MERIDIAN, Idaho -- Another batch of the West’s best open-wheel racers head to ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway for the only Idaho appearance of two United States Auto Club racing series this weekend.

And at least two local drivers will be on hand to show the visitors how to handle the paved quarter-mile that is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Meridian racers Mike Murgoitio and Johnny Giesler are in the top 20 for the USAC Western States Sprintcar series heading into the seventh and eighth races of the 17-event season.

Murgoitio is one of four men to take checkered flags in the USAC series this year. He won the May 30 feature at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City. Murgoitio is 16th in the points standings, while Giesler, who cut is wingless open-wheel teeth in Meridian’s Pepsi Sprintcars, is 12th.

Visalia, Calif.’s Audra Sasselli leads the series with 359 points, but two-time 2011 race winners Cody Gerhardt of Madera, Calif., and Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Calif., are closing the gap in second and third place, respectively.

Gerhardt is on a roll, having won the past two USAC races on July 2 in Salt Lake and July 9 at Stockton 99 Speedway in California. Hunt won twice at Madera Speedway in California, collecting the checkereds on April 2 and June 11.

Also racing Friday and Saturday night are the USAC Ford Focus Midgets. Points in four different series will be up for grabs — the Western Championship, the Western Pavement, North Pavement and Utah series.

Friday’s support classes from Meridian include the Project Filter Pro-4s, Tates Rents Hornets and the Preacher Feature to find the Fastor Pastor. Pastors from Treasure Valley churches will strap into Hornets donated by local drivers to compete for the checkered.

On Saturday, the sprintcars and midgets will share the track with the Edmark Mini Stocks, Thunder Dogs and vintage sprintcars.

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

Admission each night are $15 adults, $12.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $6 for ages 7-11 and free for children 6-and-under free. A family pass for two adults and up to four children ages 7-11 costs $46 each night.

Fans can get a $5 discount on tickets for Friday’s races by purchasing tickets online at www.meridianspeedway.com. Fans always avoid the long lines at the admission gate by purchasing tickets in advance at the track website and printing them off at home.

For more information, visit the website or call (208) 888-2813.

Meridian Speedway

2011 points standings

After July 9 races

USAC Western States Sprintcar Series

1. 1 Audra Sasselli, Visalia, Calif., 359 points; 2. Cody Gerhardt, Madera, Calif., 336; 3. Tony Hunt, Lincoln, Calif., 324; 4. Tim Skoglund, Fresno, Calif., 320; 5. Luis Ramos III, Clovis, Calif., 315; 6. Scott Pierovich, Alamo, Calif., 267; 7. Geoff Ensign, Sebastopol, Calif., 199; 8. Tim Barber, San Francisco, 177; 9. Shauna Hogg, Citrus Heights, Calif., 175; 10. Brian McClish, Santa Rosa, Calif.

Local series

ESI Express ASA Modifieds — 1. Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, Idaho, 758 points; 2. Chris Fenton, Meridian, Idaho, 544; 3. Jentry Pisca, Nampa, 466; 4. Rus Ward, Boise, Idaho, 450; 5. Darrel Dolling, Boise, 383; 6. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 365; 7. (tie) Mike Winchel, Kuna, Idaho, 218; Tony Ackerland, Star, Idaho, 218; 9. Rick Fowble, Twin Falls, Idaho, 209; 10. Jeffrey Hill, Meridian, 189

Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Joe Ransom, Boise, 456 points; 2. Eric Ransom, Boise, 437; 3. Rob Grice, Boise, 397; 4. Josh Allen, Meridian, 297; 5. Ryan Wiederich, Meridian, 240; 6. Carl Marcum, Meridian, 239; 7. Erik Miller, Caldwell, Idaho, 238; 8. Kelly Perkins, Nampa, 207; 9. Kelly Newman, Boise, 162; Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 115

Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints — 1. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 363 points; 2. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, 304; 3. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 276; 4. Cody Veenstra, Emmett, Idaho, 254; 5. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, 239; 6. Bryan Warf, Meridian, 234; 7. Wyatt King, Meridian, 177; 8. Matt Hein, Roseburg, Ore., 132; 9. Andy Alberding, Roseburg, 115; 10. Jeff Montgomery, Victoria, British Columbia, 106

