Northwest Super Late Model Series Returns to Magic Valley Speedway

On August 16th, the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine will visit Magic Valley Speedway (ID) for only the second time in series history. The “Magic Valley Motorsports Hall of Fame 150” will pay $5,000 to the winner and will be Round #5 of the seven-race season for the series. Eddie McKean was the winner of the only other appearance for the series in 2021, beating Garrett Evans, Bryce Bezanson, Thane Alderman, and Kole Raz in the 15-car field.

Ken Bonney (166 points) will lead the series to the 1/3-mile paved oval, after gaining the championship lead after the “Summer Showdown 200” at Evergreen Speedway (WA). Bonney has used consistency to his advantage, finishing all four events in the top 10, with a best showing of second in the “Leonard Evans Memorial 150” at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA). Sitting one point back is Ryan Phipps (165), who has garnered two top five and three top 10 finishes. A DNF at Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway (ID) cost him the championship lead to this point. Terry Halverson (147) sits third, with Haeden Plybon (144), and Christopher Kalsch (133) rounding out the top five.

The Rookie-of-the-Year standings are led by Phipps, with Halverson, Johvan Dillon, Wyatt Gardner, and Gabe Sessler the top five. 52 drivers have scored championship points in 2025, while the series is averaging nearly 22 Super Late Models per event.

It will be a big weekend for the fifth-place driver in the championship standings, as Christopher Kalsch is set to make his 50^th consecutive NWSLMS start. The streak started at Evergreen Speedway in September of 2018 and has continued a series record 49 events to this date. The record isn’t something Kalsch had in mind when he started the streak.

“To be honest, I never really thought too much about having the longest streak of consecutive starts”, Kalsch explained when asked about the accomplishment. “It's just part of what happens when you choose to run with a series and try to run for points. That said, I'm really blessed with friends and family that want to support my racing and are willing to help us run with the Northwest Super Late Model Series. I really can't say enough about my crew, and the countless hours they spend helping me make these races, and the dedication they have to our team.”

The former Yakima Speedway (WA) Super Late Model track champion has had his share of up and down moments, including a top five at Hermiston Raceway (OR) in 2024, kicking off a streak of three consecutive top seven efforts for the Hillsboro, OR racer. But hard luck, crashes, and illness has also dotted some of the challenges Kalsch has experienced over the course of the streak.

“It's hard to pick a single race that was difficult for us to get to, but there are a couple that stand out”, Kalsch began. “The first one was the “Apple Cup” last year. I was sick all winter, and we got a really late start getting the car ready. Even at the “Apple Cup”, I wasn't sure if I was going to be well enough to run the race, until after I got a few practice sessions in.”

Kalsch continued, adding this weekend’s tilt to the hardship line, “The second hardest time is actually this next race at Magic Valley. We have been in the process of building a new car, and they always take a lot of time. To add to that, we wrecked our backup car pretty bad at Evergreen, and that is going to force us to have the new one ready for this next race. I'm really excited to see how this new car does, but these past few weeks have been really busy for us.”

2024 NWSLMS champion Kasey Kleyn sits sixth in the championship standings, three points outside the top five. Kleyn will make his first start at the Southern Idaho facility. After travelling the country, Kleyn has found that he loves heading to new places, and the challenges it presents. The Quincy, WA driver is cognizant of not overthinking those challenges and putting additional stress on his preparation for those events.

“I've really found that I enjoy going to new tracks and figuring them out on the fly”, Kleyn began. “I've been doing that a lot this year, racing back east, and I've always found that the best way to prepare is to leave the unknown, unknown. Because there's no true way to prepare yourself for a track you know nothing about. All you can do is stress yourself out, and I try to just eliminate that stress by not thinking about the track until I get there. Then I might go walk it, just to know how the track surface is.”

This weekend’s event will see several local competitors join the NWSLMS action. 2025 track championship leader Shawn Lester will lead the defense for the locals, as a four-time Late Model winner this year. Dan Lowther is a former Late Model winner at the facility and will look to add to his tally. Collin Anderson will make his NWSLMS debut in a car owned by Jeff Hillock. NWSLMS regulars Johvan Dillon and Ryan Phipps also have Late Model wins at the Twin Falls, ID oval and will join the action this weekend.

Andrew Riehl will make his first NWSLMS appearance of the 2025 season, joining his brother Zach on this weekend’s roster. Both Riehl’s have had strong seasons in 2025 with Zach coming off a victory in the “Montana 200” at the Mission Valley Super Oval (MT). The older brother was also a winner of the season opening “Apple Cup 125” at Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA). Andrew scored a huge win in the “Idaho 200”, besting nearly 40 entries at Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway.

Thane Alderman will make the trip from Las Vegas, as a multi-time Bullring at LVMS (NV) Super Late Model champion. He was fourth at this event in 2021. 2021 NWSLMS Rookie-of-the-Year Bryce Bezanson will make his third series start of 2025 and is coming off a dominant run in the “Montana 200”, leading 104 laps before a broken wheel hub ended his night on lap 173. He finished third at MVS in 2021. Multi-time Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval champion Terry Halverson also joins the field after a hard wreck in the “Summer Showdown 200”. Halverson sits third in the championship standings after a fourth-place effort earlier this year at Stateline Speedway.

This weekend’s event will be streamed LIVE on Racing America with a subscription to the service.

Tentative Schedule:

Friday August 15: Open Practice

Pit Gates open by 3pm for haulers to be parked and Open Practice will begin at 5pm until dark. Pits close at 10:00pm.

Saturday August 16

9am: Pit Gates open.
10am: (approx.) Tires will be available.
11am: Credentials will open with Super Late teams having early priority.
12pm: Credentials open to all classes.
12:30-1:30pm: NWSLMS Open Practice only.
1:30-2:15pm: Early practice other classes.
2:15pm: NWSLMS Pit Meeting.
2:45pm: Local class pit meeting.
(2) 20 min SLM practice sessions during practice rotations.
4:25pm: NWSLMS Qualifying Tech begins.
5:00pm: NWSLMS Qualifying.
5:45-7:45pm: Preliminary Main Events.
7:50pm: NWSLMS cars rolling to grid.
8:05pm: Opening Ceremony/ National Anthem/ Driver Introductions.
8:10-8:15pm: Cars rolling for main event.

Pre-Entry:

1K Kasey Kleyn
2 Terry Halverson
3K Ken Bonney
5P Ryan Phipps
09 Thane Alderman
7R Zach Riehl
11JoD Johvan Dillon
22L Shawn Lester
33 Christopher Kalsch
36A Collin Anderson
51B Bryce Bezanson
63 Dan Lowther
69R Andrew Riehl

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, Joes Racing Products, and The Ti Company. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

-Story, Photo Credot: Kevin Peters, NWSLMS Media