Gearing up for the Montana 200

Photo and story by CHANDLER MELTON

Whitefish Pilot

When officials at the race track asked to see Micah Sampson's license before letting him drive, the 14-year-old presented a forged birth certificate instead.

"It worked for a while until someone turned me in, I guess," Sampson said. "Then I had to sit out the rest of the season."

Sampson, now 23, won't be sitting out at the upcoming 15th Annual Montana 200 in Kalispell. He will be competing as a rookie in the super-late model category, a competitive grouping of racers that consists of vehicles that look similar to stock cars, and the legends division, which requires a smaller hot-rod type vehicle. For Sampson, competing in the super-late model class is just one step towards realizing his goal of heading to North Carolina, the genesis of racing in America, and competing on the NASCAR circuit.

"It's always been my dream to race for a living," Sampson said.

For work, he drives a logging truck and has since he was 15, getting tickets for underage driving while making late-night runs for his father's logging business. Sampson is drafting his father in way familiar to NASCAR families like the Earnharts or the Pettys, following his dad's 20-year hobby-racing career, with the hopes of converting himself from a truck driver to a full time NASCAR competitor.

For months, Sampson has been preparing his vehicles for the Montana 200 in his garage on the outskirts of Kalispell. A street sign hangs over the garage door that reads "Hot Rod Place," and Bonnie Raitt sings over the radio. Spare tires, tools and extension cords are strewn over the ground next to the stripped-down race car that three of Sampson's friends are operating on.

"We put in a lot of time out here, that's what it takes in any sport," Sampson said.

Initially, he does not look the part of an athlete. He wears grease-stained blue jeans and tennis shoes, a baseball cap and a black T-shirt that covers the muscles in his arms that he uses to steer his 2,900-pound vehicle around turns at 70 mph. Temperatures can be above 120 degrees in the driver's seat, and can feel much hotter due to the fireproof suits the racers wear.

"It takes a toll on you," Sampson said of the race.

But it's not just the race that's difficult. At this level, the driver is often the owner of the vehicle, the mechanic and the promoter, searching for sponsors to cover the costs of the race. Fuel for the race can cost $100, the tires cost $1,600 for four sets, and the cars themselves can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000, although many drivers spend more than that.

"There's a lot to it, more than people think," Sampson said.

Racers at the Montana 200 will be competing for $35,000 in prize money, with the first-place winner taking home a $10,000 purse, but according to Marie AuClaire, co-owner of Montana Raceway Park, racing is the prime motivation, and the rewards are an afterthought.

"They'll tear their cars up for a trophy," she said.

Sampson will be competing for the trophy against 40 or 50 racers, which include 11 past Montana 200 champions.

The festivities start July 14 (today), with a race party at the Rainbow Bar and Casino at 5 p.m. The gates open Saturday and Sunday, July 15-16, at 3 p.m. Qualifying starts begin Saturday at 7 p.m., and the races start at 8 p.m. Opening ceremonies for the Montana 200 kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, with the race following shortly afterwards.

A two-day pass cost $35 for adults, $25 for seniors (62 and up), $22 for students age 12-15, $16 for children age 7-11, and free for children 6-and-under. Single-day passes are also available.

Tickets can be purchased at Raceway Park, the Rainbow Bar and Casino and at Total Speed and Performance.