SPOKANE, Washington -- It is not usual to see Spokaneʼs Dave Garber racing at Montana Raceway Park (MRP). As a matter of fact, should you ask him, heʼd probably say itʼs his home away from home. So seeing Garber at the Kalispell track for their opening late model event this past weekend was no surprise. This time, however, he brought a few of his friends; the Inland Northwest Super Stock Association (INSSA). Garber, the defending champion of INSSA, worked diligently for weeks with the promoters of MRP to set up a challenge race between the local Montana boys and the INSSA boys. The race dubbed the Kokanee Battle of the Borders: Montana vs. Idaho Late Model 100 was a huge success. When the green flag flew, a record 26 late models started the event. The feature event saw racers not only from Montana, Idaho and Washington, but also from north of the border in British Columbia.

Mark Owens of Kalispell, posted the fasted time of the day, a new track record at 12.877. With the inverted 6 car start, Owens started in the third row outside. INSSAʼs fasted qualifier Corey Allard posted a 13.060 and third fast qualifying position.

Tony Morgan, of Kalispell, brought out the first caution of the race, when his throttle stuck while entering turn 4. The damage was extensive and a long delay ensued.

Once again under green, pole setter Andy Brown (Spokane) took off to lead the field. Corey Allard, of Sagle, Idaho, in his first ever event at MRP, quickly caught up to Brown. For the next 30 laps, most of them side by side, Allard and Brown raced for the lead putting on a fantastic show for the fans. While lapping traffic with Brown, Allard got held up by a slower car and lost several positions.

Meanwhile, Owens made his way to the front with Dave Garber in tow. By lap 39, both Owens and Garber passed Brown to secure the first and second positions. As Garber closed in on Owens and was moving up beside him to make a pass for the lead on lap 68, Owens tangled with a car that was being lapped. Owens suffered a flat tire and while the yellow came out, he made quick work of getting new rubber and back on the track without losing a lap. Troy Schweigert (Kalispell), Kevin Goe (Kalispell) and Bodie Morton took over the next three positions, with Andy Brown still running in the top 5.

Owens, clearly fast on fresh rubber, made his way back through the field as far as 8th before getting together with Cory Wolfe (Ronan), which resulted in both cars falling to the back of the pack. Wolfe, who arrived at the track too late to make qualifying, was driving a car he had never sat in prior to the event and posted one of the fastest laps during the race.

As Garber pulled away, Schweigert and Goe put on a good race for the second position. Goe repeatedly tried to get the inside lane on Schweigert, but Schweigert held fast. At lap 88, the two cars got together and spun, sending them both to the back. This brought Kalispellʼs Bodie Morton, who had posted the second fastest qualifying time for the day, into the second position and Brown into third. Morton got within striking distance, but just didnʼt have enough to pass Garber at the end. This was Garber's first win of the season in the Pend Oreille Mechanical, FabTech Racing Products, Concrete Cutters sponsored Pontiac. Brown finished third, Agni Howell (Kalispell) and Micah Sampson (Kalispell) rounded out the top 5. Owens, who had to come from the back twice during the event, finished sixth, with INSSAʼs Jack Morse (Spokane) and Allard taking the seventh and eighth spots. Wolf and Billy Salmonson (Kalispell) rounded out the top 10 of the 18 cars running at the checkered.

INSSAʼs next event is May 31st when they return to home track State Line Speedway. For results and information throughout the season visit www.insssa.org.

INSSA Late Model Series Race # 2 ~ Kokanee Battle of the Borders: MT vs. ID Late Model 100 Fin. Car # Driver Hometown Status Laps Comp

1 93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA Running 100

2 77 Bodie Morton Kalispell, MT Running 100

3 41 Andy Brown Spokane, WA Running 100

4 1 Agni Howell Kalispell, MT Running 100

5 7 Micah Sampson Kalispell, MT Running 100

6 44 Mark Owens Kalispell, MT Running 100

7 21 Jack Morse Spokane, WA Running 100

8 23 Corey Allard Sagle, ID Running 100

9 20 Cory Wolfe Ronan, MT Running 100

10 55 Billy Salmonsen Kalispell, MT Running 100

11 75 Troy Schweigert Kalispell, MT Running 100

12 88 Rusty Webb Deer Park, WA Running 99

13 22 Dan Yonke Spokane, WA Running 99

14 7i Jessie Taylor Clayton, WA Running 99

15 81 Terry Bohan Canada Running 98

16 28 Trevor Hansen Canada Running 94

17 32 Jerrod Fleck Canada Running 91

18 8 Kevin Goe Kalispell, MT Mechanical 88

19 09 Clint Hubert Canada Mechanical 84

20 74 Rocky Erickson Columbia Falls, MT Running 34

21 29 Clayton Richert Canada Mechanical 30

22 55i Barry Shinger Canada Mechanical 18

23 33 Casey Brandt Kalispell, MT Mechanical 13

24 36 Wrango West Kalispell, MT Mechanical 13

25 45 Steve Parrish Coeur d'Alene, ID Mechanical 2

26 11 Tony Morgan Kalispell, MT Accident 0

Top Qualifier: #44 Mark Owens 23.877 NTR Lap Leaders: Laps 1-24 #41 Brown, Lap 25 #23 Allard Laps 26-38 Brown, Laps 39-67 #44 Owens, Laps 68-100 #93 Garber A-Dash - #75 Troy Schweigert B-Dash - #32 Jerrod Fleck

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