Northwest Super Late Models Headed to Hermiston

Event: The “PCA 125” (Pacific Packaging Association) will take place on June 18th and will be a single day event for the Northwest Super Late Model Series, paying $3,000-to-win at Hermiston Raceway. An extra $4,000 will be added to the purse thanks to Racing Dynamiks ($1,000), Gibson Diesel Performance ($1,000) and Atomic Screen Printing ($1,600).$100 will go to the leader at 100 from Rhoads Muffler Shop, and $300 will be awarded to the Hard Charger from Street Rodz Unlimited, SRU Automotive, and the TI Company Inc. 20 Super Late Models are currently entered for this weekend’s event.

Rain, Rain Go Away: The last two events on the NWSLMS were cancelled or rescheduled due to rain. Like many drivers, Nick Gibson has one main thought for this weekend’s “PCA 125”. “I’ll be really happy if it doesn’t rain, and we get to race”.

Championship: Mike Longton leads Randy Marshall Jr. by a 95-to-88-point margin. Neither are entered for this weekend’s action. Kaiden Anderson is third with 85 points followed by Trenton Moriarity (84) and Max Schroeder (78). Andy Beaman (76), Haeden Plybon (72), Christopher Kalsch (69), Ken Bonney (69) and Nick Gibson (67) make up the remainder of the top-10. Nine of the top-12 in the standings are entered this weekend.

Hermiston History: The NWSLMS has visited Hermiston Raceway seven times in its history. The track was one of the founding facilities on the “Tour” and hosted four events in its inaugural 2014 season. Mike Longton was a two-time winner that season, while the late J.C. Wofford, and Tayler Riddle scored single victories. The 2019 event was won by 2019 NWSLMS Champion Trevor Cristiani, in a wild event that saw Garrett Evans collide with Tayler Riddle on the final lap of the event. Garrett Evans took the checkered flag first, but was penalized for the incident. Tayler Riddle received a disqualification for a post-race incident. In 2021, Hermiston hosted two events with Haeden Plybon leading every lap of the June event. Jason Jefferson charged from the rear of the field after an early race incident to win the Labor Day weekend event.

Series Debut: Kasey Kleyn, Jess Havens, Dillon Huffines, and Darren Rupinski will all make their first Northwest Super Late Model Series starts. For Kleyn, it will be a new standard as the youngest driver to ever start a NWSLMS race at the age of 14 years, 3 months, and five days. He is thrilled to make that start at Hermiston, a track that can be tricky for drivers young and old alike.

“I’m really excited about it”, Kleyn stated. “Hermiston is a definite drivers track and has a ton of character to it, so I’m really looking forward to making my first start in the NWSLMS at Hermiston.”

Presumptive Championship Leader: Kaiden Anderson sits third in the championship standings, but with Mike Longton and Randy Marshall Jr. not entered, Anderson leads the teams in attendance this weekend. He has started the season with sixth and fifth-place finishes, and is happy with the way his season has kicked off.

“I feel like we've had a great start to the season”, Anderson stated. “To be able to compete at this level with a crate car has been pretty surreal. Hermiston is a low grip short track. So, I do feel that if we get a long green flag run that anyone with a crate will have an advantage. I just want to continue to go with the plan of our season, stay out of trouble, and be there at the end. So far, our strategy has worked out pretty well and has allowed us to run for the championship.”

Sophomore Season: Max Schroeder is in his second full season in the NWSLMS after finishing in a tie for second in the championship standings, as well as the Rookie-of-the-Year title. He lost both in a tie breaker, but he is back looking for a championship in 2022. Schroeder won his very first start in the series in 2020, but has yet to return to Victory Lane. With his two fifth-place finishes at Hermiston last year, and coming off a third at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval, Max is confident of getting that $3,000 victory.

“I like my odds of victory at Hermiston this upcoming weekend”, Schroeder stated. “Hermiston is one of my favorites, and it really tests your patience as a driver. Scoring two top five’s there last year was a major confidence boost, and I'm looking to leave there with my second “Tour” win. Consistency will be the word of the day come Saturday!”

Rebound: Haeden Plybon is a finalist in this year’s Kulwicki Driver Development Program, after a strong first half of the 2021 season. He was the only multi-time winner in the Northwest Tour in only four starts. He scored multiple Pro Late Model wins early in the season. But Plybon had a slow second half of the campaign and it continued into 2022, when he failed to finish the first two NWSLMS events of the season. But just over two weeks ago, Plybon scored a Pro Late Model victory in the “Duel in the Desert 75” at Hermiston Raceway. That, along with his dominant NWSLMS win in 2021, gives him confidence heading into this weekend’s “PCA 125”

“It definitely helps a ton, especially with not running the track since the last “Tour” race that was held there”, Plybon explained about his recent victory. ”Getting back on the track, and relearning the line, and also getting more laps around it definitely should help, going onto the next “Tour” race.”

Track Champion: 2019 Hermiston Raceway Pro Late Model Track Champion Dave Garber is coming off another top-10 in his last start at Hermiston’s “Duel in the Desert 75”. The Pro Late Model finish was a disappointment, but it continues his streak of top-10 finishes at the facility. Garber has never finished outside the top-10 in NWSLMS competition in seven starts. His best finish was a second. Heading back, he hopes for better luck at one of his most loved tracks, after flat tires have plagued the Spokane, WA racer.

“I've always liked Hermes, and it's one of my favorite tracks to race at”, Garber admitted. “My goal for the “Tour” race is to not get a flat and be competitive. Finishing in the top-three would be great. I’ve just got to get my luck turned around.”

Schedule: Admission Gates open at 4:00 pm with Qualifying beginning at 4:10 pm. The driver’s meeting will follow at 5:15 pm with the “Happy 10” for the NWSLMS next. Opening Ceremonies are at 5:55 pm. Racing will begin at 6:00 pm with features for the Northwest Focas Midgets, INEX Legends, Street Stocks and the Northwest Super Late Model Series. The Hobby Stocks, Hornets, and Bombers will finish off the evening.

Expected Entries:

1 Kasey Kleyn Quincy, WA

3 Andy Beaman Selah, WA

3K Ken Bonney Hermiston, OR

5 Jess Havens Spokane, WA

7 Dillon Huffines Selah, WA

11G Nick Gibson Nampa, ID

15 Jim Franklin Kennewick, WA

17S Max Schroeder Tacoma, WA

21 Dan Nelson Kennewick, WA

22 Evan Goetz Okanogan, WA

23 Corey Allard Sagle, ID

24 Tim Babcock Kennewick, WA

29 Jason O'Neil Spokane, WA

33 Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro, OR

37 Kaiden Anderson Yakima, WA

55 Haeden Plybon Spokane, WA

63 Darren Rupinski Hayden, ID

83 Braeden Havens Spokane, WA

88 Jeff Mullins Naches, WA

93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA

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, Leonard Evans Used Car Superstore, Racing Dynamiks, 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