MERIDIAN, Idaho " The Supermodified Racing Association continued its two-day stint at Meridian Speedway in Meridian, Idaho, Sunday with a 50-lap feature event to honor the memory of the late Bob and Tom Naylor, racers from the area.
After S&S Motorsports driver Troy Regier, of Dinuba, Calif. suffered a devastating crash on lap 27 on the first night's race, the team immediately went to work on the race car " about 10 p.m. " and feverishly dismantled, inspected, repaired and replaced parts in order to compete in Sunday's event. The baby blue No. 98 was back on the track with the help of Boise driver Jeff Russell and the No. 85 team, Out Front Racing.
"They were a big help to us," said co-owner Steve Shaw. "We borrowed their top wing and air cleaner. Had we stayed at the track rather than get a couple hours of sleep, we could have fixed our own. But we opted for sleep. It was easier to borrow theirs. And we appreciate Jeff and Wayne (Malstrom, crew chief) for all their help."
In qualifying, Regier got third-fast time, putting him in the trophy dash, which he won. After getting a test run during the heat race, Regier said the car seemed to be handling OK.
"It's OK," Regier said. "It's a little loose, but we can take care of that."
Kenny White of Fresno took the early lead in the race and was putting distance between himself and the second-place position held by Kirk Wartman of Boise. Regier, who began in the sixth position, found himself first battling Bryan Warf for position, getting passed on the inside by Warf for the third spot, then taking on Wartman, who had slipped to third.
As White approached the slower car of Cory Lockwood, race director Layne Saxton radioed to Lockwood to hold his line. Lockwood was running the low side of the track. As White charged the outside of Lockwood going into turn three, Lockwood moved from the low to high side of the track directly into White's path, putting White hard into the wall in turn 3. Lockwood ended up in the wall in turn four. Both were done for the night, with White suffering a severely bruised left leg just below the knee.
At the restart on lap 32, Warf had the lead with Wartman in second and Regier third. Regier got the better start on the green flag and passed Wartman.
Regier held the second position behind Warf at the drop of the checkered flag, with AJ Russell finishing in the third spot.
Regier held the second position behind Warf at the drop of the checkered flag, with AJ Russell finishing in the third spot.
Rounding out the field were: Brandon Johnson (sprinter), Sierra Jackson (sprinter), Wartman, Chris Ratterree (sprinter), White, Lockwood and Whittet.
"We did a lot of work last night, and today," Silsby said. "It's great Jeff helped us out."
"The car was better for me," Regier said. "It wasn"t as loose, but I wasn"t getting any forward grip on the car in turn two. I'm OK with second.
"Bryan had a good race tonight, but this race belonged to Kenny. He should have won it."
Overall, Shaw said it was not the best car either night on the track.
"We had a decent showing Sunday considering what happened Saturday," Shaw said. "We did OK."
Shaw said there are still changes to the set up on the car they want to try, and they begin with a new top wing.
"I feel we have room for improvement," Shaw said. "With the setbacks and damages, the changes may not happen as soon as we like and with busy work schedules, it will be tough."
"And we can't run the tire combinations we would like because they don't make particular tire sizes any longer. The way we run our setup, that may be what's giving us problems."
Lockwood won the first heat over Johnson, Regier and Warf. Whittet did not make the call for the heat. White won the second heat over Wartman, Jackson, Ratterree and Russell.
With Warf's win, he makes the fifth different driver to win in as many SMRA races this year.
The SMRA next races June 13 at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif.
For information, visit www.smrasupermods.com.