Kalispell, MT (August 16, 2009) — With rain postponing the completion of the ARCA West Mac’s Series Kalispell Toyota Tundra International Challenge until Sunday afternoon, the wait allowed three-time Coors Light Montana 200 champion, Gary Lewis, all the time he needed to prepare a game plan for a run to his first career Mac’s series victory over the hard charging Shelby Thompson and Montana’s Mark Owens.

Kalispell, MT (August 15, 2009) — Gary Lewis led the first 31 laps of the Kalispell Toyota Tundra International ARCA West Mac’s Series Challenge before rain began to fall forcing the postponement of the event to Sunday afternoon.

Shelby Thompson is running second with Mark Owens third, Brian Johnson Jr. fourth and Wrango West fifth. Drivers and their teams are under a red flag condition with the cars covered and no work being done until the green flag flies at 1 p.m. MST on Sunday.

Tickets purchased for Friday or Saturday’s race will be honored on Sunday.

Also, Montana Raceway Park owner’s, the Thornton family, will allow anyone with a can of food to donate to the Flathead Valley homeless shelters a free admission ticket to the final 119 laps of the Bill Clark Can-Am Memorial 150. Non-perishable items will be collected at the front gate or at the track’s souvenir booth.

Full concessions will be available with the front gate opening at 11 am MST. Once again, the live audio and video broadcast is planned to be available on the speedway website starting at 1pm.

// Montana Raceway Park Media / Doug Pace

Kalispell, MT (August 14, 2009) - Rain has forced officials with ARCA West and Montana Raceway Park to adjust the schedule for the Bill Clark Can-Am Memorial Weekend late model events. Friday’s “Best of the West” 100-lap event has been canceled with an increased purse set-up for Saturday’s ARCA West Mac’s Series 150-lap main event.

The format for Saturday night’s race has the top eight Canadian drivers in time trials and the top eight drivers from the United States locked into the 24-car field with the remaining eight drivers qualifying in through a consolation race.

The Bill Clark Memorial pays $5,000 to the winner with $500 to start and over $20,000 in total purse available to the 24-car field. Caution flag laps will be counted and the race will be run without a break.

Also on Saturday’s schedule will the Canadian Baby Grands running their 2009 championship race.

Montana Raceway Park Bombers, Hornets, Compacts and Hobby Stocks weekend racing has been canceled.

Saturday, August 15 gates open at 5 p.m. with qualifying at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. A full program of Qualifying, Trophy Dashes and main events for all both classes will presented. All tickets purchased for the “Best of the West” night will be honored for Saturday’s admission.

// Reprinted from Montana Raceway Park Media / Doug Pace

Reprinted from Montana Raceway Park Media / Doug Pace

Kalispell, MT (August 11, 2009) - With the invitational “Best of the West” paying $5,000 to win on Friday, August 14 and then the ARCA West Mac’s Series paying $5,000 to win the following night this year’s Montana Raceway Park Bill Clark Can-Am Memorial Weekend promises to be a big draw for fans and race teams.

Both nights of racing action will be broadcast with live audio and video at no charge on Montana Raceway Park’s website.

Friday’s race features three-time Coors Light Montana 200 champion and current ASA Northwest Late Model Tour points leader, Gary Lewis, along with 2008 ARCA West champion Wes Rhodes and his teammate 2008 ARCA West Rookie of the Year Jared Vorse, 2007 ARCA West Rookie of the Year Erick Hargraves, 2006 ARCA West Rookie of the Year Shelby Thompson, two-time Inland Northwest Super Stock Association champion David Garber and 2001 Montana 200 champion Ron Dexter.

Also expected to defend their home turf on Friday are 2009 Montana 200 runner-up Mark Owens, current Montana Raceway Park late model points leader, Bodie Morton, Alex Lessor, who has two main event wins in 2009 at MRP, Canada’s Clint Habart, who runs weekly in Kalispell, MRP rookie of the year contender, Forrest Bauer, young gun Wrango West, Troy Schweigert and other local stars aiming for their opportunity to take home the prestigious “Best of the West” championship.

Many of the drivers entered Friday night will return the following day to challenge Canada’s late model stars including Dean Craig, Brian Levant, ARCA Re/Max Series driver Ryan Fisher, Roy Wigley and Illinois’s Brian Johnson Jr. who is racing a SuperSeal Chevrolet on the series this season.

(Editor's note) The weekend's racing program also includes the 2009 Championship Weekend for teams and cars of the Baby Grand Stock Car Association of Canada. The Series will run a tripleheader with one feature race Friday night followed by two features on Saturday night. Junior Pro sensation, Cameron Hayley of Calgary, AB will be looking to clinch the Canadian title against rivals and former Series Champions Troy Vandenbilche (Golden, BC) and Michael Kipp of Edmonton, AB.