Montana Raceway Park facts for kids
The outside of Montana Raceway Park in 2013
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| Location | U.S. Route 93 north of Kalispell, Montana |
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| Opened | 1991 |
| Closed | 2020 |
| Former names | Raceway Park Kalispell Raceway Park Flathead Valley Raceway Park |
| Major events | Montana 200 (Super Late Models), ARCA Menards Series West, NASCAR K&N Pro Series West |
| Surface | paved |
| Length | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) |
Montana Raceway Park was a place for car races near Kalispell, Montana. It was located in the Flathead Valley area. The park had a 1/4-mile-long oval track. This track was paved with asphalt and had high banks. The stands could hold 4,000 people who came to watch the races. There was also space for over 100 race teams. In 2020, the track announced it would close for good. This was due to problems like damage to the property and fewer fans coming to watch.
History of the Raceway
The racetrack first opened on May 1, 1991. When it first started, it was called Raceway Park. For a short time, it was also known as Kalispell Raceway Park and Flathead Valley Raceway Park. The main things that happened at the park were weekly car races and special events.
Popular Racing Events
Drivers from the northwestern United States and Canada would travel to Montana Raceway Park. They came for a big race called the Coors Light Montana 200. This race happened every year since the track opened. Usually, about 40 to 50 drivers would try to get into the race. Only 24 spots were available for the main event.
Other types of racing also took place at the track. These included the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. There were also races for Canadian Super Trucks. Local car types like Super Late Models and Super Stocks raced there too. Other popular racing cars included Bombers, Hobby Stocks, Hornets, Legends, and Bandoleros.
Beyond Racing
Montana Raceway Park was not just for car races. It also hosted other sports events. Sometimes, famous music bands would perform there. Bands like Foghat, Blue Öyster Cult, Eddie Money, and Alice Cooper played concerts at the racetrack.
In 2007, the staff and managers of Montana Raceway Park received a special award. They were given the Promoter of the Year award. This award came from Charlotte Motor Speedway and its manager, Humpy Wheeler. It showed that the park was doing a great job.
Why the Track Closed
In March 2020, the track announced it would close for the entire 2020 season. This was partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in May 2020, the track shared a sad message. They said Montana Raceway Park would close permanently. The owners explained that for several years, they had faced problems. These included constant damage to the property and fewer fans coming to watch. They also said the COVID-19 crisis made it impossible to keep the track open.
