KALISPELL, Montana — For the first time in nearly six years the Northwest Modified Series, one of the longest-running touring programs in the region, is set to race on the high banks of Montana Raceway Park. With 100 laps of main event action, the open-wheel speedsters will be a thrill for Flathead Valley race fans when they drop the green flag this Saturday night.
Greg Ochs leads the charge into Big Sky country fresh off a victory last weekend at Stateline Speedway in the Gary Miller 100. Others to watch include Frankie Volz Jr., Mark Weaver, Zig Grunert and many more.
“Our series and its drivers are really excited to be coming back to Montana after many years away,” said Northwest Modified director Rick Gemino. “With great side-by-side racing these cars are fun to watch on a tight quarter-mile. The fans will love the action we bring to Montana Raceway Park.”
Bringing the series back to the Flathead Valley was an off-season goal of the track’s leadership, according to general manager Doug Pace.
“We had wanted to have this exciting form of racing back in Kalispell for some time and to work with the teams and Rick to get it done over the last few months has been very rewarding. This type of racing is unique and gives the fans open-wheel racing at its finest. Passing is done through finesse and skill as the cars have no fenders to lean on each other with. This is just one of the many appeals to their series and we look forward to showcasing it this weekend,” he said.
Also racing Saturday night will be the Pabst Blue Ribbon Hobby Stocks and Flathead Beacon Hornets.
Dustin Martel brings a slim 16-point lead in the chase for the 2011 Hobby Stock championship. Three drivers are tied for second-place with only a handful of races left in the season. Giving chase to Martel and knotted behind him are Ed Linn, Josh Davis and Cory Reum with Mike Rowe being shown in the fifth place position in the overall standings.
The Hornet division has been a wide-open affair all season long as no driver has more then one main event victory to their credit. Looking strong in last weekend’s race were Ryan Krause, who returned with a brand new race car, newcomer Josh Brinton and the always consistent Dennis Gallaway.
Krause and Gallaway are locked in a tight battle for the season championship with 2010 title holder Kyle Basler as well as Kyle Badour.
This weekend’s racing action is sponsored by State Farm Insurance whose agents will be on hand during the course of the evening to hand out prizes and information.
Tickets are sale through the track’s website at www.montanaracewaypark.com Qualifying gets underway Saturday night at 6 p.m. with racing set for 7. For more information call (406) 257-RACE (7223).
