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The Northwest Super Late Model Series is excited to announce our tentative schedule for the 2026 season. The series will return for four traditional events, while adding one new venue, as well as returning to a marquee event that has been absent from the schedule for several years. All told, the series will sport a more condensed six-race schedule, concentrating on marque events across the Pacific Northwest.
“2026 is going to be a great year, NWSLMS director Dan Garber stated. “We are returning to South Sound Speedway (WA) for a 200-lap race. The series is excited to return there. We are also excited to sanction a race up in Canada. It will be a crazy weekend with our Canadian friends. We have five great racetracks for six races from1/4, 3/8, and1/2-mile tracks, which makes for a great season of racing.”
The 2026 season will open on Sunday, April 12th with the 57th Annual “Apple Cup 125”, at Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA), traditionally paying $10,000 to the winner. This will be the fifth season the NWSLMS has sanctioned the longest running Super Late Model race in the Pacific Northwest. The “Apple Cup” got it’s start at Yakima Speedway (WA) in 1967, with Gordon Hayes earning the original honors. After the closure of Yakima Speedway, the Apple Cup moved to Tri-City Raceway RMEC in 2022. There have been four different winners in four events since the event was relocated.
Round #2 will find the series back at Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway (ID) for the traditional mid-May event. On May 16th the “SLS 150”, at the Post Falls, ID ¼-mile oval, will see the NWSLMS visit for the 10th time. The series made its’ return to the facility in 2021 and has witnessed four winners in five events, headed by two-time winner Kasey Kleyn. Garrett Evans, Haeden Plybon, and Trevor Cristiani have also scored wins. Each of those drivers are former series champions.
On June 12th & 13th, the series will make its’ first trip outside the country, heading to Saratoga Speedway in British Columbia, Canada. The “Kennedy Classic” will payout a minimum purse of $50,000 with other incentives available for teams in the U.S., already in the works. With support from Dwight Kennedy, owner of Northern Provincial Pipelines, the first foray into Canada is something series director Dan Garber is excited about.
“This is a great opportunity for the series to venture into a new market, with the “Kennedy Classic” providing us a great platform to build off of. Saratoga Speedway is BC’s premiere short track and the chance to work with Dwight Kennedy and Speedway Motorsports Management is something the series is very excited about”, Garber stated.
Round #4 will see the series heading back to the West side of Washington, and South Sound Speedway on August 1st, for the 28th annual “Weathergaurd Roofing 200”. The NWSLMS last visited the 3/8-mile oval in 2021, when Trenton Moriarity won the 200-lap event over a 24-car feature. It will be the series eighth visit to the facility, where Alan Cress is the only multi-time winner.
The longest running event on the NWSLMS schedule will move up a few weekends, as the NWSLMS will visit the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval for the 13th annual “Neal Newberry 125” on August 29th. The series has visited WVSO 25 times, by far the most in series history. The ‘Neal Newberry 125” was one of only two races to survive the Covid shutdowns in 2020. Multi-time winners of the “Neal Newberry 125” include Owen Riddle, Garrett Evans, and Gracin Raz. Alan Cress was the most recent winner.
The season will wrap up for the fourth consecutive year in the 39th annual “Fall Classic 200” at Tri-City Raceway RMEC on October 4th. The largest car count of the season is traditionally experienced during this event, which was resumed in 2021 after Yakima Speedway (WA) was closed. It has averaged over 32 Super Late Models since the NWSLMS sanctioned the event in 2022. The competitive event has not seen a repeat winner since that time. Ethan Ebert took home $10,000 last October.
2026 NWSLMS Schedule (Subject to Change)
April 12th – “Apple Cup 125”, Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA)
May 16th – “SLS 125” – Mode Stadium State Line Speedway (ID)
June 12 - 13th – “Kennedy Classic 150” – Saratoga Speedway (BC)
August 1st – “Weathergaurd Roofing 200” – South Sound Speedway (WA)
August 29th – “Neal Newberry 125” – Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA)
October 4th – “Fall Classic 200” – Tri-City Raceway RMEC (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 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 Credit: K. Peters, NWSLMS Media
