7/8/2024
Magic Valley Speedway
Fireworks On, Over Track Kick off Independence Day Weekend
The stands were packed at Magic Valley Speedway on Wednesday, July 3, as the third-mile asphalt oval hosted its annual Independence Day event, the Fantastic Fireworks and Boat Race of Destruction. The Western Mountain Inc. NASCAR Latemodels, McDonalds Street Stocks, Magic Valley Speedway Midgets, Project Filter Mini Modifieds, Budweiser Bombers, and Quale’s Electronics Stingers provided the on track fireworks before the skies lit up with a high-energy barrage of fireworks.
Mitch Pehrson kicked off the festivities with a McDonald’s Street Stock victory. Pehrson worked his Donate Life, Praxair machine around Andrew Palmer in traffic, then survived a mid-race restart to take the checkers. Palmer held on to finish second ahead of Ronn McClimans, Jamie Hyde, and Kasen Powell.
“We got a points deficit to come back from,” Pehrson said.
If points were what Pehrson was after, he succeeded in collecting every available one Wednesday as he won the division’s second feature as well after a spirited battle with McClimans and his Advantage Archery, Monterey Jack’s mount. Palmer was also able to pilot his Bobby’s Transmission machine past McClimans to take the runner up spot, with Pat Tully fourth and Hyde fifth.
“It’s been a pretty spectacular day,” Pehrson admitted as he collected his second feature flag of the night.
Action started early in the Western Mountain Inc. NASCAR Latemodel ranks as an aborted start led to a collision between front row starters Shawn Lester and Dan Root, Jr. No severe damage was done, but Lester was left to sport a buckled hood and displaced fender on his Jackson Spuds machine for the event.
Undeterred, Lester worked the inside line in his bid for the early lead. But Lester was forced to play defense soon after as Andrew Palmer pulled to his inside on the back stretch. This same situation led to contact in the division’s prior feature, and history repeated itself Wednesday as Lester was sent spinning into turn three.
This left Palmer to work Root, Jr’s JH Hillock Electric Contractors, DT Root Motorsports machine over for the lead. First, Palmer tried to set his Bobby’s Transmission car up in the outside line, but Root Jr countered this tactic. Next Palmer switched to the inside line, but couldn’t get enough launch off the corners to complete the pass. As the white flag waved Plamer was too far from Root Jr to challenge for the lead, and it was Root Jr who collected the feature flag.
Chuck Groat hooked the inside line in his Grip Suspension, Idaho Powder Coating and Sandblasting entry and powered past River Merril to win the night’s Magic Valley Speedway Midget feature.
Brandon Adams played the Budweiser Bombers’ game to perfection Wednesday night. On the last lap Adams ensured he was in last place, which allowed him to hook a hard left, blast through the infield shortcut, and motor to the victory.
“I’ve been chasing a Fourth of July win since I started,” said Adams. “Seven years.”
In Quale’s Electronics Stinger action Tyler Phernetton ran away from the pack to park his car in the winner’s circle. Behind Phernetton the battle for second raged between Kaethyn Gilligan and Tiffany Moen. Gilligan would get the better of this battle to finish second, with Sophia Gilligan in fourth and Bentlee Hillock fifth. Camden Kerr brought his car home in sixth in his first appearance on the third-mile.
Jeff Peck piloted his well-worn Woodpecker machine to victory in the night’s Boat Race of Destruction. Riley Robert took Master of Disaster honors for his efforts at the controls of The Green Flag pickup truck.
The Magic Valley Speedway season rolls on through the dog days of summer on Saturday, July 13, with O’Reilly Auto Parts Night at the Races featuring the Western Mountain Inc. NASCAR Latemodels, Speed Tour Modifieds powered by Pit Stop USA, Pepsi Sprintcars, Project Filter Mini Modifieds, McDonald’s Street Stocks, and Project Filter Pro-4s. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.magicvalleyspeedway.com or at the gate. We’ll see you Saturday, July 13, for O’Reilly Auto Parts Night at the Races at Idaho’s fastest NASCAR Home Track, Magic Valley Speedway.
Submitted By: Tyler Schild