Northwest Super Late Model Series Making First Trip to Motorplex at the Mill

Event:

The Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by RaceCals (NWSLMS) will visit the Motorplex at the Mill (ID) for the first time in series history on June 29th. The new 1/3-mile paved oval held its first event on October 14, 2023, which included Pro Late Models, Modifieds, and Legends. This will be Round #5 of the 10-race schedule for the NWSLMS. The Pro Late Models will take center stage on Friday night.

Championship Standings:

Kasey Kleyn has a comfortable lead in the championship standings heading to the “Motorplex” with 212 points. Ken Bonney sits second in the standings with 166 points. Christopher Kalsch (151), Dave Garber (144), and Andy Beaman (133) make up the top-five. Eric Rhead (110), Evan Goetz (103), Haeden Plybon (101), Zach Riehl (99), and Jess Havens (87) make up the top-10. Kleyn is scheduled to miss one event in 2024, due to a conflict in his schedule, but he has not finished worse than second in 2024.

Rookie Standing:

Eric Rhead has taken the top spot in the Rookie-of-the-Year standings after four events. Rhead has 110 championship points to his credit. Evan Goetz (103) sits second with Jess Havens (87), Andrew Riehl (76), and Scott Murphy (75) the top-five. Rhead was a regular in the now defunct Rocky Mountain Challenge Series, where he has three victories and won the 2014 series championship.

Diverse Field:

16 teams are currently on the entry list for this weekend’s action representing five states. Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, and Utah will be represented this weekend. Five teams will make their 2024 season debuts including Nick Cooper, Skip Taylor, Jeff Hillock, Dylan Caldwell, and Dan Lowther.

Winners:

Kasey Kleyn and Kyle Tellstrom are the only previous NWSLMS winners entered for this weekend’s action. Former Super Late Model touring series winners include Jeff Hillock, Andy Beaman, Eric Rhead, Kleyn, and Tellstrom.

Series Debut:

Nickolas Cooper will make his NWSLMS debut this weekend in a Vandoorn Racing Development Super Late Model owned by Kevin and Melissa Steinke. Cooper and the Rocky Mountain Motorsports team finished as the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Rookie-of-the-Year Runner-up in 2023, finishing fourth in points overall. The team is excited to debut with a new series this weekend, as well as at a new facility in the Pacific Northwest, as they make their way from Colorado.

“The entire RMM team is excited to head to Idaho to compete in the NWSLMS”, Cooper stated. “We hear great things about the series and have always wanted to race at one of their events. It is not every day that new tracks are opened and often times it is the opposite when you hear of a great race facility closing! When we heard of the great facility John Wood was building, and that the NWSLMS had the venue on the schedule, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

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Event Sponsor:

Ryan Phipps will make his second start of 2024 with the NWSLMS with the help of Preston Peltier. His company, Western Mountain Inc. (WMI), is the title sponsor for this weekend’s event. WMI is a company with its’ concentration of services in the energy industry. After coming off a Pro Late Model win at Meridian Speedway (ID) a week ago, Phipps is excited to head to the “Motorplex”, to combine both business and pleasure this weekend.

“I've loved racing since I was a kid”, Phipps stated. “I've been very blessed in my life to be able to live a dream to race. I respect and appreciate all the folks and the series. I was approached by Mr. Garber about sponsorship of the event. I was happy to be able to do it. I raced at the facility and it's a very cool place to race. I’m very thankful to be involved in the series.”

Mr. Versatile:

Kyle Tellstrom has had immense success in Modifieds up and down the West Coast. He has branched out to have additional success in Sprintcars, Midgets, Pro Trucks and a championship in Super Late Models. The 2023 winner of the NWSLMS “Apple Cup 125” will now look to add to his win tally at a new facility in the Lee Hackney Super Late Model.

“Making your first trek to a new track is always exciting, let alone a brand-new facility”, Tellstrom began. “From what I have heard, it has a ton of grip, and the turns are tight. It’s a totally different facility than most of the worn out (surfaced) tracks that the “Tour” has been running on more frequently. I’ve been fortunate to run at a good number of racetracks in my career. I feel one of my strengths as a driver is quickly adapting to new conditions. Even though “The Mill” is 40 minutes down the road for me, I’ll hit the track Friday night like most and should be up to speed in a handful of laps.”

Schedule:

Admission Gates open at 3:00 PM (MST) on Saturday. Single car qualifying begins at 4:00 PM for the Mini Stocks, NASCAR Modifieds, Northwest Tour Trucks, and the Northwest Super Late Model Series, in that order. Opening Ceremonies are scheduled for 5:15 PM. The Main Events will be run in the following order; NASCAR Modifieds Main #1 (35 Laps), NWSLMS “Happy Minutes” (practice), NW Tour Trucks Main #1 (35 Laps), Mini Stocks (50 Laps), NASCAR Modifieds Main #2 (35 Laps), NW Tour Trucks Main #2 (35 Laps), NWSLMS “Western Mountain Inc. 150”.

Live Broadcast:

For those unable to attend the event, Racing America will provide LIVE coverage for those with a subscription to their streaming service.

WATCH LIVE ON RACINGAMERICA.TV

Expected Entry List (06/26/24):

1 Kasey Kleyn, Quincy, WA
2 Terry Halverson, Wenatchee, WA
3B Andy Beaman, Selah, WA
3K Ken Bonney, Hermiston, OR
5P Ryan Phipps, Burley, ID
05 Nick Cooper, Loveland, CO
27 Skip Taylor, Melba, ID
33K Christopher Kalsch, Hillsboro, OR
34 Scott Walker, West Richland, WA
36 Jeff Hillock, Cedar Hills, UT
40 Dylan Caldwell, Nampa, ID
63 Dan Lowther, Boise, ID
66 Eric Rhead, W Bountiful, UT
77 Scott Murphy, Spokane, WA
80 Wyatt King Boise, ID
91 Kyle Tellstrom Boise, ID

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 RaceCals, Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Gibson Diesel Performance, AR Bodies, Penske Racing Shocks, Five Star Bodies, AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products, Franks Racing Radio, Jefferson Racing, Impel Motorsports, The Fan’s Connection LLC, Northwest Road and Drive, and The Ti Company. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

-Story: Kevin Peters, NWSLMS Media
-Photo credit: Motorplex at the Mill