Northwest Super Late Model Series Opens its Season at the 55th Annual Apple Cup

Event:

For the third year in a row, the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by RaceCals will open its season at the 55^th Annual Bonney’s TYM Trailers Apple Cup “Pollock 125” on Sunday, April 7^th, at Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA). The long-running event will pay $10,000 to the winner, as the series opens its’ 11^th season, counting the 2020 Covid shortened schedule. It will be the first of 10 scheduled events for the series in 2024, the most since the inaugural season in 2014. Three days of action will highlight the weekend’s activities with Practice on Friday and racing on Saturday and Sunday.

History:

The inaugural “Apple Cup” took place at Yakima Speedway (WA) in 1967, where Gordy Haines scored the initial victory. Yakima Speedway hosted the event until after the 2019 season when the facility closed in 2020. Tri-City Raceway RMEC (TCR) hosted the rebirth of the “Apple Cup”, when the track reopened in the Fall of 2021, holding the event in 2022 under the NWSLMS banner. The NWSLMS has sanctioned the “Apple Cup” a total of seven times (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024).

Previous Winners:

In 54 previous editions of the “Apple Cup”, Don Dowdy has the most wins, counting seven of them. He won four-in-a-row beginning in 1974 and extending to 1977. In an eight-year period, he won seven events. 11 drivers have scored multiple “Apple Cup” wins. Those include Jack Jeffrey (2), Don Dowdy (7), Derrike Cope (3), Brad Tidrick (2), Roger Hall (2), Bob Schweigert (2), Pete Harding (3), B.J. Tidrick (2), Travis Bennett (2), Owen Riddle (3), and Garrett Evans (5), which included the last event held at Yakima Speedway. Preston Peltier was the first winner of the event at TCR with Kyle Tellstrom adding a win in 2023.

Monster Field:

The 2024 edition of the “Apple Cup” boasts an entry of 35 Super Late Models, which would represent the highest car count in the last 25 years. Four previous winners of the event are currently entered, accounting for nine victories. Kyle Tellstrom (1), Garrett Evans (5), B.J. Tidrick (2) and Jason Jefferson (1) represents those wins. Seven entered drivers have wins in the NWSLMS including Kasey Kleyn, Randy Marshall Jr., Evan Goetz, Haeden Plybon, Garrett Evans, Kyle Tellstrom, and Jason Jefferson. Five states and one Canadian Province will be represented this weekend. Those include Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, California, and the province of British Columbia, Canada.

First Timers:

Mike Burkhart, Dylan Lupton, Danica Dart, Michael Haslam, Stephen Blankenship, Zandar Peters, and Haley Constance will all make their first starts with the NWSLMS. Of those drivers, Lupton has the most experience in big races, having competed in the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series. He is a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Pro Series West and has 17 starts in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series, earning three Fast Time Awards. With consecutive rainouts in the Southwest Tour, Lupton will head to TCR to fill in the gap in his schedule and take on a new challenge.

“We purchased two new chassis over the Winter and were hoping to run a 15-plus race schedule in 2024”, Lupton began. “With two SRL weekends being cancelled already due to rain, we started looking at other series to fill in the gap in our schedule. I've raced with a handful of Northwest drivers and know that it will be a competitive race, and a good challenge to kick off our season. This will be my first time visiting TCR and it's always exciting to head to a new track, but at the same time, you have to quickly play catch up to the local talent that has thousands of laps around the place. Since we only have a short period before the race weekend, really the only prep I can do is to watch videos of past races at TCR.”

Ted Pollock:

This weekend’s “Pollock125” for the NWSLMS will honor former Yakima Speedway (WA) owner Ted Pollock. Pollock owned the ½-mile facility for over 50 years and was responsible for growing the “Apple Cup”. Pollock passed away this past December and will be honored this weekend for his contributions to the event and racing in the Pacific Northwest.

KDDP:

For the fourth consecutive season, the Kulwicki Driver Development Program will be represented in the NWSLMS. 2024 KDDP finalist Evan Goetz enters the event on a two-race win streak, scoring victories in the “Neal Newberry 125” at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval, and the “Fall Classic 125” at TCR. He will run for the series championship this season with hopes of duplicating 2022 and 2023 KDDP finalist Haeden Plybon, scoring the most recent championship. Kole Raz was a Rookie-of-the-Year contender in the series in 2021, representing the Kulwicki program that season.

Half Dozen:

Northwest Super Late Model legend Garrett Evans is nearing the end of his illustrious career behind the wheel, but he would love nothing more than to add a sixth victory in the “Apple Cup”. Evans was the winner of the last “Apple Cup” at Yakima Speedway, but he has scaled back his participation over the last several seasons. A win on Sunday would show he can still get it done. “It (an Apple Cup win) would mean that I am not too old to do this”, Evans expressed. “It seems like the end of the line is getting closer, but I am still holding on.”

