Evans wins 24th annual Coors Light Montana 200

The 24th annual Coors Light Montana 200 finished in stunning fashion as a comeback story was capped off in victory lane by Garrett Evans.

The past two days saw the most determined drivers and anxious fans of the year. The stands were crammed and 40 cars were on the track, as qualifying set the Fast 14, the B Main, and the Last Chance Qualifying presented opportunities to qualify for the show.

During the B Main, a racer well known at the track, Corey Wolfe, 58, wrecked head on into turn three. He was immediately transported to the hospital where it was assessed that he had broken three vertebrate.

To help raise money for Wolfe, a bucket was passed around for donations, and by the end of Saturday night, more than $2,500 was in the bucket.

The Coors Light Montana 200 is the biggest race in the state of Montana and is talked about all year long. With a total of 11 races including qualifying, there were a lot of chances for drivers to shine; however only 26 of 40 cars made it to the show.

Saturday night is the most suspenseful night of Coors Light 200 week, as racers have Last Chance Qualifying, which typically fills the last seven spots, and then the Montana 200. Eight cars were brought in from the LCQ. Garrett Evans won and locals Bodie Morton and Giles Thornton qualified.

A crowd filled the party decks and bleachers for the main event. Many expected Jonathon Gomez to repeat, or Jim Pettit II to win the race with his impressive speed, but neither racer  finished because of a five-car pileup in turn three during the 10th lap.

Race followers were looking for Owen Riddle, who qualified with the fastest time, Alex Lessor, who had won two straight Late Model races at the track, or Bodie Morton, a local favorite who finished well in last year’s race, to win.

But nobody, it seemed, thought of Garrett Evans, 60, coming away with the checkers. The victory was Evans’ third of the series. Bj Tidrick and Bodie Morton finished second and third.

1 Garrett Evans

2 BJ Tidrick

3 Bodie Morton

4 Jeff Jefferson

5 Braeden Havens

6 Shane Mitchell

7 Jeremy Doss

8 Trevor Emond

9 Jamie McClennon

10 Austin Reed

11 Kelly Admiral

12 Dave Garber

13 Giles Thornton

14 Andy Brown

15 Mike Longton

16 Alex Lessor

17 Owen Riddle

18 Ryan Wells

19 Gracin Raz

20 Eric Schmidt

21 Shelby Thompson

22 Jonathon Gomez

23 Joey Bird

24 Nicole Behar

25 Jim Pettit II

26 Taylor Riddle