Meridian Speedway
The Concrete Jungle[1]
Location335 South Main Street,
Meridian, Idaho, 83642
Time zoneUTC−7 / −6 (DST)
Coordinates43°36′07″N 116°23′26″W / 43.60194°N 116.39056°W / 43.60194; -116.39056
Address335 S. Main St. Meridian, ID 83642
Opened1951
Websitehttps://www.meridianspeedway.com/
Oval
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.25 miles (0.4 km)
Turns4
BankingTurns: __°
Straights: __°

Meridian Speedway is a motorsport race track in Meridian, Idaho, United States. The quarter mile in length track, which is paved with asphalt, mostly hosts late model racing, modified racing, and other local-level racing events throughout the year. The tracks holds weekly races under the NASCAR sanction as a member of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.[2] The biggest event it has hosted is the ARCA Menards Series West (formerly the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), which held races at the track from 2015 to 2019 as well as 1972.

Due to its small size, the infield is empty (only a patch of grass) and pit road is located outside the track behind the backstretch. The entrance to pit road is located in turn 2, with the exit back onto the track in turn 3. Right outside of the track is the town's yellow water tower, and a replica of it is on the track's winner's trophies.

The track is notable for being the track that Hailie Deegan won her first NASCAR race at to become only the second female to win a NASCAR race. She won the 2018 West Series race here.

History

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2020)

Meridian Speedway opened in 1951.[3]

In 2020, Meridian Speedway temporarily closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Racing resumed in May with no fans, and as a result, the track started a partnership with SpeedCast.tv to broadcast its races on a pay-per-view basis, with it ranging from $19.99 to $39.99 to watch a race.[4] The track had broadcast select events on FloRacing in 2021; it started streaming all weekly races on the service starting in 2022.[5]

Events

The track hosted six races of the NASCAR Northwest Series through the years.

Idaho 208 under NASCAR sanction

Hailie Deegan passing Cole Rouse on the last lap of the 2018 West Series race at Meridian to score her first NASCAR win

Meridian Speedway hosted the NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208, a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race, from 2015 to 2019. The race was also on the original schedule for the 2020 season of the rebranded ARCA Menards Series West,[6] but due to COVID-19, was later postponed from its August 29 date and eventually cancelled and replaced with a second race for the series at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring.[7] Meridian Speedway was permanently removed from the West Series schedule in 2021.

Idaho 208 under Super Late Model event

The track replaced the August 29 date with a Super Late Model "Idaho 208" event which was broadcast live on FloRacing and won by Californian Jeremy Doss.[8] The event was part of the NAPA Big Late Model tour.[9]

The 2021 event was organized again as a Super Late Model event under the Speed Tour Super Late Models sanction and was broadcast live on FloRacing.[10] It paid $20,000 to winner Preston Peltier.[9][11]

References

  1. ^ "Idaho 208". Meridian Speedway. August 28, 2021. Event occurs at 2:39. FloRacing.
  2. ^ Weaver, Matt. "This weekend's Short Track Streaming Guide". Short Track Scene. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Meridian Speedway". NASCAR.com Home Tracks. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Roberts, Rachel (May 14, 2020). "No fans in the stands, but racing will go on at Meridian Speedway. Here's how". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Blount, Rob (March 29, 2022). "Meridian Speedway Events To Be Streamed Live On FloRacing". FloRacing. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Krall, Charles (January 6, 2020). "ARCA Menards Series West 2020 Schedule Announced". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "ARCA Menards Series Revises Schedule Through End of August". ARCARacing.com. July 14, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "Idaho 208". Meridian Speedway. August 29, 2020. Event occurs at 21:09. FloRacing.
  9. ^ a b "$20,000 On The Line In Idaho 208 At Meridian". FloRacing. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Idaho 208". Meridian Speedway. August 28, 2021. Event occurs at 2:09. FloRacing.
  11. ^ "Idaho 208". Meridian Speedway. August 28, 2021. Event occurs at 4:14. FloRacing.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meridian Speedway.
ARCA Menards Series (East / West) track venues
NASCAR Elite Division Northwest Series race venues (1985–2006)
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