RACING: Rain, hail postpones main event at Montana 200

by The Daily Inter Lake
| July 16, 2016 11:15 PM

The 26th annual Montana 200 was postponed early Saturday evening because of rain and has been rescheduled for Sunday.

Main gates at Montana Raceway Park will open at 11 a.m. with the opening ceremony at 1 p.m. The main event will follow.

This is the first time since 2005 that the 200 was postponed because of the weather, according to MRP statistician Ryan Dennison. That race was also held on a Sunday afternoon with B.J. Tidrick of Yakima, Washington, celebrating in Victory Lane.

Saturday’s schedule had two events planned, a last-chance qualifier followed by the 200-lap main event. There will be no qualifier today as race officials have elected to go with a 26-car field for finale.

There were 28 super late model cars entered and all were involved in qualifying on Friday night. Two of those, including Alex Lessor of Kalispell, have pulled out because of mechanical problems.

Defending champion Owen Riddle of Naches, Washington, will be on the pole with his brother Tayler Riddle, also of Naches, in the No. 2 spot. They had the fastest times in the qualifying.

Washington drivers have won this race 11 times in the last 12 years. Gary Lewis of Snohomish, Washington, won four straight titles from 2007-2010.

Four Montana drivers have taken the checkered flag here, the last being Ken Kaltschmidt of Marion in 2003.

26th Annual Montana 200

Montana Raceway Park

Sunday

Main Event (200 laps)

Purse

1. $15,000; 2. $5,000; 3. $2,500; 4. $1,500; 5. $1,250; 6.-24. $1,000.

Montana 200 Past Champions

2015 — Owen Riddle, Naches, Wash.

2014 — Garrett Evans, E. Wenatchee, Wash.

2013 — Jonathon Gomez, Twin Falls, Idaho

2012 — Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash.

2011 — Shane Mitchell, E. Wenatchee, Wash.

2010 — Gary Lewis, Snohomish, Wash.

2009 — Gary Lewis, Snohomish, Wash.

2008 — Gary Lewis, Snohomish, Wash.

2007 — Gary Lewis, Snohomish, Wash.

2006 — Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash.

2005 — B.J. Tidrick, Yakima, Wash.

2004 — Christian Roeder, Ephrata, Wash.

2003 — Ken Kaltschmidt, Marion

2002 — Tom Sweatman, Cosmopolis, Wash.

2001 — Ron Dexter, Selah, Wash.

2000 — Tom Sweatman, Cosmopolis, Wash.

1999 — Troy Conrad, Puyallup, Wash.

1998 — Tim Elliott, Creston, B.C.

1997 — Tom Sweatman, Cosmopolis, Wash.

1996 — Mark Groskreutz, Spokane, Wash.

1995 — Mark Owens, Libby

1994 — Cory Wolfe, Ronan

1993 — Mark Groskreutz, Spokane

1992 — Bob Schweigert, Kalispell

1991 — Lance Wade, Victoria, B.C.