Kasey Kleyn Dominates IBEW 112 at Hermiston Raceway

Kasey “Cash” Kleyn had a night to remember, leading all 112 laps of the “IBEW 112” at Hermiston Raceway (OR) Saturday night. It was Kleyn’s second win in-a-row in Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by RaceCals competition, solidifying his champion lead over Ken Bonney in Round #4 of the season series. Kleyn took home $4,000 for his efforts on the 3/8-mile asphalt oval and registered his third career series victory.

Kleyn entered Saturday’s contest as the hottest driver in the series, having registered four consecutive runner-up finishes, followed by a win at Findlay Stadium Stateline Speedway (ID) on May 18^th. Kleyn continued his momentum in dominating fashion leading all three practice sessions, setting the AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products Fast Time and leading every lap of the feature. Kleyn also increased his championship lead, as he expressed his emotions after the win.

“It feels really good to have these streaks of top-three’s, it really makes a difference”, Kleyn described his feelings about his current streak of finishes. “When you have these consistent finishes, the more and more momentum you build up throughout the season, and it just makes it way easier to come to these races and be confident that you have a car to win. All this momentum we have built is coming through, and we are finally starting to get the results we have been looking for.”

Kleyn continued, “We have always had a good car, and now the results are coming. That momentum that we are generating is really good for the team. Hopefully we can ride this momentum throughout the season to win the championship, and maybe a couple more races.”

The top-eight drivers redrew for position following qualifying, putting Andrew Riehl on the pole position for the 112-lap affair. Kleyn drew the number two pill with Corey Allard, Dave Garber, Andy Beaman, Mike Zamora, Ashton Cristiani, and Zach Riehl following. Kleyn grabbed the lead from the start and was never headed again. He held off Andrew Riehl over the first 72 laps, until the teenager retired with mechanical issues on lap 72.

Andrew’s older brother Zach then took up the chase, after fighting his way through the field from eighth, through multiple restarts. The elder brother appeared to have the second-best car on the track, holding off Ashton Cristiani through several more restarts, in the less favorable outer groove. Riehl pressured Kleyn on several occasions, but Kleyn was able to slowly pull away to earn his third series victory. Cristiani ran a solid race to complete the podium finishers. Ken Bonny drove from the rear on several occasions to finish fourth at his home track. Series veteran Christopher Kalsch completed the top-five, avoiding the rash of cautions throughout the evening.

The runner-up finish for Zach Riehl was also his second in-a-row. The 2023 NWSLMS Rookie-of-the-Year continues to get closer to his first series victory after a rough and tumble event that saw a dominant inside groove. With cars fighting for the bottom, Riehl’s Lake’s Body Shop, Eastside Paving Chevy showed the scars of the 112-lap event. It was those scars that prevented Riehl from making a serious bid for the win.

“I needed not to hit as many cars coming through the field earlier on in the race”, Riehl admitted about his inability to challenge Kleyn for the win. “I knocked my toe out and I lost some stagger. I was just hanging on at the end. Kasey was really fast, and he is really good out here. I just didn’t have anything for him.”

Riehl continued, “I’m pretty good at getting second, I’ve got really good at that. We just need to find something that makes the cars a little bit faster, and we can be up there in the lead.”

The next event for the Northwest Super Late Model series will be the inaugural visit to the new Motorplex at the Mill in Emmit, ID on June 29th. The facility held its’ first event in October of 2023, and will host the series in the “Western Mountain Inc. 150”.

Race Results: 1. Kasey Kleyn, 2. Zach Riehl, 3. Ashton Cristiani, 4. Ken Bonney, 5. Christopher Kalsch, 6. Mike Zamora, 7. Corey Allard, 8. Andy Beaman, 9. Eric Rhead, 10. Andrew Riehl, 11. Scott Murphy, 12. Trace Thompson, 13. Dave Garber, 14. Jess Havens

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, Photo Credit: Kevin Peters NWSLMS Media