Montana 200 purse is $50,000
<p>A scene from the 22nd annual Coors Light Montana 200 at Montana Raceway Park in Kalispell on July 21, 2012.</p>
The purse at the 23rd annual Coors Light Montana 200 at Montana Raceway Park this weekend will be more than $50,000.
Alex Lessor, the 2013 Kalispell Toyota Super Late Model season points leader and Canadian/American Shootout 125 winner, will head up the all star line up. Other featured drivers include Gary Lewis, Jeff Jefferson, Cory Wolfe, Cameron Hayley and Giles Thornton.
The events will kick off Thursday, July 18, with open practice from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The popular TTC Thornton Fan Fest will fire up at 5 p.m. with a free barbecue dinner, live music and an autograph session.
Open practice will continue on Friday, July 19, from noon to 5 p.m. Racing will begin at 8 p.m. with heats and qualifying mains. Open practice will continue on Saturday, July 20, at noon. Opening ceremonies will start at 6 p.m. The Last Chance Qualifier will follow the opening ceremonies, and then the Montana 200 will roar to life.
Confirmed drivers as of July 16 include:
1 Agni Howell, Kalispell
1 Mitch Kleyn, Quincy, Wash.
05 Zach Moran, Kennewick, Wash.
05 Eric Schmidt, Roseville, Calif.
5 Ryan Wells, Hingham
7 Mark Sundberg, Seattle, Wash.
09 Clint Habart, Cranbook, British Columbia
10 Owen Riddle, Naches, Wash.
12 Giles Thornton, Kalispell
12 Dan Obrist, Portland, Ore.
14 Don Staggs, Marion
15 Tayler Riddle, Naches, Wash.
16 Blake Williams, Spokane, Wash.
17 Trever Emond, Leduc, Alberta
20 Jay Sauls, Puyallup, Wash.
22 Jonathan Gomez, Twin Falls, Idaho
23 Brandon Sickler, Kalispell
24 Cameron Hayley, Calgary, Alberta
24 Joey Bird, Spokane, Wash.
31 Jason Fraser, Snohomish, Wash.
33 Nicole Behar, Otis Orchards, Wash.
37 Mike Longton, Moxee, Wash.
38 Grant Brown, Red Deer, Alberta
38 Lucas Valdez, Kennewick, Wash.
42 Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash.
49 Brian Levant, Calgary, Alberta
53 Alex Lessor, Kalispell
54 Mike Obrist, Portland, Ore.
64 Garrett Evans, E. Wenatchee, Wash.
64 Brian Johnson Jr, Machesney Park, Ill.
73 Gary Lewis, Snohomish, Wash.
75 Troy Schweigert Kalispell
77 Bodie Morton, Kalispell
77 Greg VanGool, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
83 Braeden Havens, Spokane, Wash.
88 Cory Wolfe, Ronan
93 Dave Garber, Spokane, Wash.
99 Shane Mitchell, Orondo, Wash.