18TH ANNUAL MONTANA 200 SET FOR TWO-DAY RUN THIS WEEKEND

Source: Doug Pace
Date: 07/16/2008

Leading the way are two fan favorites-Defending Montana 200 champion, Gary Lewis and three-time winner Tom Sweatman.

The pride of Cosmopolis, WA, Sweatman has two wins since 2000 (00, 03) and has been on a tear at his local short track, South Sound Speedway located in Tenino, WA.

Lewis is the defending ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series champion and the final champion of the NASCAR Northwest Series (2006). The Snohomish, WA driver has three wins in three 2008 starts and has won his last two appearances at Montana Raceway Park.

Also expected to compete are past 200 winners and Montana late model stars Mark Owens (1995 champion), Corey Wolfe (1994 champion) and Troy Schweigert who’s father Bob won the event in its second year back in 1992.

A strong contingent of drivers from Washington, Oregon and Idaho plan to challenge Lewis, Sweatman, Owens and the rest of the 24-car starting field.

Erick Hargraves, runner-up in 2007 to Lewis is set to challenge for the top spot along with Spokane natives, Kevin Richards, Shelby Thompson and Dan Garber. All four have raced in Montana at least once this season with Hargraves picking up a second place finish in the ARCA West LMCS Firecracker Tundra 125 held on July 5.

Garber earned a victory in the Inland Northwest Super Stock Association event held at Raceway Park in May. Thompson has two Idaho wins on the INSSA series while his crew chief, Richards, has been a strong force in past Montana 200’s.

Jeff Little, a native of Sandpoint, ID and always a threat for victory on the INSSA series is also scheduled to compete in this year’s 200.

Mike Longton, who leads the late model points standings at his hometown Yakima Speedway, is forgoing a chance to add to his impressive local win total this season to chase the prestigious Montana 200 crown.

Mike Obrist, who calls Portland, OR home, will be back for another chance to win the 200 as will Seattle’s Mark Sundberg.

A total of seven past 200 champions (Owens, Wolfe, Sweatman, Dexter, Tim Elliott, Christian Roeder and Lewis) have pre-entered for this weekend’s event.

While the focus may be on race teams that call the United States home, Canada will be well represented in the 18th Annual Coors Light Montana 200.

Heading the stars from North of the border out to challenge for victory is Creston, BC driver and 1998 Montana 200 champion, Tim Elliott.

Alberta will be represented by Brian Levant and other Canadian teams are expected when qualifying begins Friday evening.

Festivities get underway Thursday, July 17 at the Raceway with a Fan Fest set to begin at 5:00 p.m. Friday’s practice begins at Noon and runs through 5 p.m. followed by time trials at 7. The evening’s format consists of qualifying, two trophy dashes followed by a race to determine the 12 drivers that will be locked into the Montana 200.

If needed a C-Main of 35 laps followed by a 40-lap B-Main will be run on Friday night.

Also scheduled to accent the weekend’s racing activity will be two races for the INEX Legend Car Series. Two separate main events will be run during the weekend with 35 laps the scheduled distance for Friday followed by a 40-lap shootout on Saturday.

For tickets and additional information regarding the 18th Annual Coors Light Montana 200 log onto www.montanaracewaypark.com or call (406) 257-RACE (7223).

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