KALISPELL, Montana — To say that Joey Tanner had a long weekend at Yakima Speedway during their celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the famed half-mile on Saturday, July 10 is an understatement. Losing his second motor of the season, this time while leading the race, the setback had looked to dash his hopes for a return to the 20th Annual Coors Light Montana 200 presented by Kalispell Toyota and Bee Broadcasting.
That was Saturday night but fellow Oregonian, Dan Obrist, came to Tanner's aid on Sunday morning and the duo joins Mike Obrist in their quest to bring Montana gold back to the greater Portland area.
"On Saturday night I thought our Engage Pure Adrenalin Chevrolet was done before we ever had even packed for the Montana 200," Tanner said. "We lost the camshaft in the motor and the back-up motor we used in May is in Seattle which would have had to have been brought over to BJ (Tidrick, Tanner's crew chief) and put into the car, all on Sunday, as he was heading out to Montana by Monday.
"Dan Obrist called my dad (Jody) on Sunday and offered to let me drive his back-up car in the 200. I am grateful for the chance to still be able to compete in the Montana 200 and we know that Dan's back-up Chevrolet is every bit as good as our own car and his primary race car."
Tanner will be behind the wheel of a Hamke late model chassis that was built for Obrist in 2008, he added.
"He's run this car in the past and had some success with it. We have to get it lettered and set-up for what I'd like to have in Montana and that may mean doing some of the work when we get over to Kalispell but hey that beats where we were at the end of Saturday night."
Race teams arrive on Thursday, July 15 and have practice sessions for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That evening's fan activities get underway with the State Farm Insurance FanFest beginning at 5 p.m., a drivers autograph session at 7 p.m. and plenty of live music and entertainment for young and old through 11 p.m. Admission and dinner are free to the general public for the State Farm Insurance FanFest.
Qualifying for the Montana 200 is set for 7 p.m. Friday with the top-12 drivers locked into the 24-car field. A consolation race will be held Friday night giving six more drivers entry into Saturday's main event. Also on tap will be the Westward Bound Construction/Keller-Williams Realty Legend Series.
The 20th Annual Coors Light Montana 200 rounds out the starting grid with a Last Chance Qualifying Race with six more drivers advancing to the main event based on their finishing positions. The shootout is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 17. Competitors take the green flag for the Montana 200 at 9 p.m. MST with the race broadcast live on Montana Country, 106.3 The Bear, on the track's website and the website of The Bear.
Advanced tickets are available at www.montanaracewaypark.com with two-day packages offering a savings for fans to enjoy all of the racing action. Accommodations are still available in the Flathead Valley for those traveling to Western Montana and hotel partners and contact information is available on the track's website.
For up-to-date information text MTRACE to 91011 or call (406) 257-RACE (7223)
REGISTERED DRIVERS FOR THE 2010 MONTANA 200 INCLUDE:
Car Num./Name/Sponsor/Manufacturer/Hometown
04 Rusty Webb, Mark & Jan Klein Chevrolet Deer Park, Wash.
05 Eric Schmidt, Long Engine Systems Chevrolet Roseville, Calif.
0 Brent Harris, Ambitions Chevrolet Wenatchee, Wash.
1 Agni Howell, Murphy's Carpet Cleaning Chevrolet Kalispell, Mont.
5 Ryan Wells, Blue Sky Heating & AC Chevrolet Hingham, Mont.
5x Chris Hart Tidrick's Quality Transmissions Chevrolet Terrace Heights, Wash.
6 Chris Skelton, Ryan Brown Competition Engines Chevrolet Calgary, AB
7 Mark Sundberg International Parking Management Ford Seattle, Wash.
9 Kelly Mann, Central Welding Supply Chevrolet Monroe, Wash.
10 Owen Riddle, Don Riddle Excavating Ford Naches, Wash.
11 Greg Funk, Red Man Inc. Chevrolet Medicine Hat, AB
11x John Nesmith, Meridian Automotive Chevrolet Meridian, Idaho
12 Dan Obrist, Dan Obrist Demolition & Recycling Chevrolet Portland, Ore.
14 Kevin Richards, McClintock & Turk Chevrolet Newman Lake, Wash.
16 Blake Williams, Rent-Rite Ford Spokane, Wash.
17 Trevor Emond, Paradise RV Chevrolet Leduc, AB
20 Jay Sauls, Canyon Auto Paint Chevrolet Puyallup, Wash.
21 Jared Vorse, Knight Fire Protection Chevrolet Olympia, Wash.
25 Kirk Hennefer, Sorenson's Transport Chevrolet Missoula, Mont.
27 Tim Elliott, Lordco Auto Parts Chevrolet Creston, BC
31 Jason Fraser, Joes Racing Products Chevrolet Snohomish, Wash.
36 Wrango West, Westward Bound Construction Chevrolet Kalispell, Mont.
36x Joey Tanner, Engage Pure Adrenalin Chevrolet Portland, Ore.
37 Mike Longton, CLS Farms Chevrolet Moxee, Wash.
38 Grant Brown, Madco Ratchet Fit Fasteners Chevrolet Red Deer, AB
42 Jeff Jefferson, Bemis Appliances Chevrolet Naches, Wash.
42x Ronnie Hults, Speedy's Auto Sales Cadillac Centennial, Colo.
44 Mark Owens, Village Greens Golf Community Chevrolet Kalispell, Mont.
49 Brian Levant, Baja Bar & Grill Toyota Calgary, AB
49x Bobby East, Brian's Porta-Potties & Fencing Ford Mooresville, NC
51 Erick Hargraves, Rick's Garage Chevrolet Yakima, Wash.
53 Alex Lessor, Bob's Alley Speed Ford Kalispell, Mont.
54 Mike Obrist, Darrel's Economy Muffler Ford Portland, Ore.
55 Billie Salmonsen, Bob Herron Insurance Chevrolet Kalispell, Mont.
73 Gary Lewis, SEFNCO Communications Chevrolet Snohomish, Wash.
75 Troy Schweigert, Jeff Bronson Construction Chevrolet Kalispell, Mont.
76 Amanda MacDonald, United Country Chevrolet Ephrata, Wash.
77 Bodie Morton, Carlson Law Office Chevrolet Kalispell, Mont.
83 Braeden Havens, Power Systems International Chevrolet Spokane, Wash.
88 Cory Wolfe, Don Aadsen Ford Ronan, Mont.
89 Chuck Dills, Somerset Glass & Mirror Chevrolet Ellensburg, Wash.
93 David Garber, Concrete Cutters Pontiac Spokane, Wash.
95 Dan Garber, Hilliard Enterprises Chevrolet Spokane Valley, Wash.
99 Shane Mitchell, Mitchell Trucking & Paving Chevrolet East Wenatchee, Wash.
