Qualifying starts tonight for 28th Montana 200

The countdown is underway for the 28th Montana 200 auto race at Montana Raceway Park.

Super late model cars began arriving at the raceway Thursday morning from all over the Pacific Northwest and Canada for a day of hot laps in preparation for the big event.

Qualifying begins tonight at 6 with the 15 fastest cars earning spots in Saturday night’s main event.

The super late models will share the track tonight with legends, bandoleros and hobby stocks.

The 200 lap main event is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. on Saturday.

Owen Riddle of Naches, Washington, was last year’s winner. His brother Tayler Riddle was second.

Pole sitter Preston Peltier of Fort Lupton, Colorado, checked in third.

Owen Riddle was a wire-to-wire winner of the 200 in 2015.

The top local finisher last year was Alex Lessor. The Kalispell veteran finished eighth in a field of 18. Only 12 cars were on the track at the finish.

The main event winner will pocket $10,000.

Jeremy Doss of Upper Lake, California, was the 2016 Montana 200 champion.