Northwest Super Late Model Series
Landon Huffman and Racing Dynamiks Team Up for the Montana 200
Jul 10, 2024
Event:
The 33rd Annual “Montana 200” will take place on July 12th and 13th at the Mission Valley Super Oval (MT). It will be the first Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by RaceCals (NWSLMS) sanctioned event at the 3/8-mile oval in Polson, MT. It will pay $10,000 to the winner of Round #6 of the NWSLMS season. The event is also Round #3 of the track’s Montana Big 5 Super Late Model Series.
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History:
The “Montana 200” was contested at Montana Raceway Park (MT) from 1991 to 2019, when the track permanently closed. Lance Wade was the winner of the first edition and Owen Riddle the last. The event was moved to Mission Valley Super Oval (MVSO) in 2021 with B.J. Tidrick winning the first two editions and Shelby Thompson the latest. Multi-time winners of the event include Tidrick (3), Marc Groskreutz (2), Tom Sweatman (3), Jeff Jefferson (2), Gary Lewis (4), Owen Riddle (3), and Jeremy Doss (2). Tidrick was the only winner at both facilities. The event had a high of 55 Super Late Models in 2011, when Shane Mitchell grabbed his only victory. The NWSLMS sanctioned the “Montana 200” in 2018, with Jeremy Doss the winner over a 27-car field.
Huge Field:
30 Super Late Models are currently entered for this weekend’s event from six states and two Canadian Provinces. Idaho, Montana, Oregon, North Carolina, Utah, Washington, as well as the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan will be represented. It would be the largest field since 2014 when 39 Super Late Models appeared. Shelby Thompson (2023) and Cory Wolfe (1994) are the only previous “Montana 200” winners entered. Previous NWSLMS winners Kasey Kleyn, Shelby Thompson, and Jason Jefferson are entered this weekend. Former Late Model touring series winners include Kleyn, Agni Howell, Andy Beaman, Tyler Emond, Corey Allard, Alex Lessor, S. Thompson, Landon Huffman, Dave Garber, and Jefferson.
New Teams:
Caitlyn Miller, Madex Moran, Jake Booher, Kevin Goe, J.D. Undem, Cory Wolfe, Tyler Emond, Lacota Matt, Hayden Hoogeveen, Jason Kreth, Jeff Smyth, Jason Robinson, and Landon Huffman will be making their first series starts.
Championship:
Kasey Kleyn leads the championship standings heading into the “Montana 200” with 264 points. Ken Bonney is having his best season with the NWSLMS with 214 points and a runner-up position. Christopher Kalsh is third with 194 markers followed by Andy Beaman (171) and Eric Rhead (158). The remainder of the top 10 consist of Dave Garber (144), Scott Walker (120), Wyatt King (104), Evan Goetz (103), and Haeden Plybon (101).
Rookies:
Eric Rhead leads the Rookie-of-the-Year standings with 158 points. Evan Goetz is second with 103 points followed by Jess Havens (87), Andrew Riehl (76), and Scott Murphy (75).
Big 5 Points:
Alex Lessor leads the local Super Late Model championship standings with 148 championship points. Tyler Emond is second with 145 points followed by Jess Havens (125), Blaise Burland (123), and Dave Garber (122). This will be Round #3 of the Montana Big 5 Super Series.
Long Tow:
Landon Huffman will make the long journey from North Carolina to the Mission Valley Super Oval for the 33rd annual event. He will team up with Travis Sharpe and Racing Dynamiks in one of the teams Super Late Models. Huffman is coming off some recent success in North Carolina, including a win at Tri-County Speedway (NC). He will look to continue the trend in his first trip to the Pacific Northwest.
“The opportunity to travel this far and race does not come often for grassroots short track racers here in the south, so the chance to head west and race in a prestigious event like the “Montana 200” is a blessing”, Huffman exclaimed! “Travis and his team prepare fantastic racecars, and for a small-town short tracker like myself, it's a great privilege to drive a quality car.”
Huffman continued, “I'm excited to meet many of the fans who keep up with my efforts online and take in the sights and sounds of Mission Valley! “Most importantly though, I was called on to get a job done, and that is the number one priority, winning. I can't wait to get out west on Thursday and meet the team, get comfortable in the car, and go to work!”
Defending Winner:
In 2023, Shelby Thompson brought home his first “Montana 200” victory in his 12th attempt. He followed it up with another victory at Hermiston Raceway (OR) with the NWSLMS, once again in a Racing Dynamiks Super Late Model. With his success with the team, Thompson heads back to MVSO with a degree of confidence.
“I feel good about it”, Thompson explained about his outlook for the 2024 “Montana 200”. “Travis Sharpe has a good car for me to drive. I love that racetrack and he's a lot of fun to work with. So, I’m ready to go and really excited about it.”
Decisions, Decisions:
Kasey Kleyn enters the Round #6 of the NWSLMS season as the championship leader. But with a big field of cars, the Quency, WA teenager will have to decide whether to chase points to protect his lead, or to go for the prestigious win and $10,000. Or does he?
