WS: RMS/WS Meridian preview

WESTERN, ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPRINT SERIES DEBUT THIS WEEKEND AT MERIDIAN SPEEDWAY

The 2005 USAC Valvoline Western Sprint Car and Rocky Mountain Sprint Car Series open this weekend with back-to-back races at Meridian (Idaho) Speedway Friday and Saturday nights.

Tony Hunt of Fair Oaks, Calif. (Western) and Jimmy Waters of Salt Lake City, Utah (Rocky Mountain) are expected to open defense of 2004 USAC driving championships in the two-night racing program on the 1/4-mile paved oval. A 40-lap feature caps Friday night's events, while a big 50-lapper is set to close Saturday night's program.

Hometown favorite Mike Murgoitio and 10th-ranking 2004 Western Sprint driver Greg Anderson earned their initial USAC feature victories in last year's Meridian races, but 2004 Western series runner-up Michael Lewis was the fastest qualifier for both nights of racing last year.

Murgoitio's victory and sixth-place final point ranking helped him earn the 2004 Western Sprint Car "Rookie of the Year" Award.

Hunt and Lewis were the two USAC feature winners at Meridian Speedway in 2003.

Female drivers are also expected to gain their share of attention in the Meridian openers, with drivers Shauna Hogg and Destiney Hays both former USAC Western Sprint Car feature winners.

--USAC--