The hunter is now the hunted (sort of) in Meridian Speedway modifieds


MERIDIAN, Idaho – A year ago, Jentry Pisca found himself chasing down a champion.ASA Modifieds

As the ASA Modifieds prepare for a 50-lap race to highlight Aaron’s Sales & Lease Night at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway, the Nampa, Idaho racer is the top dog — at least in one respect.

Reigning ASA Member Track national champion Shelby Stroebel — the Meridian driver who also won the speedway championship in 2012 — is the man in pursuit now.

Pisca is ranked fourth in the first ASA Member Track National Championship standings released by the sanctioning body earlier this month.

Although Pisca ranks fifth in his hometrack standings behind leader Stroebel, his national ranking has been bolstered by success away from home. He leads the standings in the Intermountain Outlaw Modifieds, which runs races at Meridian Speedway and Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls.

In July, Pisca held off Stroebel to win an Intermountain Outlaw race in Twin Falls. He also won the Intermountain race held May 4 in Meridian.

Back at home, he’s nearly 250 points behind Stroebel in the Meridian ASA Modifieds standings.

Twin Falls, Idaho racer Rick Fowble is second, followed by Cade Hollon, who hauls from Riggins, Idaho, for every race, and fourth-place Caitlin Stroebel, who is Shelby’s daughter.

Dalton Zehr, who competes in the Late Models division at Norway Speedway in Michigan, leads this year’s national championship standings.

In addition to the Modifieds, Aaron’s Sales & Lease Night at Meridian Speedway will feature NAPA Late Models, TEAM Mazda Subaru Mini Stocks and Tates Hornets.

In the Late Models division, reigning track champion Dylan Caldwell of Nampa leads the standings, but Meridian, Idaho’s Chris Fenton is starting to lurk 26 points behind and veteran racer Dennis Wurtz II of Kuna, Idaho, isn’t far behind in third place.

The title chase in the Mini Stocks is just as tight as Jonathan Hull of Boise, Idaho, needs to continue his winning streak to hold off Caldwell, Idaho’s Jason Sanders. Hull or his brother Larry III or Sanders have won every Mini Stocks feature but one this year. Kuna’s Chad Barker collected the checkered flag on July 20. Larry Hull III drove Jonathan’s car to victory in May when his little brother was at a high school prom.

In the Tates Hornets, Nampa’s Thomas Harrod is looking for his third consecutive victory. He swept the Hornets action during Eve of Destruction 5 (a 35-lap main event and the wacky Tow Mater Reverse Race) and leads Boise’s Brandon Hild by 54 points in the season standings.

Saturday is another Racing For Smiles of the Northwest night at the track, too, as a boy or girl facing medical challenges will serve as the guest of honor for trophy presentations and also will get a chance to tour the pits and meet the drivers.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID and $6 for children ages 7-11. A family pass (good for two adults and up to four children ages 7-11) is $30.

As always, children 6 and younger get in free.




Meridian Speedway

2013 standings

(Through Aug. 10 races)


Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Tony Ackerland, Star, ID, 592 points; 2. Rob Grice, Nampa, ID, 422; 3. Ryan Wiederich, Nampa, ID, 413; 4. Colton Nelson, Meridian, ID, 385; 5. Justin Segura, Caldwell, ID, 377; 6. Michael Anderson, Nampa, ID, 342; 7. Ryan Newman, Caldwell, ID, 269; 8. Tristen Spiers, Adrian, OR, 263; 9. Kevin Kressly, Caldwell, ID, 244; 10. Tyler Barrow, Boise, ID, 195




Coors Super Stocks — 1. Rob Powers, Meridian, ID, 563 points; 2. Justin Ellis, Boise, ID, 490; 3. Josh Jackson, Payette, ID, 238; 4. Gale Carter, Boise, ID, 195; 5. Kim Bradford, Star, ID, 179; 6. Travis Pavlacky, Fruitland, ID, 173; 7. Anthony Boven, Boise, ID, 133

Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Joe Barton, Nampa, ID, 565 points; 2. Kenny Chandler, Kuna, ID, 562; 3. Ryan Bailey, Meridian, ID, 458; 4. Larry Hull III, Boise, ID, 386; 5. Jeffery Snethen, Boise, ID, 301; 6. Chet Thorson, Nampa, ID, 221; 7. Ron Hayes, Boise, 200; 8. Terry Sherman, Boise, ID, 162; 9. Kevin Winders, Woods Cross, Utah, 114; 10. Donovan Parker, Boise, ID, 98

College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Weaver, Nampa, ID, 810 points; 2. Marv Weaver, Nampa, ID, 663; 3. Rick Baldwin, Middleton, ID, 506; 4. Shawn Hansen, Boise, ID, 437; 5. Scott Shoecraft, Boise, ID, 390; 6. Jeff Meads, Nampa, ID, 389; 7. Daniel Johnson, Caldwell, ID, 376; 8. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, ID, 353; 9. Shaun Bush, Marsing, ID, 233; 10. Rick Moran, Meridian, ID, 218

TEAM Mazda-Subaru Mini Stocks — 1. Jonathan Hull, Boise, ID, 559 points; 2. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, ID, 530; 3. Brendon Fries, Meridian, ID, 436; 4. Colton Nelson, Meridian, ID, 306; 5. Duane Gerber, Boise, ID, 298; 6. Brandon Shira, Boise, ID, 295; 7. Denny Gerber, Meridian, ID, 256; 8. Nathan Dearing, Boise, ID, 255; 9. Mary Johnson, Meridian, ID, 253; 10. Amber Rogers, Meridian, ID, 248

Budweiser B Modifieds — 1. Randy Keckley, Boise, ID, 580 points; 2. Jay Cook, Nampa, ID, 468; 3. Josh Jackson, Payette, ID, 453; 4. Sharlet Wilson, Mountain Home, ID, 358; 5. Gene Stroebel, Meridian, ID, 238; 6. Pete Trammell, Boise, ID, 150; 7. Rosalee Weller, Caldwell, ID, 138; 8. Darvin Ackerland, Boise, ID, 110; 9. Rodney Houpt, Nampa, ID, 92; 10. Kyle Latham, Boise, ID, 64

Tates Hornets — 1. Thomas Harrod, Nampa, ID, 805 points; 2. Brandon Hild, Boise, ID, 751; 3. Lynn Sharp, Nampa, ID, 734; 4. Jess Ryska, Meridian, ID, 700; 5. Rob Powers, Meridian, ID, 643; 6. Drew Crenshaw, Nampa, ID, 543; 7. Fred Nagele, Caldwell, ID, 504; 8. Cody Brizendine, Nampa, ID, 499; 9. James Pahl, Caldwell, ID, 474; 10. Monica Heath, Nampa, ID, 435

Jr. Stingers — 1. Riley Rogers, Meridian, ID, 327 points; 2. Jordan Kirkland, Boise, ID, 304; 3. Daytona Wurtz, Boise, ID, 289; 4. Jordan Harris, Nampa, ID, 231; 5. Kendra Occhipinti, Nampa, ID, 220; 6. CJ Stirm, Nampa, ID, 181; 7. Taylor Occhipinti, Nampa, ID, 170; 8. Peter Woog, Meridian, ID, 169; 9. Cherokee Arnold, Star, ID, 111; 10. Stafford Smith, Eagle, ID, 110

Thunder Dogs — 1. Sledgehammer (David Jolley, Nampa, ID), 1,004 points; 2. Bulldacious (James DeMello, Boise, ID), 954; 3. Hot Pursuit (James Cloud, Meridian, ID), 953; 4. Big Tuna (Stan Irons, Boise, ID), 597; 5. Money Pit (Kennon Irons, Boise, ID), 360; 6. Buzz Lightyear (Richard Scott, Meridian, ID), 355; 7. Devil Made Me Do It (Joe or Tiffany Volm, Meridian, ID), 267; 8. Bumble Bee (Paul Orlando, Meridian, ID), 241; 9. Over Kill (Mike Bako, Boise, ID), 215; 10. M&M (Dan Wylie or Treasure Wylie, Nampa, ID), 202