“We always come to the track focused on winning the race”, Kleyn told the Northwest Super Late Model Series about his race outlook. “If we can win this weekend, it could be a big points boost, because of the number of cars that are showing up. But if we were to get involved in an incident, we would switch our thinking from winning the race, to getting the car to a good finish, and to not miss out on valuable points.”
Accomplished Veteran:
Jason Jefferson has a plethora of big wins on his resume. The three-time Yakima Speedway (WA) and two-time Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA) Super Late Model track champion counts five NASCAR Northwest Tour and two NWSLMS wins. He has a victory in the “Apple Cup” and the “NAPA Auto Parts 200” at Magic Valley Speedway (ID). He has a “Tour” win at the former home of the “Montana 200”, Raceway Park, but is zero for five in the “200” at that facility. He participated at MVSO in 2023 but came up short in 12th. Having experience at both facilities, he compared the two paved ovals and their premiere event.
“Montana Raceway Park was a great facility”, Jefferson exclaimed! “I always loved going there. I initially went up there for the (NASCAR) Northwest Tour races and picked up a win. I was sad to see it go. MVSO was a great experience the last time we went up there, and a unique track. I loved the challenge of the track and wore out asphalt. I'm glad the tradition continues with the “200” racing in Montana.”
NWSLMS Procedures:
NWSLMS will have Single Car Qualifying on Friday followed by Odd and Even Heat Races. The top-10 from each Heat will go to the Montana 200, lining up on the inside or outside line based on Odd (inside) and Even (outside) Heat Race Results. The top-eight will redraw before the Main Event (top four from each Heat). The remainder of the field will run in the Last Chance Qualifying Race with the Top 4 to the Feature. Two Provisionals are available to the NWSLMS and two to the Track’s Super Late Models. The “Montana 200” will be a six-tire race with a 15-minute break at lap 100 for adjustments and a two-tire change. Teams in the “Montana 200” will start on the four tires used for Qualifying from Friday. (procedures are subject to change)
Friday Schedule:
Practice: 11:00 AM – 4:45 PM MST
Admission Gates Open: 5:00 PM MST
All Track Pit Meeting: 5:10 PM MST
Qualifying: 6:00 PM MST Hobby Stocks, NWSLMS
Opening Ceremonies: 7:10 PM MST
Mains: Hobby Stocks – 40 Laps
NWSLMS Even Heat Race – 30 Laps
NWSLMS Odd Heat Race – 30 Laps
Saturday Schedule:
Practice: 2:00 – 3:35 PM MST
All Track Pit Meeting: 3:55 PM MST
Admission Gates Open: 4:00 PM MST
Qualifying: 4:40 PM MST Mini Stocks
National Anthem: 5:00 PM MST
Mains: NWSLMS LCQ Laps TBD (if needed)
Mini Stocks – 50 Laps
NWSLMS Staging for “Montana 200”
Opening Ceremonies: 7:00 PM MST “Montana 200”
Live Stream:
For those unable to attend the “Montana 200”, the race will be streamed LIVE on Racing America.
Expected Entry: (as of 7/10/2024)
1K Kasey Kleyn Quincy, WA
1H Agni Howell Kalispell, MT
3B Andy Beaman Selah, WA
3K Ken Bonney Hermiston, OR
4 Caitlyn Miller Boise, ID
5H Jess Havens Spokane, WA
05 Madex Moran Richland WA
7B Jake Booher Missoula, MT
7R Zach Riehl Corbett, OR
8 Kevin Goe Santaquin, UT
11D Danica Dart Ephrata, WA
11J JD Undem Frenchtown, MT
12 Cory Wolfe Ronan, MT
18 Tyler Emond Leduc, AB, Canada
22S Garret Sawyer Spokane, WA
23 Corey Allard Sagle, ID
24 Lacota Matt Moiese, MT
25 Hayden Hoogeveen Biggar, SK, Canada
33K Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro, OR
46 Jason Kreth Helena, MT
53 Alex Lessor Kalispel, MT
54T Trace Thompson Kennewick, WA
54S Shelby Thompson Spokane, WA
66 Jeff Smyth St. Ignatius, MT
69R Andrew Riehl Corbett, OR
74 Jason Robinson Kalispell, MT
75 Landon Huffman Claremont, NC
93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA
94 Ashton Cristiani Boise, ID
97 Jason Jefferson Naches, WA
Maybe:
12 Blaise Burland Ronan, MT
ABOUT THE NORTHWEST SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES
The Northwest Super Late Model Series is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Northwest. The series has many valued partners including RaceCals, Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, AR Bodies, Penske Racing Shocks, Five Star Bodies, AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products, Franks Racing Radio, Jefferson Racing, Impel Motorsports, The Fan’s Connection LLC, Northwest Road and Drive, and The Ti Company. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.
-Story: K. Peters, NWSLMS Media
-PC: Racing Dynamiks
