 Matt Hein at Meridian Speedway in 2008.
Matt Hein opens NSRA title defense with Meridian victoryWhat better way for a champion to open up his title defense than with a victory to open the season? That's what happened at Meridian Speedway on Friday night when NSRA champion Matt Hein kicked off his title defense with a victory on the opening night of Meridian's annual Diamond Cup.Driving the Hein Racing No. 98 Shaver-powered Beast, sponsored by Independent Motor Rebuilders, Tonka Excavation LLC, Long's Building Supply, C&R Striping Company and Oregon Tool & Supply, Hein also used a fourth place finish to have the NSRA points lead after two nights of action. He won some jewelry too...not a bad way to start the pavement season.Hein started his Friday night by setting the third quickest time in qualifying with a lap of 11.854 seconds around the small, tight and almost flat 1/4-mile asphalt oval. He finished second in the A-Dash and then was fourth in the evening's first heat race to secure a spot in the front half of the main event line-up.The invert for Friday's 40-lap feature was a 6, putting Hein inside the second row behind front row starters Cory Lockwood and Sierra Jackson with former NSRA champion Jeff Montgomery to Matt's outside. While Jackson crashed and put her car on its side and Lockwood and Motgomery weren't able to match Hein's speed, the 21-year-old motored to the front and would score the opening night victory.The win was Hein's second at Meridian Speedway. The other was also on a Friday night, the first night of the two-night NSRA season finale last September.In the southern Idaho heat, the track was a little less grippy on Saturday and times in qualfiying reflected that. Hein was second quick with a time of 12.055 seconds. He finished fourth in the A-Dash and then finished second behind former NSRA champion Andy Alberding to secure his place in the feature.Saturday's Diamond Cup finale was a 50-lap affair. The invert was a again a 6, putting Hein in the fifth starting position this time around. As small and tight as Meridian is, passing on that track is difficult. In fact, the same Top 5 starters were the Top 5 at the finish, though in a slightly different order. Montgomery ended up winning while Hein managed to move up a spot to finish fourth.When points were tallied after two nights, Hein is unofficially the NSRA points leader. He holds a slim two-point advantage over Montgomery in the early going. Hendrickson's Fine Jewelry in Idaho also awarded a custom made diamond ring to the top points scorer over the weekend. They used the NSRA points system also, and thus Matt Hein will have a little bling to show off now too.The next race for the ASA-sanctioned Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association is the Casey Diemert Classic at Douglas County Speedway in Matt's hometown of Roseburg, Oregon on Saturday, June 13th. Matt thanks all of his sponsors and fans for their support.- - -Matt Hein's sponsors
Independent Motor Rebuilders
Tonka Excavation LLC.
Long's Building Supply
C&R Striping Company
Cam Cat Tractor
Oregon Tool & Supply
Dirksen & Sons Oil
Double R Powdercoatings
Shaver Race Engines
Kaedings Performance
Bell Helments
Douglas Welding Supply |
