MORTON CLAIMS BATTLE OF THE BORDER WIN AT MONTANA RACEWAY PARK
The Battle of the Border pitted drivers of the Inland Northwest Super Stock Association against Montana Raceway Park’s late model drivers and the fans were the clear winners as action was fast and furious throughout the night.
For Immediate Release: Montana Raceway Park Media Relations
MORTON CLAIMS BATTLE OF THE BORDER WIN AT MONTANA RACEWAY PARK
KALISPELL, Mont. (May 9, 2009)-Bodie Morton swept by the spinning cars of leader Dave Garber and second place Alex Lessor with less than 13 laps to go then held off a determined Billy Salmonsen to claim the 2nd Annual Kokanee Glacier Beer Battle of the Border 100.
Salmonsen held off the hard charging Wrango West who rounded out the top-3 with Jeff Fenton and Garber grabbing fourth and fifth place respectively.
The Battle of the Border pitted drivers of the Inland Northwest Super Stock Association against Montana Raceway Park’s late model drivers and the fans were the clear winners as action was fast and furious throughout the night.
Mark Owens got things started with a fast time lap of 13.029-sec. followed by Garber’s 13.140. Lessor was close behind in the qualifying order with a 13.226-second lap.
Allard led the field to the green flag based on an eight-car invert. The Sagle, Idaho driver held the point for the race’s first 30 laps before Garber moved by and brought Morton with to shuffle Allard to third. Action picked up as the top-3 worked lapped traffic to perfection and never let each other out of their sights while running nose to tail.
By lap 53 Lessor had move by Morton and Allard and gave Garber all he could handle from the outside line then sweeping underneath to attempt a pass. At each challenge Garber slammed the door on the Raceway Park driver and continued to hold the top spot in the running order. Morton and Allard gave chase but ran one second off the pace of the leaders in the middle portions of the 100-lap affair.
At lap 65 Lessor cleared Garber exiting turn No. 2 and moved out to a three car length lead with the INSSA champion in hot pursuit. Garber closed the gap on lap by lap 85 and ran past Lessor to the outside on lap 87. Lessor applied pressure to Garber in turn No. 3 and made contact with the rear bumper of Garber’s Pontiac sending both cars around. Under Raceway Park rules because each car was involved in the yellow flag both were sent to the tail end of the 17-car field.
Morton assumed the top spot on the restart and with the lapped cars of Agni Howell and Jeff Little between him and second place Allard the Raceway Park star never looked back in winning his first late model event at his hometrack. Allard lost ground in the closing laps to fall back to seventh. Garber and Lessor worked together to closed back into the top-6 with Garber fifth and Lessor sixth.
In the Compact main event, Wild Bill Mitchell swept the evening’s racing with wins in the trophy dash, heat race and main event. Tim Davis was second followed by Jeff Kikendahl.
Fran Rehn and Nancy Davis rounded out the top-5.
In the Thunder Roadster main event Scott Dalla held off the hard charging pair of Larry Gerek and Scott Lee to claim the 20-lap main event.
Montana Bandoleros state champion, Giles Thornton, recovered from contact with Dalton Halden to drive home for his first main event victory of 2009. Halden grabbed second place with Devin Clayton bringing home a third place finish.
Montana Raceway Park returns to action on May 16 with First Interstate Bank Night featuring the Limited Sportsman, Bombers, Compacts and Legends. For more information log onto www.montanaracewaypark.com or call (406) 257-7223.
Montana Raceway Park
.250-mile paved oval
May 9, 2009 Race Results
Super Late Model
Kokanee Battle of the Border
100-laps
1) Bodie Morton 100
2) Billy Salmonsen
3) Wrango West
4) Jeff Fenton
5) Dave Garber
6) Alex Lessor
7) Corey Allard
8) Troy Schweigert
9) Jeff Little -1 lap
10) Clint Habert -8
11) Bill Royce -8
12) Forest Bauer -9
13) Agni Howell -10
14) Mike Slough -12
15) Mark Owens -77
16) Greg McKinley -78
17) Clayton Richert -92
Compacts
1) Bill Mitchell
2) Tim Davis
3) Jeff Kinkendahl
4) Fran Rehn
5) Nancy Davis
6) Nella
Thunder Roadsters
1) Scott Dalla
2) Larry Gerek
3) Scott Lee
4) Zach Havens
Bandoleros
1) Giles Thornton
2) Dalton Halden
3) Devin Clayton
4) Tristan Corpron
