RACING: Doss wins Montana 200
<p>Owen Riddle leads the field through the first turn during the early laps of the Montana 200 at Montana Raceway Park on Sunday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flames shoot out of Gracin Dean Raz’s car as he goes around a turn during the Montana 200 on Sunday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Race leader Owen Riddle drives past Shelby Thompson as Thompson's car slides into a puddle on the infield during the Montana 200. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Jeremy Doss, of Upper Lake, California, won the rain-delayed 26th annual Montana 200 on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Montana Raceway Park.
Doss, a top 10 finisher here the last two years, becomes the first Californian to take the checkered flag in the 200-lap main event. He had the third best qualifying time on Friday.
Doss finished third last year in the Montana 200 and was seventh in 2014.
His victory was worth $15,000. Drivers were competing over the weekend for a total purse of more than $50,000.
Garrett Evans of East Wenatchee, Wash., was the runner-up for the second-straight year while Tayler Riddle of Naches, Washington, crossed the finish line in third place. Riddle was second in Friday’s qualifying.
Evans won the Montana 200 in 2014.
Rounding out the top five were BJ Tidrick of Kennewick, Washington, and Ryan Wells of Hingham.
Tidrick was the Montana 200 winner the last time this event was postponed a day because of rain. That was in 2005.
Last year’s champion, Owen Riddle of Naches, Washington, wound up 17th. Riddle was the top qualifier for the third year in a row.
He also placed 17th in 2014.
Bodie Morton had the best showing by a Flathead Valley driver, placing seventh. Tyler Corpron was ninth.
Mike Behar of Otis Orchards, Wash., and Nicole Behar of Moorseville, N.C., finished 10th and 16th, respectively. They are the first father and daughter to qualify for the main event at the Montana 200.
Mike Behar was racing in his first super late model event in 10 years. Nicole Behar three years ago became the first female to quality for the main event.
Twenty-six cars were in the field for the 200-lap finale. Twenty-four cars finished.
26th annual Montana 200
Final Results
1. Jeremy Doss, Upper Lake, Calif.
2. Garrett Evans, East Wenatchee, Wash.
3. Tayler Riddle, Naches, Wash.
4. BJ Tidrick, Kennewick, Wash.
5. Ryan Wells, Hingham
6. Gracin Dean Raz, Lake Oswego, Ore.
7. Bodie Morton, Kalispell
8. John Newhouse, Twin Falls, Idaho
9. Tyler Corpron, Kalispell
10. Mike Behar, Otis Orchards, Wash.
11. Jason Jefferson, Naches, Wash.
12. Clint Habart, Cranbrook, British Columbia
13. Agni Howell, Kalispell
14. Preston Peltier, Moorseville, N.C.
15. Shane Mitchell, Orondo, Wash.
16. Nicole Behar, Moorseville, N.C.
17. Owen Riddle, Naches, Wash.
18. Dave Garber, Spokane, Wash.
19. Braeden Havens, Spokane, Wash.
20. Brock Denney, Kalispell
21. Zack Beaman, Yakima, Wash.
22. Brandon Sickler, Kalispell
23. Devin Clayton, Kalispell
24. Mitch Kleyn, Quincy, Wash.