Brown Steals Win To Go Back to Back

Turner Brown announced his arrival to the Pro Late Model world with authority last month at Evergreen Speedway with a win in the Summer Shootout for the SPEARS Cars Tour West Pro Late Models in just his first start in a Late Model. Three weeks later, he backed that up with a 2nd straight victory on Labor Day Weekend at Tri City

Raceway, going 2-for-2 in the series (and Late Models in general). What makes that stat even harder to believe is the fact that both races saw Brown spun around at one point during the race, and have to bring his P1 Chassis for Peltier Racing from the back to the front. This time though, it was much easier said then done. Contact between him and Chase Gardner while racing for 4th position saw both cars go to the back. Brown was able to climb to 4th before a caution with 3 laps to go set the tone for a furious finish.

(Photo by Amber Taylor, Elevate Racing Media)

To set the stage, Ethan Ebert had led from about 30 laps remaining after Haeden Plybon, who led much of the middle stages of the race, lost power while coming to a

restart, ending his night and likely his championship pursuit as well. Ebert entered with all the momentum, having won three consecutive Super Late Model races at the ½ mile Tri Oval, also scoring a Top 5 in his lone Pro Late start back at the Apple Cup in April. Zach Riehl was 2nd , and had probably the strongest car on the short run, while

Brown inherited 3rd after Johvan Dillon had crashed from that 3rd place to bring out the late caution. Riehl, sitting in 2nd , was fighting for his Championship hopes as well, needing as good a finish as possible to stay within reach of Ebert and his younger brother Andrew, who had been battling his own issues through the night. The green flag flew with three laps to go, and the chaos began. Z. Riehl missed a shift after starting on the inside line, allowing not only Ebert, but Brown to clear him for 1st and 2nd . Brown pounced at the sudden opportunity, and dove to the inside of Ebert to take the lead. Ebert immediately went back on offense, throwing a cross-over move to get back to the

inside, but Brown was able to sneak away. While that was going on behind them, Andrew got past his older brother Zach, bringing Trace Thompson, who started shotgun after mechanical issues forced him to work on the car after qualifying, with him, knocking Zach to 5th . That’s how they finished for the Top 5, with Brown scoring the win over

Ebert, while Andrew Riehl was on the podium after a hellacious fight to the front. This will tighten the points battle up between Riehl and Ebert, but by how much? Points will be updated later this week heading into Championship night at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval for the SPEARS Cars Tour West Northwest Pro Late Models to end their

inaugural season.

Three other local classes hit the Tri Oval for the holiday weekend, kicked off by the Hobby Stocks. Dillon Huffines led most of the race, but the big story came behind him midway through, as Jim Franklin and Mike Zamora made heavy contact in the high speed West Turn, plowing both into the wall, ending both their nights. Both drivers

were ok but both obviously frustrated. That opened the door for the other two Huffines brothers, Garrett and Tyler. The feel-good story was Tyler, the youngest of the three, having just been released after spending a week in the hospital the night before, coming straight to the track for practice. Garrett was able to roll past Dillon outside late to

grab the win, bringing Tyler with him, while Dillon held on for 3rd , marking the first time all three of the Huffines brothers stood on the podium together.

While Dillon and Tyler switched over to slick tires for the Street Stock race later, the Mini Stocks headed to the track. Colton Schultz set quick time for the 3rd straight race at TCR, but something just wasn’t quite right on his green machine, which came to a head on lap 11, as he shot off the track into the barrels to bring out the races lone caution. Brad Rhoads had gotten the lead from KC Garber after a small rally early, and cruised to his 1st win of the season. Rhoads was ecstatic and relieved to be back in Victory Lane, stating that the car had even more potential that he hadn’t been able to tap into just yet. Garber finished 2nd , while Landon Edwards wrapped up the podium, his 1st at TCR.

The Street Stock race saw both Tyler and Dillon Huffines, as well as Brandon Snyder, pull double duty racing both the Hobbies and Streets, joining Travis Bonney in the 15 lap exhibition. Tyler led early, but a flat right rear tire ended his night, giving the lead to Bonney. Bonney fended off multiple challenges from Dillon, and a scrape of the wall, to grab the win, his first career victory at Tri City after winning in multiple classes over the years at Hermiston Raceway just down the road. Huffines and Snyder came home 2nd and 3rd .

For Tri City, all systems are go for the final race of the season. We all know what it is, it needs no introduction, the Biggest Party of the Year, the grand finale, whatever you want to call it, it’s the Fall Classic. Six classes are ready to hit the ½ mile for 2 days of racing and 4 days total of cars on track on the first weekend of October. Book your hotels now because the Last Call for 2026 is now officially in sight.

CARS Tour Northwest Points

1. Andrew Riehl

2. Ethan Ebert -5

3. Zach Riehl -25

4. Haeden Plybon -26

5. Wyatt Gardner -39

6. Ken Bonney -51

7. Logan Cole -79

8. Chase Gardner -97

9. Thomas Stanford -133

10. Sydney Hamlin -143