7/3/2023
Magic Valley Speedway
Fireworks, Fiberglass Fly on MVS Saturday Night
A sizzling summer day set the stage for the Fantastic Fireworks Show featuring the Trailer Race of Destruction on Saturday, July 1 at Magic Valley Speedway. The Bud Light NASCAR Modifieds, North West Tour Truck Series, Zamp Pro-Late Models, Project Filter Mini Modifieds, Hornets, and Bombers provided the racing action while the Trailer Race of Destruction and Fourth of July fireworks capped the night with a double dose of thrills.
Drew Reitsma powered to the night’s first feature victory in his Reitsma Holsteins, Fields 66 pickup, but had his work cut out for him in the division’s second feature, where he started dead last on the field.
Jeff Wade blasted to the early lead in the second feature while Reitsma was caught up behind a two-wide battle between John Newhouse and Andrew Prince. The Newhouse-Prince battle grew more and more intense until they caught up to Ron Lawser. Prince picked the correct line around the Townsend, Montana racer and pulled to third with Reitsma in tow.
With his path now clear Reitsma blistered the asphalt as he tore around Neil Boyle’s pickup and set his sights on leader Wade. No sooner had Reitsma made his move to the inside of Wade’s leading DL Evans Bank, Gaylon’s Auto Body racer, than a caution flag flew for a Newhouse spin.
Undeterred, Reitsma sped around Wade to the lead and the win. Wade held on to second, followed by Boyle, Newhouse, and Prince.
Irwin Adams took the early lead in the Bud Light NASCAR Modifieds’ first feature of the night before Chris Cook moved his STR, Hunter Machine racer to the top of the scoreboard. But Cook wasn’t safe up front as quick qualifiers Jonathon Gomez and Eric Rhead zipped around him to take the top two spots.
Rhead immediately hooked his machine to the inside line and set to work on Gomez and his On the Ball Plumbing, Baxter Excavation modified. After a furious three-lap battle Rhead stood along out front with Gomez’s attention turned to Zach Webster and his Idaho Powder Coating and Sandblasting, Advanced Maintenance racer.
With ten laps to go the caution flag flew, which brought Gomez to Rhead’s back bumper. But Rhead was too strong, and the Bountiful, Utah racer motored to victory.
Rhead had a Saturday night sweep in his grasp, but a spin late in the second feature forced him to restart at the tail end of the pack. This left Josh Jackson and Gomez to duel for the lead. The green flag waved and Gomez rolled around Jackson to put his modified up front.
Behind Gomez the race was on for Rhead to salvage what he could. As the white flag flew Rhead ducked inside of second place runner Webster and the pair drag raced off turn four to the checkers. By just .006 seconds Webster edged Rhead at the line to take second behind Gomez.
The Zamp Pro-Late Models rumbled to green for a 35-lap feature. Once the green flag waved it didn’t take long for Dan Root, Jr., Dan Lowther, and Emilee Newman to carve their way into the top three spots. As Root, Jr. showed the way Lowther’s Hands on Painting, Fire Snacks car came under fire from Newman and her A/C to Z Mechanical, West River Outfitters machine.
A late restart saw Newman dispatch Lowther and go after Root, Jr. With just five laps left contact was made for the lead, and Root, Jr found his JH Hillock Electric, Castro Sports Apparel racer spun out in turn two. On the restart Lowther walked away from Doyal Moen to take the victory. Root Jr crossed the line second, but was penalized due to a restart infraction.
Six Project Filter Mini Modifieds took the green flag for their 25-lap feature. Gabriel Varin jumped out to the early lead in his Steve’s Quick Stop, Outlaw Customs entry, but soon came under attack from Chad Everett. Everett was strong on the inside line, and after a heated battle Everett relieved Varin of the lead. This proved to be the winning pass as Everett raced to the checkers eleven second ahead of second place finisher Varin. Jeff Peck came home third, while Zach Rydalch and Zaine Newberry rounded out the top five.
The Hornets and Bombers played by the same rules Saturday, where no driver could lead more than one lap at a time. The Hornets were quick to devise a rudimentary lead swap system up front, spearheaded by Jody Moen and Justin Ford. As the laps wound down and the chaos cranked up Moen stayed in contention and on the last lap she ripped around Daniel Beem in turn four to take the checkered flag. But the action wasn’t done quite yet as post-race contact sent Moen, Beem, and others crashing through turn one.
The Bombers welcomed three double-deckers into their midst to bring their number up to twelve for the twenty-lap feature. Brandon Adams looked to have the race under control early until Richard Scott muscled his way by for the top spot.
Scott was in the driver’s seat until a Daniel Beem brake-check at the line made Scott lead two laps in a row. Beem, his momentum lost, fell back through the lead pack while AJ McGuire took over the lead and sped to the victory.
The Trailer Race of Destruction turned Magic Valley Speedway into a third-mile of mayhem. When the smoke cleared no one winner could be crowned, and so a three-way tie between Jeff Peck, Zach Rydalch, and Rob Taylor was announced.
Racing resumes this Saturday, July 8, with Ladies Night at Magic Valley Speedway. All ladies get in free for a full night of racing including the Salt Lake City Midgets, McDonald’s Street Stocks, Project Filter Mini Modifieds, Hornets, Bombers, and Quale’s Electronics Stingers. General admission 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. with racing at 6:30 p.m. Skip the line at the ticket gate with advance tickets, available now at magicvalleyspeedway.com. We’ll see you this Saturday, July 8, at Idaho’s fastest NASCAR Home Track, Magic Valley Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild