Way back in 1951 some "young guns" from Kalispell & Libby got together and decided that they were going to see who had the fastest cars in Northwest Montana.

     So they held some informal races in the hay fields between these two towns and started drawing crowds. Soon, as with most competitive events, there had to be some rules laid out.  So in 1952 the NorthWest Montana Stock Car Racing Association was created and stock car racing has carried on every summer since.

     The first couple of racetracks were dirt tracks and were aptly named.  Bill's Speedway was nicknamed the "dust bowl" because of its location at the bottom of the hill on West Evergreen Drive. The racing moved to south Kalispell later to a track called simply "Speedway".

     In 1958 the first asphalt track was built after being converted from its original dirt surface. It was located where the entrance to Glacier Park International Airport is now.  Anyone who has lived here long enough to remember that track has a story to tell about the competition there.  The track was very small and the racing was crazy.

     Then in 1973 Big Sky Speedway was built on Highway 2 where JTL Construction is now located. This was a paved 1/4 mile banked racetrack with lighting for night racing.  Competition really took off at this track as more people started getting the "race bug".  Probably the premier event at this track was the "1988 Race of Champions" where NASCAR stars came and raced local cars. Steve Weisz was the promoter of the event which included Rusty Wallace, Davey Allison, Michael Waltrip, Geoff Bodine, Rick Wilson and Joe Ruttman. They put on quite a show.

     In 1990 John Slack built the facility you all enjoy today and together with his wife Sharon turned Montana Raceway Park into a world class racetrack that was named several years ago by NASCAR's Ken Schraeder as one of the top ten racetracks in the USA.  This high banked/high speed asphalt track is home to Legend Thunder and the unbelievable "Montana 200"- the richest race purse in the Northwest for late models, as well as a contingent of classes that produce exitement and excellent competition every week.

     Racing in the Flathead Valley has come a long way since those "young guns" in 1951. Kalispell stock cars are on the national radar now.  Our drivers have won races all over the country. And there are many people who are responsible for this trend.

     In 1996 Mike Thoennes, as president of the NorthWest Montana Stock Car Racing Association, proposed starting the NWMSCRA Hall of Fame so that the people who have contributed most to this sport will not go unnoticed.  Between 1999 and 2004 there were no inductions since the NWMSCRA had ceased to exist. In 2004 Mike and Nancy Thoennes revived interest in the NWMSCRA Hall of Fame with Montana Raceway Park and inductions have continued since.

     The executive board of directors consisting of Dick Robinson, Wade Curtis,  Victoria Brea-Walhus, Jim Seymour, Debbie Eichorst and the late "dutch" Dutcher approved and instituted the NWMSCRA Hall of Fame. Every year since 1996 someone who has raised the sport of stock car racing to new heights has, and will be honored in the future.  Many of these members are still alive and some are still racing and will eagerly share their memories.