NAPA Late Model Sportsman — 1. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, 418 points; 2. Chris Fenton, Meridian, 393; 3. Tyler Monroe, Star, 372; 4. Dennis Wurtz II, Kuna, 238; 5. Dan Lowther, Boise, 226; 6. Travis Anderson, Boise, 216; 7. Jeffrey Wilson, Mountain Home, Idaho, 212; 8. Connor Elliott, Meridian, 203; Richard Urrutia, Caldwell, 122; 10. Josh Jackson, Ontario, Ore., 109

CWI PTD Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Weaver, Nampa, 627 points; 2. Chad Bess, Nampa, 495; 3. Tyler Nelson, Kuna, 478; 4. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, 469; 5. Marv Weaver, Nampa, 442; 6. Shawn Hansen, Boise, 328; 7. Jim Anderson, Meridian, 310; 8. Bobby Riggs, Fruitland, Idaho, 215; 9. Roy Kirkland, Boise, 200; 10. Patrick Tully, Caldwell, 169

Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Ken Chandler, Boise, 269 points; 2. Joe Barton, Nampa, 268; 3. Jim Bailey, Middleton, 210; 4. Dayne Amyx, Boise, 143; 5. Jordan Fitch, Meridian, 112; 6. Rob Taylor, Meridian, 101; 7. Rob Powers, Meridian, 84; 8. D.J. Lyons, Nampa, 77; 9. Neal Latham, Boise, 73; 10. Bud Rumsey, Prosser, Wash., 61

Edmark Mini Stocks — 1. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, 614 points; 2. Scott Shoecraft, Boise, 599; 3. Dell Scott, Nampa, 569; 4. Eddie Ables, Middleton, 508; 5. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, 457; 6. Donovan Parker, Kuna, 358; 7. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, 308; 8. Sarah Shaw, Boise, 256; 9. Larry Hull III, Boise, 239; 10. Chad Barker, Boise, 202

Domino’s Pizza Legends — 1. Phil Zubizareta, Boise, 495 points; 2. Cameron Cotta, Meridian, 488; 3. Camron Madsen, Boise, 461; 4. Brent Collins, McCall, Idaho, 373; 5. Sara Henry, Nampa, 320; 6. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 310; 7. Chase Gilbertson, Boise, 270; 8. Jimmy Ingham, Meridian, 261; 9. Jeremy Doss, Upper Lake, Calif., 247; 10. Rod Stiller, Meridian, 223

Tates Rents Hornets — 1. Jonathan Hull, Boise, 353 points; 2. Josh Parkkila, Boise, 338; 3. Brodie Stote, Meridian, 318; 4. Fred Nagele, Caldwell, 294; 5. Art Heath, Nampa, 288; 6. Monica Heath, Caldwell, 285; 7. Amber Rogers, Meridian, 281; 8. Brendon Fries, Meridian, 262; 9. Sharlet Patero, Mountain Home, 255; 10. (tie) Stacy Heath, Nampa, 252; James Pahl, Caldwell, 252

Thunder Dogs — 1. The Catfish (John Pinkston, Meridian), 145 points; 2. IP Freely Too (Nick Forsea, Richland, Ore.), 133; 3. Fare Lady (Kennon Irons, Boise), 129; 4. Screaming Keegan (Cory Keegan, Meridian), 124; 5. The Sledgehammer (Dave Jolley, Nampa), 118; 6. IP Freely (Brian Duvall, Kuna), 112; 7. Gone Fishin (Big Al), 100; 8. Big Tuna (Stan Irons, Boise), 96; 9. Furyus (Ben Frisbee, Meridian), 80; 10. Clifford the Big Red Thunder Dog (Travis Pavlacky, Fruitland), 76

Jr. Stingers — 1. Cody Garrett, Boise, 314 points; 2. Hunter Gates, Nampa, 234; 3. Chance Davis, Emmett, Idaho, 230; 4. Jordan Kirkland, Boise, 206; 5. Kendra Occhipinti, Nampa, 192; 6. Colton Nelson, Meridian, 158; 7. Matt Burger, Meridian, 136; 8. James Pahl, Caldwell, 135; 9. Tyson Fuss, Kuna, 94; 10. Tyler Sharp, Nampa, 84