Start your engines: Montana Raceway Park kicks off another season

of bumper-to-bumper action

By DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake

Auto racing remains the main focus at Montana Raceway Park, but having a good time drives the central theme once again for drivers, pit crews and the fans.

"It's a party atmosphere (for every race)," Justin Rody, the general manager and track promoter, said.

"It's not the same old show. It's a place for you to come and have a great time. We try to take all those worries away so you can enjoy a good night of racing."

Another exciting season on the high-bank, quarter-mile asphalt oval gets under way Saturday with Limited Sportsman, Hobby Stock, Bombers, Hornets, Legends and Bandoleros all turning laps in the Spring Opener. Time trials are at 6 p.m. with racing at 7.

The opener is the first of 23 scheduled races in a four-month season that concludes with the Hornet Enduro 50 on Sept. 26. In between, there are several premiere races highlighted by the prestigious 19th annual Montana 200.

There are eight classes for cars at the raceway for 2009. The Compacts and Thunder Roadsters will make their season debut the following weekend, May 9, in the INSSA Late Models 100. Super Late Models and Bandoleros will also be in action. The total purse for that event exceeds $10,000.

Rody said the raceway will experience several first-time events this season, starting Saturday night in the announcer's booth. Charene Herrera, a local radio celebrity who does a morning show with John Michels on 106.3 KDBR The Bear, will be the raceway's first woman announcer.

"We approached her," Rody said.

"We wanted a change of pace."

She is scheduled to do several races.

"Her dad was involved with it (racing)," Rody said.

"She's been around the cars, in the pits, but never in the booth. It's something new for her."

Reed Tobol, 17, of Ronan will also handle a portion of the announcing duties.

"He's been here for two years," Rody said.

"He really entertains the crowd."

Making his first appearance at the raceway will be Paul Bartholomew, the veteran voice with Motor Racing Network, the Speed channel and a popular broadcaster with the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit. He will handle the announcing duties for the Montana 200 on July 17-18. Joining Bartholomew in the booth with be Doug Pace.

The Montana 200 will also be broadcast live, for the first time, on the radio - 1240 KSAM.

"John Michels will help out doing play-by-play for that," Rody said.

Herrera will be a part of the broadcasting team for that event.

There will also be a live feed of the race on the raceway's Web site - www.montanaracewaypark.com.

"It's something we've always talked about doing, but we've never pursued it," Rody said of the Internet broadcast.

"The idea came up again and we wanted to explore it. Now people around the country can here it. We're pretty excited to do it."

The Montana 200 winner will earn $12,000 out of a total purse that exceeds $40,000.

Rody said a new addition to the schedule is the Super Late Model Invitational Race of Champions on Aug. 14. Former Montana 200 champions will compete along with champions from other raceways in the Pacific Northwest.

"An invitation only race," Rody said of the event.

"Fifteen thousand (dollars' to win on Friday with a $16,000 total purse. It will be one helluva late-model show."

The following night, Aug. 15, it's ARCA West Macs Super Series Super Late Model 150. The purse that night is $16,000, with the winner taking home $5,000.

Rody said one race per month will be designated as Recession Buster Night.

"Forget about the doom and gloom," Rody said.

Admission for those races will be $24 for a family (two adults and three youngsters 15-and-under). There will also be cheap eats with a special $1 per item menu.

"We're always pulling something out of our pockets," Rody said of the promotions.

"Always something new, always something changing out here."

Over 100 cars are expected to compete on a regular basis this season with the largest class again the Late Models. That class has more than 20.

The Bandoleros (for drivers between the ages of 8-14) is the smallest class.

"It's another class that's growing," Rody said.

"Over 10 (cars will be competing this season)."

The raceway held its Spring Meeting on March 28, and Rody left that event enthused about the season.

"Biggest turnout we've ever had," he said.

"I think it will be a really good year."

Now, if only the weather will co-operate.