KALISPELL, Montana — Officials with Montana Raceway Park have announced that Robin Plugrad, head football coach of the University of Montana Grizzlies, will be the grand marshal of Saturday night’s 20th Annual Coors Light Montana 200.
“Through the assistance of Jim and Sharon Palmer we were able to contact Coach Plugrad and he is excited to be part of this year’s Montana 200,”
said general manager and promoter Justin Rody. “His excitement, the chance for the drivers to meet him and hear his words of inspiration just before the race goes green will be an unbelievable experience for everyone.”
Plugrad coached the wide receivers and offense last season as the team won the Big Sky Conference championship and went onto a spot in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision title game. He was elevated to the position of head coach in January and has been hard at work preparing the Grizzlies for another run towards the Big Sky championship and a possible national playoff berth.
Practice sessions are set for Thursday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Activities continue that evening 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 FanFest.
Qualifying for the Montana 200 is set for 7 p.m. Friday with the top-12 drivers locked into the 24-car field. Consolation racing 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. That 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 on sale at www.montanaracewaypark.com with two-day packages offering a savings for fans to enjoy all of the racing action.
Family ticket packages are also available at the track and online.
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)
