KALISPELL, Montana — With a wide-open chase towards the 2011 Flathead Beacon Bomber season championship, this Saturday night’s 75-lap main event may shape the outcome of that title fight.
With rookie of the year contender Kyle Koehler atop the standings by a mere three points over “Two Barrel” Bill MCCallum and a gap of 38 points separating the top-6 drivers, every lap will count towards each person’s goal of being crowned a champion.
Also in the championship mix are Ray Young (-18 to the leader), Troy Pilgeram (-34), Chris Warburton (-38) and Josh Norris (-43). Young and Warburton have recorded main event victories this season while Pilgeram and Norris still search for that elusive first checkered flag.
While the Bomber 75 headlines the evening’s racing program, four other divisions will be out in force led by the CHS Legends Series, the Lucas Oil Super Stocks, the MRP Compacts and the Wanna Race Bandoleros.
Tyler Corpron brings a 31-point advantage over Dalton Halden into Saturday’s racing with Devin Clayton (-47) holding down third place in the championship standings. Dave Daughtry picked up the division’s most recent main event victory and has been a steady climber in the points standings up to fifth place overall despite being one race short to the field.
Brandon Sickler and Don Staggs are locked in a tight battle for the 2011 Lucas Oil Super Stock championship as eight points separate the duo. Each has posted strong finishes throughout the season with Sickler holding the advantage based on the strength of his two main event victories.
Adam Kinkel, Tim Hatlen and Scott Lee round out the top-5 championship contenders in the division.
The Denney brothers continue to battle each other for Wanna Race Bandolero supremacy but under the format used by the track based on the overall age of a driver, Brock leads the Young Guns division while Bryce is locked in a tight race with Todd Holleman for the Bandit title. In the overall standings Holleman trails Brock Denny by 40 points for the 2011 championship while Bryce sits just 30 markers back.
Tim Davis has been steady in each of the two MRP Compact main events run thus far in the season but despite the solid runs, Ernie Cahala is within 15 points of Davis for the championship lead. Also having strong seasons in the division are Cory White, Fran Rehn and Nancy Davis.
Tickets for this weekend’s Travelodge Bomber 75 are on sale now through the track’s website at www.montanaracewaypark.com or can be purchased the night of the race through the ticket office beginning at 5:30. Qualifying is set for 6 p.m. Saturday with racing at 7:05 p.m.
Also available through the track’s website are tickets for the Aug. 13 NASCAR K&N Pro Series Rumble in the Rockies featuring two-time Daytona 500 champion, Michael Waltrip. Advance purchasing allows race fans to present their ticket at the entry gate and head directly to the grandstands to select a seat. The NASCAR event does not have reserved seating and is on a first-come basis.
For more information call Montana Raceway Park at (406) 257-RACE (7223).
