Limited Late Models to race Saturday

by Carrie Benson

The first annual Montana Limited Late Model series race will be held Saturday June 16 at Mission Valley Speedway. This series was negotiated between Big Sky Pro Racing Association (BSPRA) and the Mission Valley Auto Racers (MVAR) to bring the two organizations together for a total of two races in the 2007 season. Racers had to register by May 31 for the series, with a total of 12 cars applying and approved.

Negotiations determined that BSPRA would compose the rule book, conduct the pre and post race teching, provide officials, driver pay, pace car, trophies, trophy car and girl and conduct all promotion for the races. After the rule book was composed, members from both organizations then had to apply and be approved to race in the series. Drivers that have registered and will be strapping in to race on Saturday include: Chuck Swope, Don Staggs, Brad Lee, Wade Shepard, Willy Ovitt, Tracy Burland, Chuck Morigeau, Josh Burland, Chuck Weich, Danny Krahn, Duane Olsen, and Jarred Burland.

Because MVAR super stocks race on Goodyear, while BSPRA Pro-stocks race on American Racer tires; the first race of the series will be ran on Goodyear, and the second race on American Racer. Both Goodyear and American Racer have provided a coat for the main event winner on the respective nights of racing. There will also be a point’s race and the champion for the series will receive a coat provided by BSPRA. In the last two years, the points race within BSPRA has been decided by 3 or fewer points separating first and second places and this series points are expected to be just as close. Walmart has also decided to become a sponsor of the limited late model series, with a donation toward the driver’s pay.

Pre-race teching was held on Saturday June 2 at the Creamery Mall in Ronan. There were some discrepancies noted during this inspection. The drivers were notified of these problems and they will have to be corrected before race date. MVAR provides hot lapping at the speedway on Wednesday nights, where the problems will be re-checked to see if they have been corrected. Besides the discrepancies, Staggs and Morigeau will both need a complete inspection. Staggs was unable to make the first teching due to attempting to get his car running for the races held that night. Morigeau also raced that night, but had some hard luck and blew his engine. According to the series rules, the engine’s heads are sealed to prevent them being changed before the race. Morigeau’s engine had been sealed but due to having to rebuild the engine, he will need to be resealed also.

This is the first race between the two organizations and is the first time that these 12 drivers will have raced together. The next race in the series is scheduled for August 25 also at Mission Valley Speedway. For more information go to www.bigskyracing.net or www.missionvalleyspeedway.com