Cress Stays Hot in the “Neal Newberry 150”

Spokane, WA – Alan Cress was both lucky and good Saturday night at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA), as the Stayton, OR racer continued his hot streak in the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine. Cress won his second consecutive “Neal Newberry 150” at the fast ¼-mile oval to register his third series win in-a-row and fifth overall. Cress was driving a Ford Mustang Super Late Model out of the Mike Barrett stables with Trevor Cristiani Racing heading the effort and a Joes Racing Products chassis making the car turn.

(PC: S. Garber, NWSLMS Media)

“This is awesome and my crew is the best”, Cress exclaimed from Victory Lane! “I know it looked easy out there, but I was driving my tail off. I just got to thank Trevor Cristiani for coming on board and Mike Barrett, Darrin Cole from Rowmec Utilities and just everybody. This is awesome!”

When asked about what he attributes this domination to, his reply was, “Trevor Cristiani Racing. And a big thank you to Mike Barrett. He gives us everything we need. He is the best.”

Cress pulled the #1 pill for the second consecutive event to start on the pole, after qualifying fifth in the 15-car field. Evan Goetz, who set a New Track Record of 12.426 seconds, lined up beside him in the front row, as four drivers timed in under the previous record, which also included Dave Garber, Jason O’Neil, and Ethan Ebert. Ebert would line up third ahead of Garber, Johvan Dillon, Ken Bonney, Jason O’Neil, and Jason Jefferson.

Cress jumped to the lead at the opening green flag, as Goetz settled into second ahead of Ebert, Dillon, and Garber. The first yellow flag flew on lap 29 for a spin by Dan Lowther in Turn 2. The restart saw Cress with a slow restart resulting in Goetz grabbing the top spot and Dillon up to second, as Cress battled for third with Garber. As Goetz began to pull away, Cress gathered up his momentum and stormed by Dillon on lap 34. Garber followed with Ebert making the move by Dillon on lap 40. Cress closed on the leader Goetz and made his move past the three-time series winner on lap 53. A lap later Ebert muscled his way under Garber for third.

On lap 69, the first Competition Caution flew, after 40 consecutive green flag laps, with Cress leading Goetz, who was under heavy pressure from Ebert, Garber, and Dillon. When the green came back out, the field immediately went red after a pileup in Turns 1 and 2. Championship leader Christopher Kalsch was involved along with Ken Bonney, Michael Knutson, and Bob Presley. Kalsch and Presley’s night ended, and Knutson completed only one more lap. Dillon and Jefferson couldn’t refire from fifth and sixth but returned to the tail end of the field before the restart.

The restart found Cress leading Goetz, Ebert, Garber, and O’Neil. On lap 78, Ebert and Goetz swapped paint with Ebert finally securing the runner-up position. On lap 109, the Competition Caution appeared again. Goetz was able to grab second again after the restart, as the intense battle with Ebert continued between the two teenagers. Dillon went back by O’Neil for fifth as that battle heated up as well. On lap 136, O’Neil grabbed it back, as Garber began applying heavy pressure to Ebert for third, just before the final caution appeared on lap 138 for a spinning Terry Halverson. Dillon pitted and returned, with Jefferson now up to sixth.

An action filled restart followed with Cress to the lead and Goetz and Ebert fighting for second. As the field crossed the line on lap 139, Goetz would get the worst of it with his hood flying up, blocking his visibility. Garber was now up to third with Goetz pitting two laps later ending his fine run in ninth. Cress was able to hold his lead to the lap 150 finish with Ebert, Garber, O’Neil, and Jefferson the top five. Dillon recovered for sixth with Bonney and Halverson the final lead lap cars.

After the race, Ebert recalled the intense battles waged over the closing laps of the “Neal Newberry 150”, leading up to his runner-up finish.

“Dude, I think we’ve gotta call Dana White and get UFC out here, that was insane”, Ebert exclaimed after his late race battle. “I thought we were stockcar racing and not on the main card. That was the craziest drive I have even been in. Restarts were definitely interesting. I have a lot to say, but momma said, “don’t say anything unless you have something nice to say." I’d just like to thank my whole team. It was such a last-minute effort. We only bought a set of tires, and we were just coming out here to have some fun. We got out here, got some seat time, had some fun and just kept racing. I what to thank Port City Racing, Jefferson Racing, Star Stream, Friends of Jacklyn, and everyone on the side of the racecar.”

Garber finished on the podium with his second consecutive third-place result. The finish moved Garber closer to the top two in the standings, giving him a shot at the title. With a win and two podium finishes in his Super Late Model, Garber will enter the season finale with additional confidence.

"I gotta thank Garrett Evans, he set up a helluva racecar”, Garber stated in respect to his strong finishes as of late. “I can’t do without Larry Fitzpatrick and everyone who helps me. We had a good car, and we probably had a better car. I’m maybe getting a little rusty, but we were alright and we made it through it. We maybe just needed a little more racing room on the racetrack (to catch Cress) and that would have been cool.”

Unofficially, Christopher Kalsch still leads the championship standings (161 points) over Andy Beaman (149), who was unable to make the start with motor issues. Dave Garber (146) closed the gap with his strong effort and now sits in the third position, just 15 points out of the lead. The next event for the Northwest Super Late Model Series in the “Fall Classic 200” at Tri-City Raceway RMEC.

Results: 1. Alan Cress, 2. Ethan Ebert, 3. Dave Garber, 4. Jason O’Neil, 5. Jason Jefferson, 6. Johvan Dillon, 7. Ken Bonney, 7. Terry Halverson, 9. Evan Goetz, 10. Michael Knutson, 11. Bob Presley, 12. Christopher Kalsch, 13. Scott Murphy, 14, Dan Lowther, DNS. Andy Beaman

Remaining Schedule:

October 4 - "Fall Classic 200" - Tri-City Raceway RMEC

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, Penske Racing Shocks, Five Star Bodies, AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products, Franks Radio Service, Jefferson Racing, Zero Handicap Golf Cars, Atomic Screen Printing, Port City Racecars, In Front Motorsports, Peltier Racing, Shockwave Seating, and Short Track Heroes. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Article: K. Peters, NWSLMS Media