Coming in HOT

POST FALLS — The RPMs and energy were high Friday morning as drivers prepared for the Idaho 200 at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls.

"It’s going to be competitive," said Shelby Thompson of Spokane, fresh from winning the 32nd Montana 200, held July 14 and 15 in Polson.

"Staying out of trouble is the main thing," Thompson said. "You've got to make it to the end.”

Today is day two of the 24th annual event, a 200-lap race featuring nearly 30 drivers from around the Northwest and as far away as Alabama. The drivers are vying for sweet custom trophies and a $5,000 prize for whoever is first across the finish line.

“It’s been great. The weather is 20 degrees cooler than it was last year, which is a huge plus for being inside the car and inside the racing surface," Stateline Speedway general manager Matt Alexander said. “We worked very hard to put this on, but we couldn't do it without the team and all the drivers who come from all over to make it a success."

Kasey Kleyn, 15, of Quincy, Wash., began racing go-karts when he was 7. He moved to late-model race cars when he was 10. He is the youngest in the race this weekend, and at 11 was the youngest to ever shove his foot down hard on the gas pedal.

"I've raced it enough times I don't get excited being the youngest. I've been the youngest at a lot of the races I start," he said. "It's different now that I'm starting to get faster and be a frontrunner at these races."

Kleyn said, as young race car driver, school always comes first, but racing is his full-time job.

"Traveling everywhere and working on the car every week, that doesn't leave you much time to have a job," he said. "You're in the shop every day, working on the car, making sure it's right and prepared for the race."

He said it's becoming more mainstream for people his age to participate in racing competitions. When he was early in his late model racing career, people were surprised to see how young he was.

Racing life provides an atmosphere he truly enjoys, he said.

"The whole setting, everyone before the race is kind of like a big family," he said. "Everyone helps each other out. Then just the competition, it's fun to get out there and race with people. You have a hoot doing it. It's really something else."

Aubree Cristiani of Boise, No. 96, is a mother of two who grew up in a racing family. She last raced the 200 two years ago.

"It's a family-friendly environment so our kids can come, hang out in our motorhome," she said. "It is cool being able to have two kids and get back out. My husband bought the car. He said he wanted our kids to be able to watch their mom race, so that's why we're out here."

Cristiani said races like this back her mind up to childhood.

"Being able to get behind the wheel and feel like you still got it even after a couple kids is pretty fun," she said smiling. "It's fun to go to different race tracks and feel it out and see how you can adapt to the car and the track that you're driving."

Tickets for day two of the Idaho 200 range from $11 for children to $18 or $28.

Grandstands open at 4 p.m. Stateline Speedway is at 1349 N. Beck Road.

Tickets and info: raceidaho.com