Youth Movement:

With young drivers such as Hayden Plybon (2023 NWSLMS champion), Evan Goetz, and Kasey Kleyn winning races in 2023, and Kaiden Anderson winning the championship in 2022, the youth movement is afoot in the NWSLMS. Another young driver looking to add her name to the record books is Haley Constance. Constance is coming off a championship runner-up effort at Evergreen Speedway (WA) in her Pro Late Model in 2023. In the opening salvo of the 2024 season at Evergreen, she grabbed another second-place finish. She will now make her first Super Late Model start this weekend.

“Super Late Models are definitely a step up from the Pros”, Constance stated. “I'm going to have more power and grip, which will contribute to going around the track a lot quicker than I have in the past. Luckily, TCR is one of my favorite tracks, and I'd like to think I'll be able to get used to the Super Late Model pretty quick. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a top contending driver. Ideally, I would like to have a top-10 finish and end the race with my car in one piece.”

Red Hot Raz:

Perhaps the hottest Super Late Model driver in the Pacific Northwest is still winless in the NWSLMS. Kole Raz is coming off a win in the “Chilly Willy 150” at Tucson Speedway (AZ). In 2023 he won the “Summer Showdown 150” and the Mark Galloway Shootout” at Evergreen Speedway (WA). He scored a $20,000 win in the “Wenatchee 200” at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval and kicked off his winning ways with a victory in the “South Sound 200” at South Sound Speedway (WA). He will seek another high paying win this weekend, and his first in the NWSLMS.

Saturday Schedule:

Admission Gates open at 10:00 AM with practice for the Pro Late Models, Hobby Stocks, and Vintage Modifieds, beginning at 9:15 AM. Group Qualifying begins at 11:00 AM for the Vintage Modifieds followed by the Hobby Stocks. Single car Qualifying for the Pro Late Models is scheduled for 11:40 AM. Opening Ceremonies commence at 12:30 PM. Racing begins 1:00 PM with the feature events for the Northwest Vintage Modifieds (35 Laps), Bettarel Hobby Stocks (35 Laps), and the Pro Late Models (80 Laps).

Sunday Schedule:

Admission Gates open at 10:00 AM with practice for the Super Late Models, Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks beginning at 9:15 AM. Single car Qualifying for the Super Late Models is scheduled for 11:00 AM with Group Qualifying for the Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks beginning at 11:50 AM. Happy Minutes for the Super Late Models roll off from 12:25 to 12:45 PM. Opening Ceremonies are scheduled for 12:50 PM with racing beginning at 1:00 PM. If needed, the Last Chance Qualifier for the Super Late Models will take to the track first. The Bettarel Hobby Stocks (35 Laps) will follow with the Mini Stocks (40 Laps) next. The “Apple Cup Pollock 125” for the Northwest Super Late Model Series will finish off the 55^th annual event.

Pre-Entry List

00 Naima Lang Lynnwood, WA
01 Mike Burkhart Sandy, OR
1 Kasey Kleyn Quincy, WA
3 Andy Beaman Selah, WA
3K Ken Bonney Hermiston, OR
4 Dylan Lupton Elk Grove, CA
5 Jess Havens Spokane, WA
8 Tyler Brown Kennewick, WA
11 Nick Gibson Nampa, ID
11 Danica Dart Ephrata, WA
11 John Dillon Meridian, ID
15 Jim Franklin Kennewick, WA
17 Zach Telford Middleton, ID
021 Todd Connell Yakima, WA
22 Michael Haslam Victoria, BC Canada
24 Tim Babcock Kennewick, WA
25 Randy Marshall Jr Moxee City, WA
27 Kole Raz Lake Oswego, OR
27 BJ Tidrick Kennewick WA
29 Jason O'Neil Spokane, WA
33 Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro, OR
34 Scott Walker West Richland, WA
42 Evan Goetz Okanogan, WA
47 Stephen Blankenship Bovill, ID
54 Trace Thompson Kennewick, WA
55 Haeden Plybon Spokane, WA
64 Garrett Evans E Wenatchee, WA
66 Eric Rhead W Bountiful, UT
69 Zandar Peters Eatonville, WA
78 Haley Constance Snohomish, WA
80 Wyatt King Boise, ID
81 Ray Clever Boise, ID
91 Kyle Tellstrom Boise, ID
93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA
97 Jason Jefferson Naches, 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 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: Shari Garber, NWSLMS