KALISPELL, Montana — The ICAR Series, featuring 16-year old Blake Williams along with Eric Hector, Colton Garber, Garrett Sawyer, Russ Osborne and many more heads to the Flathead Valley this Saturday for its inaugural race at Montana Raceway Park.
"Williams has been locked in a tight battle with Hector and Garber throughout the season."
For local fans the series offers race cars similar to the Lucas Oil Super Stock class. Drivers from that division are eligible to compete this weekend with Adam Kinkel and Micah Sampson signed up to defend the home turf.
Williams has been locked in a tight battle with Hector and Garber throughout the season and brings a slim 28-point margin into Montana with two races left in the season after the Coca-Cola 75. The driver of the No. 16 McClintock & Turk Ford has earned the lead with four main event victories while Hector has picked up two checkered flags.
Garber and Jason O’Neil have one victory apiece in the 2011 season giving the top-4 drivers in the championship standings at least one win in the year thus far.
While the series is making its first visit to Montana Raceway Park, several drivers have competed on the high-banks including Garber, Williams, O’Neil, Osborne and Stacey Rogers. Of the group Williams may have the biggest edge as he has competed in the Montana 200 two consecutive summers and at one time held the mark as the youngest qualifier in race history.
Also racing Saturday night will be the Wanna Race Bandoleros, Flathead Beacon Hornets and the Pabst Blue Ribbon Hobby Stocks. Coca-Cola night at the races includes Kid’s Night where youth are offered an opportunity during intermission to take a ride around MRP in a race car.
Plenty of action will be on the quarter-mile all evening long as the Pabst Blue Ribbon Hobby Stocks roll in fresh a solid outing held Aug. 20.
Jason Young will be out to make it three straight main event victories and in doing so improve his points standings in his first year in the division. Young and the field are chasing points leader Dustin Martel who nailed down a second-place finish in the last main event to extend his lead in the championship to 35 points over Ed Linn.
Josh Davis, Mike Rowe and Cory Reum round out the top-5 drivers in the championship chase.
Todd Holleman has had the hot hand in the Wanna Race Bandoleros of late with a pair of second-place finishes to his credit in his last two main event starts. The runs have propelled the youngster to within eight points of Bryce Denney for the 2011 Bandolero Bandit championship. Denney and Holleman also are chasing the overall Bandolero championship with Denney 39 points back and Holleman 47 behind leader Brock Denney.
In the Flathead Beacon Hornet division, a pair of Kyle’s are separated by 13 points heading into the weekend. Defending champion Kyle Basler trails Kyle Badour with only two races left after this weekend.
Ryan Krause, Dennis Gallaway and Kendra Bicknell round out the top-5 drivers in the championship standings.
Tickets for Saturday’s Coca-Cola Kid’s Night at the races are available at montanaracewaypark.com or at the main gate beginning at 5:30 p.m. Online purchase saves fans time at the gate and gives them quick entrance to the grandstands. For more information call (406) 257-RACE (7223)
NEWS & NOTES-
The 2011 Montana Raceway Park Season Finale race line-up has been set. Scheduled for Sept. 24, championship racing will be held for the CHS Legends Series, Lucas Oil Super Stocks, Flathead Beacon Bombers, Pabst Blue Ribbon Hobby Stocks and the Flathead Beacon Hornets. Once racing is wrapped up, a fireworks show is planned to close-out the 21st season of racing at MRP. Monster Energy Drinks is the night’s sponsor.
Flathead Beacon Bombers will race for an extended purse on Sept. 10 as part of the Miller Lite/Kalispell Toyota Night at the Races. A 100-lap shootout is planned for the Kalispell Toyota Late Model Series with the Bomber division racing just prior. Over $300 will be up for grabs to the winner of the Wild Hogs 50-lap Bomber main event which is sponsored by Young 6 Racing, Heinz Henke and VFL Trucking. A $50 fast time bonus will also be part of the increased purse package put together to honor longtime Bomber supporter, Ray Young Sr.
Only four races remain in the 2011 season. Beginning this weekend ballots will be handed out to drivers, crew members and others for voting on many awards that celebrated at the Montana Raceway Park Night of Champions Banquet set for Oct. 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell. All participants at MRP are encouraged to get a ballot and vote for their choice to driver of the year in the racing divisions, best appearing race car and much more.
