Zach Riehl Completes His Mission in the Apple Cup 125 at Tri-City Raceway
Zach Riehl had been knocking on the door of Victory Lane for some time but finally closed the deal in the 56th Annual Bonney’s TYM Tractors Apple Cup 125 at Tri-City Raceway RMEC.
The grand daddy of all Northwest Super Late Model races found a first-time winner in Winner’s Circle. Zach Riehl had been knocking on the door of Victory Lane for some time but finally closed the deal in the 56th Annual Bonney’s TYM Tractors “Apple Cup 125” at Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA). The win took a pass of 2024 series champion Kasey Kleyn, with only two laps remaining, to grab the $10,000 victory. Riehl was elated in Winner’s Circle as he celebrated his first Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine triumph, with family, friends and crew.
“It feels awesome”, Riehl exclaimed!! “I didn’t think this day would ever come. It is definitely a crazy experience. I would just like to thank Kimball’s Collision Center, Lakes Body Shop, Darrell’s Economy Mufflers, Sharp Transportation, McClintock and Turk, Swan Island Sheet Metal, and Owens Enterprises.”
Max Schroeder started his day by winning the AFCO Racing / Franks Radio Service Fast Time Award in a 25-car field, He led Kasey Kleyn, Haeden Plybon, Wyatt Gardner, and Riehl with a lap of 17.688 seconds on the ½-mile paved triangle. The top eight redraw found Schroeder pulling the lucky number one pill, to sit on the pole. B.J Tidrick lined up alongside as Kasey Kleyn, Haeden Plybon, and Wyatt Gardner made up the top five. Riehl slotted into position number six, with Gabe Sessler and Ryan Phipps the final redraw participants.
The opening stanza saw Schroeder out to a quick lead with Tidrick in tow. Gardner was on the move putting Tidrick back a spot on lap six. It took the Evergreen Speedway Pro Late Model champion two more circuits to grab the lead, with Tidrick following into second. The duo of Gardner and Tidrick then put on a show for the fans over multiple restarts. Tidrick was fast on the short run, while Gardner would recapture the lead over the longer runs. Evan Gotz would make his presence felt as well, inserting himself into the battle, but falling back to third as the lead two continued their fight.
By the lap 75 mark, Tidrick led Gardner, Goetz, Jason O’Neil, Plybon and Kleyn. Two laps later, Gardner made the move on the outside with Goetz following into the second position. Schroeder began making his charge and pulled up to fourth by lap 82, closing on Tidrick for third. On lap 85, Schroeder and Tidrick made contact entering Turn 1, with both into the water barrels with heavy damage. The result was a top five consisting of Gardner, Goetz, Kleyn, Plybon, and Riehl.
The restart saw Gardner and Goetz racing side by side, allowing Kleyn to pass both drivers in a three-wide move, exiting Turn 3. Plybon followed into second, as the red came out for Ray Cleaver two laps later. The lap 88 restart saw Plybon taking the lead from Kleyn, but the 2024 series champion battled back, getting under Plybon on lap 96, finally clearing him on lap 99. Shane Thompson charged to fourth and took up pursuit of the top three, which ran nose to tail. Riehl continued his charge, taking second from Plybon on lap 104, closing on the bumper of Kleyn by lap 110.
The two leaders embarked on a torrid battle that saw Riehl dipping to the inside of Kleyn on multiple occasions. On lap 123, Riehl finally got his break, when Kleyn slipped in Turn 3, allowing Riehl to grab the top spot. Thompson was also able to get by Plybon to join Riehl and Kleyn on the podium, with Plybon and Ryan Phipps completing the top five. Riehl earned his first series victory and $10,000, as he recalled his strategy and the winning move.
“At the beginning of the race, I knew that we were going to have to back it down and save some tires”, Riehl recalled. “It’s a long race with 125 laps and only four tires. We were just trying to cruise and pick our passes without spinning our tires. At the end we picked it up and it definitely worked out.”
Riehl continued, “The last few laps I could tell he was burning it up (tires), especially in (Turns) one and two. We were definitely checking out (from the battle for third). I kept seeing him getting freer and freer off the corner. So, I was just waiting for a mistake coming off (Turn) 3, and I got underneath him, and I was able to clear him.”
Kasey Kleyn took the lead on lap 86, in a daring three-wide move, as the leader raced side by side coming off Turn 3. He gave the position up on a restart to Plybon two laps later but was able to chase down the leader and reassume the position on lap 99. Kleyn recalled the move to take the lead from third, as the laps wound down, and the challenges his team faced over the weekend.
“I was taking my time and the opportunity opened up for me to take the lead through some hard racing, when the leaders washed up the track. It was late enough in the race that I was ready to take control, and I wasn’t saving tires anymore. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to hold onto the lead until the end of the race. But I’m just really proud of all my guys. We had no motor in the car on Friday and we only got five laps of practice. Today, we got about 20 laps of practice total. So, to come out and finish second, with leading some laps, having a chance to win, was really great”, Kleyn concluded!
Trace Thompson started deep in the field in17th, but drove through the field, showing patience. He was able to wrestle the third spot away from Plybon with four laps to go, after an extended battle with the 2023 series champion.
“We tried to take our time and not use our stuff up and keep the car in one piece”, Thompson stated about his race strategy. “You gotta have it in one piece, to make it to the end of the race. I was just trying to be patient and keep the right rear on it, with 125 straight laps. I think we took a little too long to get around the 55 (Plybon), but overall, it was a great day with a top three.
Thompson continued, as he recalled the battle for third, “It is so tough at the end of the race when your tires are junk, and you are trying to pass on the inside here. I was so free up off the turns, and I was trying not to get into him (Plybon). I overshot Turn 1 there one time and I got into him. I got it collected up and it took a couple of more laps to get up to him and I was able to complete the pass. It was fun racing with him, and I apologize for getting into him.”
Johvan Dillon, Ken Bonney, Wyatt Gardner, Terry Halverson, and Andew Palmer completed the top 10. The next event for the Northwest Super Late Model Series is the traditional “Leonard Evans Memorial 150” at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA) on April 26th. Jan Evans we be looking to defend his title from 2024 and score his second career victory in the series.
Results:
1. Zach Riehl, 2. Kasey Kleyn, 3. Trace Thompson, 4. Haeden Plybon, 5. Ryan Phipps, 6. Johvan Dillon, 7. Ken Bonney, 8. Wyatt Gardner, 9. Terry Halverson, 10. Andrew Palmer, 11. Christopher Kalsch, 12. Scott Walker, 13. Jason O’Neil, 14. Evan Goetz, 15. Ray Clever, 16. BJ Tidrick, 17. Max Schroeder, 18. Jess Havens, 19. Zach Telford, 20. Danica Dart, 21. Andy Beaman, 22. Gabe Sessler, 23. Bryce Bezanson, DNS. Naima Lang, DNS. Mike Burkhardt
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, 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
