Biography

    After announcing races for a radio station in Missoula in 1964 and accepting the challenge to prove himself on the track, Jim Kruse began a career in racing that would span 50 years and include driving, sponsoring and promoting.

     Racing a '50 Ford Flathead V-8, Jim called Tri-City Speedway his home track. He held the track fast time record in the C-Class and won 3 season championships. He also won a series championship in the International Auto Racers Championship Series which included cars from the U.S. and Canada and raced their series on tracks in both countries.  He also raced in the Sportsman Class at Big Sky Speedway and the Hobby Stock class at Montana Raceway Park.

     Around 1970 Tri-City Speedway was in the process of closing when Jim stepped in and signed the papers and commited the money to keep it open. By doing so, he kept racing alive in Kalispell and preserved the record of stock car racing continuously here since 1952. And he raced a full schedule of his own at the same time.

     He just sold his Hobby Stock car that he had been racing the last couple years at  Raceway Park but I suspect we haven't seen the last of Jim Kruse.

     Editors Note:  As predicted, Jim Kruse is still in the racing business.  Having just purchased a 1978 Ford Granada that is set to compete at Montana Raceway Park this upcoming 2015 season with Jason Robinson as his driver.