Kalispell's Kaltschmidt returns for Montana 200

With encouragement from his wife Marcy, lots of spare parts stored in the garage and a little help from his friends, Ken Kaltschmidt is back behind the wheel of his late model and racing again.

Kaltschmidt, who grew up in the Flathead Valley but now calls Auburn, Wash., home will be competing in the Montana 200 this weekend at Montana Raceway Park for what he said is the "seventh or eighth" time.

He's the last Montanan to win this annual event, now in its 21st running. He's also finished second, third, fifth and sixth in the 200-lap main event.

"I would be elated if I won," Kaltschmidt said after 75 laps around the high-banked, quarter-mile oval on Thursday during a practice session.

"There would be no describing what it would feel like."

Kaltschmidt left the Flathead Valley in 1999 to race full-time with the NASCAR Northwest Tour. He did that through 2002.

Kaltschmidt finished third in tour points standings in 2000 and won a race that season in Monroe, Wash.

"I got a lot of experience in the tour," he said.

"Those guys schooled me. It's a tough series."

Perhaps that explains why Washington drivers, led by Gary Lewis, have dominated this event. Lewis, from Snohomish, Wash., has won the last four Montana 200s.

"A lot of it is they race a lot more," Kaltschmidt said.

"Guys here don't get to race every weekend. Those guys have a lot of experience."

Kaltschmidt raced until 2006. After his marriage to Marcy and with the birth of their daughter Shelby, who is now 1 1/2 years old, he said his priorities changed.

But Marcy also understood how much racing meant to Kaltschmidt.

"She pushed me to find a car and come out," he said.

"I figured I don't have that many years left. I still have the itch to race. Once it's in your blood, you never get it out."

Kaltschmidt took her advice this year, headed out to the garage and started putting a car together.

His first race back, at Yakima, he finished third.

Kaltschmidt had no intention of racing in the Montana 200, but Robin Ridenour, an old racing buddy from Kalispell, and many friends purchased 12 tires so Kaltschmidt could enter.

Drivers need four tires for practice, four for the first 100 laps of the 200 and four more tires for the final 100 laps.

"They call themselves the Montana Tire Consortium," he said of Robin, Terri, Kerri and Carol Ridenour, Stud Lee, Ricco Montini, Murphy McMahon, Howie Hammer, Doug Brewer, TM Contracting, Dyon Manufacturing, Dick's Auto and Double Diamond Contracting.

"Without them, I wouldn't be here this weekend.

"It feels good, I really like it," he said of being behind the wheel again.

"It's kind of like riding a bike. You never lose it.

"I'll probably go another couple years," he said.

"Then it will be time to help somebody else."

Qualifying for the 200 starts tonight at 7.

Racing continues Saturday, starting at 6 p.m. with the main event capping off a exciting weekend of racing.

This year's field has a record 56 entrants.

Competing from Kalispell are Agni Howell, Wrango West, Mark Owens, Alex Lessor, Billy Salmonsen, Troy Schweigert and Bodie Morton.

Giles Thornton of Whitefish and Cory Wolfe of Ronan are also entered.