Ten down, four to go.
As the K&N Pro Series East season is winding down, their counterparts on the West coast still have plenty of racing left, as the championship is far from being decided.
The venue this weekend? Meridian Speedway, a quarter-mile short track located just west of Boise, Idaho. Last season, a last-lap pass resulted in a historical win for one of the sport’s most popular drivers. This weekend, the heavy hitters of the series look to add their name to the list of winners in 2019.
NAPA AUTO PARTS IDAHO 208 AT MERIDIAN
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Championship points leader Derek Kraus knows the end is near, but there is plenty of work to still be done. He leads his Bill McAnally Racing teammate Hailie Deegan by 29 points with four races remaining.
The Stratford, Wisconsin, native has only finished outside the top 10 once in 2019 (Sonoma) and has finished inside the top five 70 percent of the time. He led the most laps (189) last season at Meridian, before being relegated to a third-place finish. in his two races at the Idaho oval, he has a pair of top fives.
One year ago, Hailie Deegan made NASCAR history, becoming the first female to win a K&N Pro Series race. The move came on the final lap after bumping then teammate Cole Rouse out of the way. She led only one of the 208 laps, but made sure it was the most important one.
Kraus and Deegan’s BMR teamate Brittney Zamora will look to continue the teams dominance at the track. Coming off a 1-2-3 finish last season, the team has won two of the last three years at Meridian.
Per usual, the Sunrise Ford duo of Jagger Jones and Trevor Huddleston come in right behind BMR. Huddleston has visited Victory Lane twice this season (most recently at Evergreen) and earned a top 10 in his first start last season in Idaho.
Jones, however, will be seeing the quarter-mile oval for the first time. As he has everywhere this season in the K&N Pro Series West, he should adapt quickly and be fighting inside the top five once the race begins.
A potential dark horse, is Travis Milburn. In the shadow of BMR and Sunrise Ford for most of the season, the Kart Idaho Racing driver has only competed at Meridian once (last season, 13th) but has shown steady progress in 2019, earning four top 10 finishes with a smaller team.
A new face making his first career series start is 15-year-old Zach Telford. The teenager from Middletown, Idaho finished fourth in NWAAS Idaho standings, competing at Magic Valley and Meridian. He’s a two-time winner at Meridian in the PitstopUSA.com Modified division and also won two of five NAPA Big 5 Late Model events on his way to finishing third in the standings.
RACE FACTS
| RACE |
NAPA AUTO PARTS IDAHO 208
|
|---|---|
| PLACE | Meridian Speedway |
| DATE | Saturday, September 28, 2019 |
| TIME | 8:30 p.m. MDT |
| TELEVISION | FansChoice.TV (live), 8:30 p.m. MDT; NBCSN — Friday, October 4, 6 p.m. EDT |
| TRACK LAYOUT | 0.25-mile paved oval |
| 2018 WINNER | Hailie Deegan |
| 2018 POLE | Derek Kraus |
| EVENT SCHEDULE | Garage opens: 11:30 a.m. MDT; Final practice: 2:15-3:30 p.m.; Group qualifying: 5:30 p.m.; Driver autograph session: 6-7 p.m.; Driver introductions: 8:10 p.m.; NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208: 8:30 p.m. (approx) |
| @meridianspeed, @NASCARHomeTrack | |
| HASHTAG | #KNWEST, #NAPAIdaho208 |
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208 is limited to 22 starters, including provisional positions. The first 18 drivers will secure starting positions based on qualifying for the NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process.
The number of groups for qualifying will be determined by NASCAR. Each group qualifying session will be five (5) minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed of each vehicle will determine starting positions 1st through 18th. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on a vehicle after the vehicle enters the track to begin the qualifying session. Vehicles may not return to the track or make any further qualifying laps unless directed to do so by a NASCAR Official or in the event of a caution. If a vehicle returns to pit road, the vehicle‘s qualifying attempt is complete. Once a vehicle‘s qualifying attempt is complete the vehicle must proceed directly to the designated impound area once it enters pit road. In the event of a caution, all vehicles must exit the track. Vehicles that elect to continue must proceed directly to the re-entry area of pit road and stop to the outside of pit road. No adjustments or repairs may be made to any vehicle on pit road or in the re-entry area during a caution except the removal of tape on the grille opening only, once removed the reinstallation of tape will not be permitted.
Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying. Vehicles must qualify on race set up. Only minor adjustments will be permitted following qualifying (i.e. air pressure checked, tape removed). NASCAR Officials must oversee and authorize any and all work being done during this time period.
The NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208 will be 208 laps (52 miles) and is to be run in one (1) segment.
The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Four (4) tires for practice, four (4) tires for qualifying and to begin the race for a total of eight (8) tires.
A team representative must designate qualifying and race tires to NASCAR Officials at the designated time.
MEDIA CENTER:
K&N: Ty Gibbs Earns First Career K&N Pro Series Victory at New Hampshire | Meet The Man Known As “Farmer Bob”
NWMT: Bobby Santos Adds Musket 250 To His Winning Resume | In Memory: Mike Stefanik Leaves Behind Storied Modified Career
PINTYS: Andrew Ranger Steals Dramatic Victory in New Hampshire
NWAAS: ‘Wild Wyatt‘ Gardner‘s Wild Summer Racing on Two Coasts
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