Previewing the NWSLMS Labor Day Spectacular at Hermiston

Event: The “Bonney’s TYM Trailers Labor Day Spectacular 125” will take place on Sunday September 1st. It is part of a two-day event for the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by RaceCals (NWSLMS), with the Tri-State Challenge Series Pro Late Models headlining on Saturday. It will pay a minimum of $4,000-to-win on Hermiston Raceway’s (OR) 3/8-mile asphalt oval. Hermiston will host the series for the 13^th time. It will be Round #8 of 10 for the series, in its 11^th season of operation.

Championship Standings: Kasey Kleyn leads the NWSLMS championship standings heading into Round #8 of the season. Kleyn scored 298 points to lead both Ken Bonney (278) and Christopher Kalsch (272). Andy Beaman (236) and Dave Garber (225) round out the top five. The second five consist of Eric Rhead (192), Jason Jefferson (174), Wyatt King (149), Kyle Tellstrom (144), and Jess Havens (126).

Rookie-of-the-Year: Eric Rhead leads the rookie standings with 192 points. Jess Havens (126) and Andrew Riehl (112) make up the top three.

Numbers: The NWSLMS is averaging 21.1 Super Late Models per event in 2024, with 77 different drivers scoring championship points. 18 Super Late Models are entered for this weekend’s event. There have been five different winners in 2024. Those include Kasey Kleyn (3), Kyle Tellstrom (1), Jason Jefferson (1), Jan Evans (1), and Garrett Evans (1). Four drivers have attended all seven events, while two others have missed only one race.

Previous Winners: Kasey Kleyn is the only current NWSLMS winner entered for this weekend’s action. Kleyn was the winner at Hermiston earlier this season.

Hermiston History: The NWSLMS has visited Hermiston Raceway 12 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. With Covid-19, there was no event in 2020. 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. The 2022 season also brought two events. Kaiden Anderson grabbed the only win of his championship season, taking advantage of a late race incident to lead only two laps. Haeden Plybon again dominated the Labor Day event, leading 101 of 125 laps. Plybon once again found Victory Lane in June of 2023, beating Nick Gibson to the finish. Shelby Thompson scored the win one year ago, taking the lead from Haeden Plybon with 12 laps remaining. Kasey Kleyn led all 112 laps to win earlier this season.

Debut: Two drivers are scheduled to make their NWSLMS debut’s this weekend. Rowdy Rupinski and Travis Bonney will make their first series starts. Both racers are second generation drivers with Bonney the son of current championship runner-up driver Ken Bonney. The elder Bonney is excited to have his son join him for the first time in a Super Late Model, as both go for a minimum of $4,000 to win.

"I think it's really awesome", Bonney exclaimed about his son’s first Super Late Model race. "He is very talented and patient. It will be a great experience for him racing a big open engine. The car is almost old as he is, a 1999 Lefthander, with no bumpers and a nine-inch rear end. He is also racing for the Street Stock championship Saturday and helping crew in my Pro Late race. I am very excited to race with my son. It's been a long time coming."

Schedule: Sunday will see the NWSLMS begin practice at 2:00 PM. The WMRA, Legends, Hobby Stocks, and Hornets will follow. Each division will have two sessions. Single Car Qualifying for the WMRA will commence at 4:20 PM with Group Qualifying for the Legends, Hobby Stocks, and Hornets following. Single car Qualifying for the NWSLMS is scheduled for 4:45 PM. Admission Gates open at 4:00 PM with Fan Fest scheduled from 5:20 PM to 5:45 PM. Opening Ceremonies are at 5:55 PM. Racing commences at 6:00 PM. with Heat Races for the Hornets, WMRA, and Legends. The NWSLMS will have a “Happy Minutes” practice session after the Heats. Feature races are scheduled to begin at 6:45 PM for the Hornets, WMRA, Legends, Hobby Stocks, and the “Labor Day Spectacular 125” for the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by RaceCals.

Broadcast: There will be no LIVE broadcast of this weekend’s event.

NWSLMS Pre-Entries:

1K Kasey Kleyn Quincy, WA
021 Todd Connell Yakima, WA MAYBE
2 Terry Halverson Wenatchee, WA
3B Andy Beaman Selah, WA
3K Ken Bonney Hermiston, OR
3T Travis Bonney Hermiston, WA
7R Zach Riehl Corbett, OR
11D Danica Dart Ephrata, WA
11JD Johvan Dillon Meridian, ID
33K Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro, OR
36 Jeff Hillock Cedar Hills, UT
40 Dylan Caldwell Nampa, ID
54T Trace Thompson Kennewick, WA
63 Rowdy Rupinski Dalton Gardens, ID MAYBE
66R Eric Rhead W Bountiful, UT
69R Andrew Riehl Corbett, OR
93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA
94 Ashton Cristiani Boise, ID MAYBE

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, ARbodies, Penske Racing Shocks, Five Star Bodies, AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products, Franks Racing Radios, 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 and Photo Credit: Kevin Peters/Northwest Super Late Model Series