saturday, July 12, as the Western Mountain Inc. Big Wheel Races for Kids event took over the third-mile oval. A strong contingent of Southern Idaho Mini Stocks headlined the night alongside the Pepsi Sprintcars, McDonald’s Street Stocks, Snake River Legends, Budweiser Thunderdogs, and Speedway Bandoleros.
Thirteen Southern Idaho Mini Stocks took the green flag for their feature event, the winner of which would gain an automatic berth in the Olga’s California Dream 100, the biggest Mini Stock race on the West coast.
Craig Taylor got out of the blocks quickly and moved his American Staffing, Make Luck Motorsports racer to the early lead. But Taylor wasn’t safe up front and soon had fast company in the form of Mike Anderson and Drew Crenshaw.
Crenshaw used an early restart to blow past Anderson and Taylor to take over the top spot. While Crenshaw whipped around the third-mile Anderson’s Bender Electric racer lost power and retired to the infield.
While Crenshaw built a sizeable eight second lead the fight for second raged between Taylor and Trevor Anderson. Taylor worked the outside line while Anderson wheeled his racer hard around the inside line. The strain proved to be too much for this Anderson’s car, too, and he followed his father into the infield to retire from the event just past the race’s halfway point.
Back up front, Crenshaw continued to rocket around cars, putting a lap on second place Taylor on lap thirty. From there Crenshaw backed his pace down and settled into a patch of clean racetrack, where he would ride until the checkered flag flew.
A full field of eighteen Snake River Legends took the green flag for their 35 lap feature. Dylan Wardle got a good jump and took the early lead while the pack jockeyed three and four wide behind him.
On the move early was TJ Monroe who scrambled through slower traffic and into the top three in just a handful of laps. Despite the best efforts of frontrunners Wardle and Austin Murphy it took just three laps for Monroe to move his Torch Towing, Idaho Wrecker Sales machine to the top of the McDonald’s scoreboard.
Once out-front Monroe set the cruise control and never looked back on his way to the win. Tim Neumeyer held off Johnethan Davis to finish second. Fourth place honors went to Canyon Ashley with Leon Tridle III rounding out the top five.
Eight Pepsi Sprintcars went wheel-to-wheel for the Western Mountain Inc. Big Wheel Races for Kids night victory. Nate Little took control of the race early but couldn’t fend off AJ Luttmer who hooked the inside line and ripped around Little to the lead on lap sixteen. Once out front Luttmer set sail and piloted his Kendalized Customs, Utah Motorsports Foundation racer to victory. Little held on to finish second ahead of Kate Jackson, Jamo Stephenson, and Jordan Harris.
Ronn McClimans wheeled his Advantage Archery, Kidd Performance machine to victory in the night’s McDonald’s Street Stock feature. Mitch Pehrson battled hard but came home second ahead of Chad Everett, Jeff Peck, and Zaine Newberry.
Jhett Phipps outran the rest of the Speedway Bandolero pack to park his Western Mountain Inc. racer in victory lane. Tayton Monroe used a late restart to take the runner up spot away from Mason Martin while Kyro Phipps finished fourth.
In the Budweiser Thunderdog ranks a new face graced the winner’s circle as The Enforcer knocked off Knight Rider to take the win.
Main event madness takes Magic Valley Speedway on Saturday, July 26, as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Twin 35’s take to the high banks. The Speed Tour Winged Sprint Cars, Western Mountain Inc. NASCAR Latemodels, McDonald’s Street Stocks, Budweiser Thunderdogs, and Fast Late Automotive Hornets pack the pit area to do battle for the night’s Affordable Appliance Repair trophies. General admission to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Twin 35’s is just $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and military members, $8 for kids 7-11, and free for kids 6 and under. Gates open at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, July 26, with racing at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.magicvalleyspeedway.com to purchase your advance tickets. We’ll see you on the high banks Saturday, July 26, for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Twin 35’s at Idaho’s fastest NASCAR Home Track, Magic Valley Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild