Jason Jefferson Wins Wontana 200

Pablo, Montana (July 13, 2024) — The Jefferson family has added yet another root of its family tree to big race wins.

Jason Jefferson, younger brother of Jeff Jefferson, became the newest family member to take a Montana 200 victory back home to Naches, Wash. with a 1.955 second advantage over Spokane’s David Garber. ARCA West competitor Danica Dart third.

Just 11 cars were running at the end of 200 laps in the 29-car field on the Mission Valley Super Oval. Alex Lessor, fourth and Hayden Hoogeveen in fifth were the lone cars on the lead lap.

“Winning the 200 ranks high on the list for races I have wanted to win,” Jefferson wrote in a text message. “I loved racing in Kalispell and thanks that Mission Valley has kept the tradition alive.”

Jefferson’s break, he said, came just before the 100-lap break.

Jason Jefferson in the 2024 Montana 200 champion. NWLSLM Photo

“I got spun out by someone and was then restarting in the back of the pack,” he explained. “I went to the pits under yellow and started making adjustments. They worked and made more for the break. The crew got the car (running) really good.”

The win adds another notch on Jefferson’s belt following past victories at the Fall Classic (2016) and Apple Cup (2003) in Yakima. This was his fifth Montana 200 and second at Mission Valley.

Jeff Jefferson is a two-time Montana 200 winner in 2006 and 2012.

“I always just race the first 100 to get to the break, make my adjustments and go from there,” Jefferson said.

For runner-up Garber, it was more heartbreak in trying to reel in his first Montana 200. “The year before last I lost it by a fender,” he wrote in a text message.

Like Jefferson, Garber, too, was spun out. “I was kind of just buying time at that point had to go to the back came back up to the front,” he explained. “The car was a little bit free and I didn’t want to take any chances.”

“I was happy with second but first would have definitely been pretty cool,” Garber added.

Spokane’s Shelby Thompson, the 2023 winner, exited the race at lap 25 and the race saw the end of Kasey Kleyn’s three-race Northwest Super Late Model Series win streak. He was 17th and finished 121 laps.

Montana 200 Winners Thru 2024

Year/ Winner/ Hometown
1991 Lance Wade – Victoria, BC
1992 Bob Schweigert – Kalispell, MT
1993 Marc Groskreutz – Spokane, WA
1994 Cory Wolfe – Ronan, MT
1995 Mark Owens – Libby, MT
1996 Marc Groskreutz – Spokane, WA
1997 Tom Sweatman – Cosmopolis, WA
1998 Tim Elliott – Creston, BC
1999 Troy Conrad – Puyallup, WA
2000 Tom Sweatman – Cosmopolis, WA
2001 Ron Dexter – Selah, WA
2002 Tom Sweatman – Cosmopolis, WA
2003 Ken Kaltschmidt – Marion, MT
2004 Christian Roeder – Ephrata, WA
2005 B.J. Tidrick – Yakima, WA
2006 Jeff Jefferson – Naches, WA
2007 Gary Lewis – Bothell, WA
2008 Gary Lewis – Bothell, WA
2009 Gary Lewis – Bothell, WA
2010 Gary Lewis – Bothell, WA
2011 Shane Mitchell Orondo, WA
2012 Jeff Jefferson – Naches, WA
2013 Jonathon Gomez – Twin Falls, ID
2014 Garrett Evans — E. Wenatchee, WA
2015 Owen Riddle – Naches, WA
2016 Jeremy Doss – Upper Lake, Calif.
2017 Owen Riddle – Naches, WA
2018 Jeremy Doss – Upper Lake, Calif.
2019 Owen Riddle – Naches, WA
2020 No race (COVID-19)

At Mission Valley Super Oval
2021* B.J. Tidrick – Yakima, WA
2022* B.J. Tidrick – Yakima, WA
2023* Shelby Thompson — Spokane, WA
2024* Jason Jefferson — Naches, WA
*Held at Mission Valley Super Oval; all others at Montana Raceway Park which has since closed.

Shrader Shatters Northport Record

A qualifying record that has stood for some 20 years at Northport International Raceway was recently broken by a large margin by Colville modified driver Cory Shrader. His 18.49 record topped the previous mark of 18.72 seconds held by Monty Zema, also from Colville. Shrader credited crew chief Adrian Konkler for his help with the mark.

Northport Intl. Raceway photo

Coopers Collect Crowns

Justin Cooper won both pro and super pro on Friday night, defeating his sister, Stephanie, in the pro final round. On Saturday, Cooper’s sister Stephanie went on to win pro and capture the NHRA.TV challenge Wally that went to only the Saturday winners.

Medical Lake’s Cooper family (L-R): Stephanie Frisch, Steven Cooper and Justin Cooper came away big winners in a recent outing at the Walla Walla Drag Strip. Cooper family photo

Alcohol Cars on Tap at Qlispe

Airway Heights — A collection of blown alcohol cars will race at Qlispe Raceway July 19 and 20 with Northwest Nostalgia cars running July 21.

Sixteen cars including funny cars, dragsters and alterds will travel from as far away as Elko, Nevada and Calgary, Alberta — and places in-between.

The field includes:

Joe Ortiz, 84 Trans Am - 523 BBC, Elko NV

Pete Ortiz Jr, 97 Olds Cutlass - 538 BBC, Elko NV

Dave Kroeker, 04 R-E Dragster - 540 Chevy, Cranbrook BC

David Spease, 23T Altered - 510 K-B Hemi, Bonners Ferry ID

Wes Garvin III, 32 Bantam Altered - 540 Chevy, Pasco WA

Cody Petersen, Dodge Avenger - 451 Hemi, Missoula MT

Jeffrey Cassell, 01 R-E Dragster - 540 Chevrolet, Nine Mile Falls WA

Ronnie Lee Richardson, 97 Olds Cutlass - 526 KB/WAR, East Wenatchee WA

Greg Pope, 19 Nagel & Pope T altered - 421 AJPE, North Plains OR

Rob Steusloff, 23 Ford Altered - 478 New Century, Post Fall ID

Jim Seivers, 85 Ken Cox 23 T Altered - 540 Chevy, Nine Mile Falls WA

Brent Jones, 82 Olds Firenza - BBC 555, Stevensville MT

Jim Attewell, 98 AGP R-E Dragster - BBC 588, Calgary AB

Ron Sprugasci, 23 T Altered, Chevy - 540, East Wenatchee WA

Dane Lachelt, 01 Lachelt. Olds - 540, Kelowna BC

Brandon Schaapman, Model T Altered - 482 Chevy, Quincy WA

Visit www.QRPRacing.com for more information and tickets.