NWSLMS Invades Tri-City Raceway RMEC for the Fall Classic 200

Spokane, WA - Round #7 of the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine will close out the 2025 season for the series in its’ 12^th season. The “Fall Classic presented by Desert Food Mart” is the biggest short track event in the Pacific Northwest and will take place on October 3-5 at Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA). Sunday’s “Fall Classic 200” will pay $10,000 to the winner and $800 to start the 38^th annual event, thanks to Atomic Screen Printing. 29 Super Late Models are currently on the entry list. The Pro Late Models, Northwest Vintage Modifieds and Mini Stocks highlight Saturday’s action. The Vintage Modifieds and Hobby Stocks will join the NWSLMS on Sunday. There are currently over 120 entries for this weekend’s action, among five divisions.

For the second straight season, the “Fall Classic” will expand from a 125-lap race, back to the more traditional 200 lap event. The 200-lap distance was the standard when the race’s original host Yakima Speedway (WA) was the destination. The 200-lap event will be a six-tire race. Yakima Speedway hosted the event from 1988 until 2020, when the track closed. TCR began hosting the event in 2021 and will see its fifth rendition this weekend. The NWSLMS began sanctioning the event in 2022 and averaged 34.3 Super Late Models per event. 25 Super Late Models were present in 2021.

Entering the “Fall Classic 200”, Ryan Phipps (248 points) leads the championship standings for the NWSLMS. Ken Bonney (240) finds himself only eight points behind Phipps for the championship. After his second-place finish at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA), Johvan Dillon (223) now sits third in the standings, with Christopher Kalsch (213) and Terry Halverson (187) rounding out the top five. Zach Riehl (185), Kasey Kleyn (184), Jason O’Neil (162), Bryce Bezanson (146), Haeden Plybon (144), and Dave Garber (144), comprise the top 10. A maximum of 55 points are available for this weekend’s action, giving each of the top four a mathematical chance at the championship.

The 2025 season has seen six different winners in six events. Zach Riehl opened the season with a win in the “Apple Cup 125” at TCR. Johvan Dillon won the “Leonard Evans Memorial 150” at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA) with Haeden Plybon following with a win at Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway in the “Knottical Marine 150”. Jace Hansen was the winner of the “Summer Showdown 200” at Evergreen Speedway (WA) and Kasey Kleyn was victorious at Magic Valley Speedway (ID) in the “Hall of Fame 150”. Just over a week ago, Alan Cress earned a win in the “Neal Newberry 125” at WVSO. Four of those teams will compete this weekend.

There have been six multi-time winners of the “Fall Classic” which includes Pete Harding (4 wins), Ron Eaton (2), Garrett Evans (3), Naima Lang (3), Cameron Hayley (2), and Jason Frasier (2). Lang is the only multi-time winner entered, but other several drivers have a chance to join that list. Previous winners BJ Tidrick, Jason Jefferson, and 2024 winner Kasey Kleyn are all entered for this weekend’s action.

Six former Northwest Super Late Model Series winners are entered for Sunday’s rich event. Haeden Plybon (8 wins), Kasey Kleyn (7), Jason Jefferson (3), Zach Riehl (1), Johvan Dillon (1), and Max Schroeder (1) all count series victories. Five states are represented on the entry including Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Washington.

Seven drivers are set to make their first starts of the 2025 NWSLMS season, one of which will make his series debut. Mike Burkhart, Tyler Brown, Thomas Stanford, Jeff Hillock, Dalton Cristiani, Kellen Dean, and Jason Jefferson are set to take their first green flags of the season. It will be a series debut for Dean, who is a former Tri-State Challenge Series winner at Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway. Burkhart was at the “Apple Cup” in April but was unable to start.

16 drivers are currently planning to participate in both Saturday’s Pro Late Model “Fall Classic 80” and Sunday’s NWSLMS “Fall Classic 200”. Those drivers include Naima Lang, Andy Beaman, Ken Bonney, Wyatt Gardner, Zach Riehl, Johvan Dillon, Nick Gibson, BJ Tidrick, Trace Thompson, Thomas Stanford, Jeff Hillock, Haeden Plybon, Dan Lowther, Andrew Riehl, Ray Clever, and Dalton Cristiani.

The schedule will find Admission Gates opening at 3:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM on Sunday. Saturday we will see practice begin for the Pro Late Models, Mini Stocks, and Vintage Modifieds at 2:00 PM. Qualifying will roll off at 3:30 PM. Fanfest is scheduled for 4:45 PM with Opening Ceremonies at 5:40 PM. The Mini Stock Feature event is scheduled for 6:00 PM, racing for 45 laps or 40 minutes. The Vintage Modifieds are next at 6:50 PM and will run 35 laps or 30 minutes. Pro Late Model introductions are scheduled for 7:30 PM with the “Fall Classic Pro Late Model 80” taking the green at 8:00 PM, paying $5,000 to win.

Sunday we will see practice for the NWSLMS, Vintage Modifieds, and TSCS Hobby Stocks begin at 9:45 AM. Qualifying for the Hobby Stocks, Vintage Modifieds, and NWSLMS is scheduled to kick off at 11:30 AM. The Last Chance Qualifying Race for the NWSLMS is next at 12:25 PM (if needed), with Opening Ceremonies set for 12:45 PM. The Hobby Stock Main is scheduled for 1:00 PM. The Vintage Modifieds will race for 35 laps (or 30 minutes) at 1:45 PM. The Super Late Model will roll out at 2:10 PM with driver intros, top eight redraw, engines start, and roll-off following. The 38th Annual “Fall Classic 200” presented by Desert Food Mart is scheduled to take the green at 3:00 PM. $10,000 will go to the winner.

The 38^th Annual “Fall Classic presented by Desert Food Mart” will air LIVE on Low Budget TV. The Pay per view broadcast is available for $29.99 on Saturday, $34.99 on Sunday, and $44.99 for both days. Go to www.lowbudget.tv for purchase information. Tommy Mason and Jeffrey Best will anchor the weekend’s coverage.

The 38^th annual “Fall Classic 200” will conclude the 12^th season for the Northwest Super Late Model Series with $10,000 on the line. It will be the fifth edition at the ½-mile triangle, where there has yet to be a repeat winner. Jason Frasier scored the inaugural win in 2021, with Doni Wanat (2022), Evan Goetz (2023), and Kasey Kleyn (2024) the most recent victors. 29 teams have entered the October 5th event. The 2026 season will open at Tri-City Raceway RMEC for the sixth time in the 57^th annual “Apple Cup 125” on April 12^th.

Expected Driver Entry: (9/30/2025)

00 Naima Lang Lynnwood, WA
1K Kasey Kleyn Quincy, WA
01 Mike Burkhart Sandy, OR
2 Terry Halverson Wenatchee, WA
3B Andy Beaman Selah, WA
3G Wyatt Gardner Lake Stevens WA
3K Ken Bonney Hermiston, OR
5P Ryan Phipps Heyburn, ID
7R Zach Riehl Corbett, OR
8 Tyler Brown Meridian, ID
9 Ethan Ebert Tucson, AZ
11Da Danica Dart Ephrata, WA
11G Nick Gibson Nampa, ID
11JoD Johvan Dillon Meridian, ID
11S Gabe Sessler Snohomish, WA
17s Max Schroeder Tacoma, WA
19 Thomas Stanford Wenatchee, WA
27 BJ Tidrick Kennewick, WA
33 Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro, OR
36 Jeff Hillock Cedar Hills, UT
54T Trace Thompson Kennewick, WA
55 Haeden Plybon Spokane, WA
63 Dan Lowther Boise, ID
69R Andrew Riehl Corbett, OR
77 Scott Murphy Spokane, WA
81 Ray Clever Boise, ID
83 Dalton Cristiani Boise, ID
88 Kellen Dean W Richland, WA
97 Jason Jefferson Naches, WA

Previous Winners:

1988: Pete Harding
1989: Ron Eaton
1990: Chris Hart
1991: Martin Rosler
1992: Ron Eaton
1993: Rick Schultz
1994: Garrett Evans
1995: Kelly Tanner
1996: Ron Eaton
1997: Pete Harding
1998: Pete Harding
1999: Pete Harding
2000: Garrett Evans
2001: John Bender
2002: Garrett Evans
2003: Ken Kaltschmidt
2004: John Zaretzke
2005: Jeff Barkshire
2006: B.J. Tidrick
2007: Erick Hargraves
2008: Mike Longton
2009: Joey Tanner
2010: Shane Harding
2011: Naima Lang
2012: Naima Lang
2013: Cameron Hayley
2014: Cameron Hayley
2015: Tayler Riddle
2016: Jason Jefferson
2017: Owen Riddle
2018: Jason Fraser
2019: Randy Marshall Jr.
2020: Naima Lang
2021: Jason Frasier
2022: Doni Wanat
2023: Evan Goetz
2024: Kasey Kleyn
2025: ????

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 and Photo Credit: Kevin Peters, NWSLMS Media