Knottical Marine 150 at Mode Stateline Speedway Next Stop for NWSLMS

The Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine (NWSLMS) is headed back to Northwest Idaho for the fifth season in-a-row on May 17th, for the “Knottical Marine 150”. The newly renamed Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway (ID) will see the series compete for the ninth time at the ¼-mile paved oval in its 51st season. The winner of Saturday night’s race will receive $5,000 in Round #3 of the NWSLMS championship season.

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History: The 2015 season saw two events run with Blake Williams and the late J.C. Wofford the winners. 2016 found Braeden Havens and Garrett Evans scoring victories. In 2021, the series returned to Stateline Speedway (SLS) for the first time since 2016. Garrett Evans scored his only 2021 series victory that day, eventually leading to his fourth series championship. 2022 found Trevor Cristiani grabbing the rain delayed event win in front of Kaiden Anderson, Nick Gibson, Mike Doss, and Evan Goetz in a 19-car field. Kasey Kleyn grabbed the victory in 2023, becoming the youngest driver in series history, at the time, to register a victory. Kleyn repeated his win in 2024 over a 21-car field, on his way to the series championship.

Championship Standings: Zach Riehl leads the championship standings heading into Round #3 of the season. Riehl (95 points) leads Johvan Dillon (92), Haeden Plybon (89), Ryan Phipps (89), Ken Bonney (89), Jason O’Neil (81), Terry Halverson (72), Wyatt Gardner (71), Christopher Kalsch (70), and Gabe Sessler (58) in the standings after two events.

Rookies: Eight drivers have earned points towards the Rookie-of-the-Year championship in 2025. Johvan Dillon (92 points) leads the rookie standings followed by Ryan Phipps (89), Terry Halverson (72), Wyatt Gardner (71), Gabe Sessler (58), Jess Havens (30), Rowdy Rupinski (30), and Danica Dart (28). Phipps, Halverson, Sessler, Havens, Rupinski, and Dart are all entered this weekend.

Track Champions: Multiple Stateline Speedway Late Model track champions are currently entered for this weekend’s event. Those include recent champions Haeden Plybon (2020), Jason O’Neil (2021), Nick Gibson (2023), as well as Dave Garber, who has scored multiple championships at the ¼-mile oval.

Plybon Leads Champions: Haeden Plybon is the only former series winner entered this weekend with a single win at SLS and seven wins overall. Plybon trails only Garrett Evans in all-time series wins. Evans has 10 victories. Plybon has had poor luck on the track over the last year but finished fourth in the season opener and was running second at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA), when bad luck resurfaced with only four laps remaining. He will look to turn his luck around this weekend and close on Evans in the all-time series win column.

Gibson Returns: Another returning SLS track champion is Nick Gibson. The 2022 Pro Late Model champion has six victories in his last 11 Pro Late Model starts at the ¼-mile oval. The former “Idaho 200” winner has three Super Late Model starts with a best result of third. But he will be looking to duplicate his Pro Late Model success in his Super Late Model this weekend, hoping a new car will do the trick.

“In the past we have always struggled getting the tight center out of the car at SLS in a Super Late Model”, Gibson explained about the challenges that SLS provides in his Super Late Model. “This year I've made a big investment into building a new Super, and I'm hoping that heads us in the right direction, to finally get a Northwest Super Late Model Series win!”

Championship Runner-up: 2024 NWSLMS championship runner-up, Ken Bonney heads to SLS tied for third in the current series standings. Bonney has improved his finishes at SLS in each of the last three seasons, coming home ninth, eighth, and seventh. Bonney hopes to continue that improvement and grab his first series victory at a track he enjoys but still finds challenging.

“My favorite part of the facility is it feels like one big family in the pits and the stands”, Bonney stated. “The track is challenging, but it fits my driving style, and I love racing in the second groove. I am hoping for our first win this weekend in our TYM Cub Cadet Hamke (Super Late Model).”

Girl Power: Danica Dart will make her second series start in 2025, after a mid-race incident derailed her efforts in the season opening “Apple Cup” at Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA). The Rookie-of-the-Year candidate scored a career best third-place finish in the “Montana 200” at the Mission Valley Super Oval (MT) in 2024. She returns to a track for which she has four top 10 finishes in her last six Pro Late Model starts. She will now make her first Super Late Model start at SLS, hoping to overcome the biggest challenges the track presents her.

“The biggest challenge racing at Stateline Speedway, for me, has to be just making sure not to over drive my entry, as well as staying consistent with that every lap”, Dart surmised.

Dart continued, “I love racing in the NWSLMS. It's the best competition in the Pacific Northwest and they always put on great events!!”

Schedule: Friday May 16th will open the weekend with Military Night and events for the Road Runners, Hobby Stocks, Bandoleros, and the Pro Late Models with Qualifying beginning at 4:00 PM. Fireworks will follow the Main Events. Saturday will find the Evergreen State Towing Legends, Lanzce Douglass Bandoleros, and Park Model Homes Fever 4 in action with the Northwest Super Late Model Series for a full two days of racing action. Saturday: Admission Gates open, and Qualifying takes place at 4:00 PM, with racing to follow. Admission is free on Saturday for kids 17 and under, which will also include bike giveaways for the kids.

Livestream: For those unable to attend, the event will be shown LIVE at RacingAmerica.com with a paid subscription. Shari Garber and DJ Everett will anchor the weekend’s coverage.

Pre-Entry (as of 5/13/2025)

2 Terry Halverson Wenatchee, WA*
3K Ken Bonney Hermiston, OR
5H Jess Havens Spokane, WA*
5P Ryan Phipps Burley, ID*
11Da Danica Dart Ephrata, WA*
11G Nick Gibson Nampa, ID
22S Garret Sawyer Spokane, WA
29 Jason O'Neil Spokane, WA
33 Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro, OR
51B Bryce Bezanson Missoula, MT
55 Haeden Plybon Spokane, WA
63 Rowdy Rupinski Hayden, ID*
66 Gabe Sessler Snohomish, WA*
77 Scott Murphy Spokane, WA
93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA

*Jefferson Racing Rookie Contender

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 Knottical Marine, RaceCals, Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, AR Bodies, Penske Racing Shocks, Five Star Bodies, AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products, Franks Radio Service, Jefferson Racing, Champion Auto Group, Atomic Screen Printing, Zero Handicap, The Lester Brothers, and The Ti Company. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

-Story, Photo Credit: Kevin Peters, NWSLMS Media