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Riding a Hot Streak

By Beacon Staff

Racecar driving is a lot like poker. A lot of it has to do with luck. A streak, good or bad, can last one or two races or an entire summer. Bodie Morton has had his fair share of both throughout his lifelong racing career. This summer, though, he’s riding a hot streak.

The Kalispell native has earned two runner-up finishes, a fifth-place showing and won the Canadian American Shootout 125 at Montana Raceway Park on June 26. He’s currently the points leader for Super Late Models entering this weekend’s Montana 200 at Montana Raceway Park.

“Even though we’re not back East, we have a group of drivers here who are very talented,” said Marie AuClaire, the manager at Raceway Park. “Sometimes I think because we’re in the West people don’t understand the talent that is here. Bodie definitely can hold his own.”

Drivers from across the country arrive in the Flathead Valley for the Montana 200 in pursuit of almost $50,000 in winnings. The top driver to emerge on Saturday night will earn $15,000.

Morton’s best finish was fifth in 2009. He’s placed in the top 10 five times.

“To have your name on that list (of winners), that’s every driver’s dream around here,” he said. “That’s our big race.”

Morton will try to make it out of qualifying Friday, which is often the most nerve-wrecking aspect of the 200. In only two laps, a field of 50 drivers is whittled down to 24 for Saturday’s main event.

“If you leave one tenth of a second out there, if your car could do a 13.2 and it does 13.3, there could be 15 cars that get in there ahead of you,” he said.

With 20 laps to go last year, Morton’s engine began smoking but he kept it out there. With six laps to go, a tire cut and knocked him out of the race.

That’s just how racing goes.

“It takes a lot of luck,” he said.

The 36-year-old Kalispell native is a familiar face in the racing circuit. Since moving to Super Late Models, Morton has become one of the best around. Giant trophies are scattered

Numerous gauges are seen on the dashboard of Bodie Morton’s Super Late Model racecar. PHOTOS BY Lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon

throughout his garage, where he works on his two cars after hours. Pictures of him in the winner’s circle hang on the wall along with photos of his wife Heidi, son Taylor, and daughter Gracie.

In 2006 Morton was named Most Improved Driver at Raceway Park. He won the points chase for Super Late Models in 2010.

“All the other racers definitely respect him,” AuClaire said. “He’s a clean driver. He’s a great racer. He’s accomplished so much, especially for not having all the financial backing.”

Born and raised in Kalispell, Morton has been racing since he was 8 years old. Both his grandparents raced at the old track outside of town. His uncle raced motorcycles, which is what Morton started on. When he was 14 his sister’s boyfriend raced cars and offered Morton a spot on the pit crew. He learned the ins and outs of racing, from maintenance to strategy. Three years later, he and a friend built a Bomber stock car and hit Raceway Park outside of Kalispell, which opened in 1991.

“I’ve never looked back. I’ve raced every summer since,” he said.

For Morton, it’s a workmanlike hobby. He does his own maintenance and has built his car with as much local gear as possible, like his No. 77 Super Late Model’s new Line-X wrap by Shadow Enterprises in Kalispell.

Morton, who works for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, credits his supporters, whether it’s sponsors, local businesses or his family and friends, for making it possible for him to race. After all, a set of tires alone costs $560 and are replaced every race. And the time needed to fine tune a car is lengthy.

Driver Bodie Morton tells stories of past races while at his home garage west of Kalispell. Lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon

“It takes a pretty special woman to put up with racing,” Morton said, crediting Heidi’s support. “I’m out here working a lot but she’s behind me 100 percent and she’s all in when it comes to helping.”

Watching dad race on the weekends has become a family event, too. For good luck, Morton’s daughter found him a penny from the year 1977 that he keeps in his right shoe every race. His lucky Nike hat that he got years ago always sits on his gear shifter, too. These help calm any nerves he might have before an event.

“There’s certain nights where people are getting crazy during heat races and it’s a full moon out and people are wrecking and you just get one of those feelings that something is going to happen tonight,” he said. “But right when the green drops, all those thoughts go away and you’re just racing.

“That’s one thing about racing – you could be having the worst day but when you’re racing that’s all you’re thinking about. You’re just so focused on the drive. That’s what I love about it.”