AUTO RACING: Some history, and familiar names at the Idaho 200

One of the largest fields ever, complete with some history of its own, is set to gather at Stateline Speedway on Friday and Saturday for the 22nd running of the Idaho 200 late model stock car race.

Amongst the preliminary entries are three past champs. They include Jeremy Doss (2020), Glenn Knutson (2019) and Braeden Havens (2016) who with several dozen others are set to race for the $5,000 first-place money. In addition to the winner’s share of the purse, drivers will be able to earn $25 for each lap led if they win.

But this edition of the Idaho 200 will have even some deeper history. That will be made as Xfinity NASCAR Series driver Jesse Little will make his first visit back to a race track that has true family roots. His grandfather, Chuck Little, owned Stateline Speedway several decades ago. Little’s father, Chad, got some of his start at the track on the way to racing NASCAR’s Winston Cup in the 1980s and 1990s.

Many members of the Little family plan to be at the race including Chuck and Chad.

Little’s long-anticipated return to Northwest racing began a week ago at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe where he finished 16th in the Summer Showdown.

Since such a large field will be jockeying for just 24 starting spots on the quarter-mile oval, competition for those spots promises to be fierce.

“With the large car count we will lock in top 14 during qualifying,” Stateline Speedway General Manager Matt Alexander said.

That happens Friday night. Another part of the field, eight cars, will come from a pair of 30 lap races, also Friday.

Finally, on Saturday there will be a 70 lap B-main/Last Chance Qualifier with the top two finishers going into the 200. “Or they can take the $1,000 to win and walk away giving the 3rd and 4th place cars the opportunity to run the 200,” Alexander said.

“Take a deep breath because you can’t win it on the first lap,” Alexander said.

Friday is qualifying and Saturday for the 200 and various support races. In addition to the late models, Pro 4 Trucks, Flattop Roofing Legends, and the Tri-State Challenge Series will race Friday and Saturday.

Pit gates open at 10 a.m. with racing/qualifying beginning at 5 p.m. each day.

For ticket info visit: www.raceidaho.com.

Past Idaho 200 Winners

Year Winner

2000 Tom Sweatman

2001 John Gamble

2002 John Gamble

2003 Darren Rupinski

2004 Rick Schultz

2005 Jeff Jefferson

2006 Kevin Richards

2007 Gary Lewis

2008 Gary Lewis

2009 Gary Lewis

2010 John Dillon

2011 Kevin Richards

2012 Garrett Evans

2013 Blake Williams

2014 Trevor Emond

2015 JC Wofford

2016 Braeden Havens

2017 Garrett Evans (250 laps)

2018 Gary Lewis

2019 Glenn Knutson

2020 Jeremy Doss