By Jon Brown (Idaho Racing News) 

MERIDIAN, Idaho -- You couldn't ask for a better precursor to the biggest Latemodel race of the year.

Tyler "The Torch" Monroe of Star, Idaho, was more than willing to take the trophy for Saturday's NAPA Latemodel Sportsman main event at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway.

Monroe used a quick racecar to stay in front of a crash-filled 30-lap feature, holding off Meridian veteran John Nesmith over the final three laps.

Other main event winners on EMS-Police-Fire-Correction Officer Appreciation Night included Shelby Stroebel of Nampa, Idaho, and Chris Fenton of Meridian in the double features for the ESI Express ASA Modifieds; Meridian's Austin Hager claiming the first feature of his career in the Domino's Pizza Legends; and the Winged Snot Rod, piloted by Boise's Chris Carlson, in the Thunder Dogs.

Monroe's exciting victory came two weeks before the Carbon X Rocky Mountain Challenge Series visits the fresh pavement of the Meridian quarter-mile oval for the first time in 2010. The NAPA Auto Parts Treasure Valley 100, set for June 26, will attract some of the best Latemodel racers in the Intermountain West as well as top-notch locals. Call the speedway at (208) 888-2813 for more information.

Monroe and Nesmith dueled into the final mile of Saturday's Latemodel Sportsman finale. Nesmith looked like he might slither past Monroe on the last green flag of the race, which came with four laps to go. But Monroe proved to have a stronger racecar and took control one lap into the final green-flag run.

With 10 laps to go, Monroe had a three-second lead as other drivers in the top five battled for position behind him. Nesmith used a cone restart one lap later to shoot from fourth to second to set up the late challenge.

In the Modifieds action, Stroebel tried to take a chunk out of the slim series points lead Eagle, Idaho's Tom Hill has built at the speedway. Hill entered the double-feature night with a 15-point edge over Stroebel for the track championship. Hill also sat in third in the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship standings heading into Saturday.

Hill couldn't catch Stroebel in the second Modifieds main of the night. The pilot of the No. 24 car with the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup paint scheme got the jump on every green flag during the 35-lap race.

"I just didn't have anything for Shelby in all those restarts," Hill said.

Stroebel, who was in the national title hunt earlier this season, felt Hill behind him down the stretch. Hill probably held on to his track lead after finishing second in both main events Saturday.

"I didn't know how good of a car he had," Stroebel said of his rival. "He was able to get inside and finish second."

Fenton won the 25-lap Modifieds feature that kicked off the main event card. Stroebel finished fourth, two spots behind Hill, in that first race.

Hill and Stroebel will be back Wednesday when the Modifieds run another feature as part of the Cricket Dairy Days Races, a special mid-week show at the historic speedway.

"It was good night tonight. It was fun, and we look forward to coming right back Wednesday night," Hill said. "It's fun. Let's race. That's why we do this."

Hill is in the midst of a busy few weeks. He laid to rest any rumors Saturday night that he was pondering a run with the RMCS series for the Treasure Valley 100.

"I'm not thinking about it. The tires are already bought," the former RMCS regular said.

Hometown driver Hager had all he could handle Saturday against defending series champion Travis Anderson of Boise, Idaho, in the Legends main event.

But the former Mini Sprint driver at Sandhollow Raceway Park used a veteran move to hang on to the lead, using a lapped car to shut the door on Anderson on the final turn of the night.

Hager's final act of resistance in a battle that lasted for half of the 25-lap race was to pin Anderson behind the lapped car of Middleton, Idaho's Troy Peterson to maintain the advantage coming out Turn 4 toward the checkered flag. Earlier in that final lap, Anderson had ducked low in Turn 2 and pushed on Hager in an attempt to get past him.

Hager started the race outside the top five, but began moving up fast. Running third with 21 laps left, he was in the lead two laps later when he passed Nampa's Mark Zirschky and took Anderson with him to set up the duel.

A new car with an old name won the Thunder Dogs feature and a trophy furnished by T Bar G Livestock as the Winged Snot Rod found the checkered flag with Boise's Chris Carlson at the wheel.

The original Winged Snot Rod was retired from Thunder Dog racing earlier this year.

"It feels better for sure," Carlson said of the newer Camaro.

The next night at the speedway is Wednesday night with a special Cricket Dairy Days Races. Everyone gets in for $5 each.

Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing at 6:30 p.m.

The showcase is a 100-lap main event for the Tates Rents Hornets. The ESI Express ASA Modifieds drivers have a quick turnaround in their pursuit of the local and national championships, while the Project Filter Pro-4s and Mini Stocks will run, too.

There also will be another round of Westby's Bike Races for Kids.

For more information, visit www.meridianspeedway.com or call the track at (208) 888-2813.