Nick Gibson is coming off his rookie season in the Northwest Super Late Model Series in 2022. The driver from Nampa, ID bookended his season with the “Apple Cup 125” and the “Fall Classic 125”, both at Tri-City Raceway at RMEC. He finished seventh and ninth in those two events respectively. He will now kickoff his sophomore season on the “Tour” at the $10,000-to-win, 54th Annual “Bonney’s Branson Tractors Apple Cup 125” at the tricky triangular ½-mile oval on April 2nd.
Gibson is coming off a challenging off-season, after a fire damaged or destroyed much of his racing operation at his shop. The 2022 Hermiston Raceway Pro Late Model track champion will bring his orange Pathfinder Chassis Super Late Model to the season opener, as it is his only remaining car. The championship runner-up, with the Tri-State Challenge Series for Pro Late Models, will be thrashing up to the wire to make the event, but he and the team are confident that they are up for the challenge.
Tri-City Raceway is another challenge that will face the team. The track is unique in its shape and has an older surface that can be challenging to get a hold of. Tire wear is always an issue and finding the right line and braking points can be a challenge for any driver. But Gibson had another challenge at last year’s “Fall Classic” that will not be an obstacle in this year’s ‘Apple Cup”.
“At the Fall Classic we ran both the Pro Late (Model) and the Super Late (Model) and I struggled going back and forth between the two, because they are so different”, Gibson explained. “I feel like that was our biggest challenge there last year. This year at the “Apple Cup”, we are just going to be running the Super Late, so I'm hoping that really helps us on finding the speed we need to be a top contender.”
Gibson showed consistency in 2022 with two top-five and six top-10 finishes in seven events, finishing third in the final standings. He had only one finish outside the top-10, but he will be looking for a stronger presence in the top-five in 2023, as well as his first series victory. The driver of the Gibson Deisel Performance Camero would love to kick off the campaign with a $10,000 victory at Tri-City. In just over three weeks, Gibson will get that opportunity.
Gibson is sponsored by Karcher Auto Body, Cristiani Motorsports, Gibson Deisel Performance and Carbon Designs.
ABOUT THE NORTHWEST SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES
The Northwest Super Late Model Series is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Northwest. The series has many valued partners including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, AR Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Penske Racing Shocks, Five Star Bodies, AFCO/Longacre Racing Products, RaceCals, Wheel Chill, Atomic Screen Printing and Embroidery, Franks Racing Radio, BLP, Jefferson Racing, American Racer, Gibson Diesel Performance, and The Ti Company. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.
-Northwest Super Late Model Series Press Release