Gomez wins 23rd annual Montana 200

by Hungry Horse News
| July 22, 2013 9:13 AM

Jonathon Gomez of Twins Falls, Idaho, won the 23rd annual Montana 200 at Raceway Park in Kalispell on July 20. More then 5,000 fans packed the stands for the final night of racing.

Gomez, who took the lead for keeps with 76 laps remaining, held off a determined late charge by Kalispell’s Alex Lessor to take the checkered flag.

The victory was worth $15,000 for Gomez, who started in the No. 4 spot. He also led for 20 laps during the first 100. The total purse for the two-days of super late model racing was more than $50,000.

“It’s the biggest race in the Northwest,” Gomez said. “The Daytona 500 of the Northwest, the whole West Coast. Everybody knows what the Montana 200 is.”

Owen Riddle of Naches, Wash., finished third, while Cameron Hayley of Calgary, Alberta, was fourth and Kalispell’s Bodie Morton came in with an impressive fifth-place showing.

Morton made it to the main event by winning the 40-lap Last Chance Qualifier held earlier Saturday evening.

23rd annual Montana 200

Montana Raceway Park

Saturday, July 20

1. Jonathon Gomez

2. Alex Lessor

3. Owen Riddle

4. Cameron Hayley

5. Bodie Morton

6. Trevor Emond

7. Ryan Wells

8. Dave Garber

9. Nicole Behar

10. Agni Howell

11. Jason Fraser

12. Greg VanGool

13. Eric Schmidt

14. Jeff Jefferson

15. Cory Wolfe

16. Jay Sauls

17. Braeden Havens

18. Shane Mitchell

19. Brian Johnson Jr.

20. Giles Thornton

21. Gary Lewis

22. Mike Longton

23. Blake Williams

24. Mark Sundberg.