Meridian Speedway (Idaho)

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.[1] 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.

For the railroad, see Meridian Speedway.
Meridian Speedway
Location335 South Main Street,
Meridian, Idaho, 83642
Time zoneUTC−7 / −6 (DST)
Coordinates43°36′07″N 116°23′26″W
Opened1951
Oval
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.25 mi (0.4 km)
Turns4
BankingTurns: __°
Straights: __°

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

Meridian Speedway opened in 1951.[2]

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.[3]

Events

NASCAR
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,[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] Meridian Speedway was permanently removed from the West Series schedule in 2021.

The track also hosted 6 races of the NASCAR Northwest Series through the years.

References
  1. Weaver, Matt. "This weekend's Short Track Streaming Guide". Short Track Scene. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. "Meridian Speedway". NASCAR.com Home Tracks. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. 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.
  4. Krall, Charles (January 6, 2020). "ARCA Menards Series West 2020 Schedule Announced". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. "ARCA Menards Series Revises Schedule Through End of August". ARCARacing.com. July 14, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. "Idaho 208". Meridian Speedway. August 29, 2020. Event occurs at 21:09. FloRacing.
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