2025 NWSLMS Champion Ryan Phipps Heads to the “Apple Cup”

2025 NWSLMS Champion Ryan Phipps Heads to the “Apple Cup”

Spokane, WA – Ryan Phipps had one special Rookie season in the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine (NWSLMS) in 2025. Phipps accomplished what only one other driver has achieved with the NWSLMS, winning the championship and the Rookie-of-the-Year Award in the same season. Only Phipps and Kaiden Anderson hold that title. Now Phipps will head to the 2026 season opener at Tri-City Raceway RMEC seeking his first career NWSLMS victory and a score of $10,000 on April 12th in the 57th annual "Apple Cup 125". He will also compete in the Pro Late Model event on Saturday, with the CARS Tour West.

Phipps took the championship lead in Round #5 of the season series from Ken Bonney, grabbing a season best third-place result in the “Hall of Fame 150” at Magic Valley Speedway (ID). Phipps held off Bonney with a top 10 finish in the “Fall Classic 200” at TCR, which secured the Burney, ID driver his fifth such result and the series championship. Phipps’ highlights included the third at Magic Valley Speedway, a fifth in the “Apple Cup 125” and a fifth in the “Leonard Evans Memorial 150” at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA). His qualifying average was a strong 6.4, while finishing at an 8.4 average clip.

The Burney, ID racer was the long-haul king in 2025, earning the AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products “Long Tow” award in five of the seven events. He also earned contingency awards from Penske Racing Shocks, Franks Radio Service, and more cash from AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products for finishing as the last car on the lead lap at Magic Valley.

(Photo by Amber Taylor, 2025)

Phipps opened his 2026 season with his third trip to Tucson Speedway (AZ) for the “Chilly Willy 150”, where poor luck found him with a 35th-place result. In March he attended the CARS Tour event at the Bullring at LVMS (NV), finishing 11th in his Super Late Model and 22nd in his Pro Late Model. He will now head to TCR to turn a slow start to the season around. Phipps would love nothing more than to sweep a weekend of Late Model racing, which could bring him a $17,500 booty.

The Pro Late Model winner at the Motorplex At The Mill (ID) is sponsored by Western Mountain Inc., PMT, TCR, and Race to End Bullying. He will be making his 13th start in the series and his second in the “Apple Cup 125”.

The Northwest Super Late Model Series will kick off its’ 2026 campaign at Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA) with the 57th Annual “Apple Cup 125” on April 12th. It will be the fifth consecutive season that the series has sanctioned the traditional $10,000-to-win event. Over 20 Super Late Models are hoping to make the start in this historic event, with designs of adding a marquee win to their resumes. Low Budget TV will carry the LIVE broadcast with a subscription to their service.

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 Handicapped Golf Cars, Atomic Screenprinting, Port City Racecars, In Front Motorsports, and Short Track Heroes. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Story: K. Peters, NWSLMS Media