NWSLMS “Western Rail 150” Pre-Race Report - Stateline Speedway

For Immediate Release: Northwest Super Late Model Series Media Relations

Spokane, WA – For the sixth consecutive season, the Northwest Super Late Model Series

presented by Knottical Marine will visit Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway (ID) for the

“Western Rail 150” on May 16 th . Thanks to Western Rail Inc., the winner’s share will be

boosted to $7,500, with an additional $2,500 added to the back side of the purse, thanks

to an anonymous sponsor. This will be the series 10 th visit to the ¼-mile paved oval

located in Post Falls, ID. It will be Round #2 of six 2026 events for the series. The Pro

Late Models will highlight Friday’s action with Fireworks after the races on Military

Appreciation Night. Saturday will feature a bike giveaway and free grandstand admission

for fans 17 years old and younger.

(Photo from Stateline Speedway 2025, Photo by Amber Taylor)

After his win in the season opening “Apple Cup 125” at Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA),

Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Ethan Ebert (54 points) leads the championship standings

heading to Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway (SLS). It was his second win in-a-row at

TCR. Two-time “Chilly Willy 150” winner, Kole Raz (50) sits second in the standings.

2024 Evergreen Speedway (WA) Pro Late Model champion Wyatt Gardner (49) is third

ahead of nine-time Evergreen Speedway champion Naima Lang (46). Former “Summer

Showdown 200” winner Tayler Riddle (43) is fifth. Johvan Dillon (42), Kasey Kleyn

(41), Jason Jefferson (41), Bryce Bezanson (39), and Max Schroeder (38) round out the

top 10.

The series 10 th trip to SLS will tie it for third on the all-time most attended track list,

behind the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (25) and Hermiston Raceway (13) and even

with Tri-City Raceway RMEC. The first visit was in 2015 when Blake Williams and the

late J.C. Wofford took victories in the series two visits. 2016 found Braeden Havens and

Garrett Evans scoring victories. After a five-year hiatus, Garrett Evans scored his only

2021 series victory, eventually leading to his fourth series championship. 2022 saw

Trevor Cristiani claimed the rain delayed event win in a 19-car field. Kasey Kleyn

grabbed the victory in 2023, becoming the youngest driver in series history, at the time,

to register a victory. Kleyn repeated his win in 2024 over a 21-car field, on his way to the

series championship. Former track champion Haeden Plybon finally scored his first series

victory at the ¼-mile in 2025.

Six former SLS Late Model track champions are expected for this weekend’s action.

Those drivers include multi-time Late Model track champion Dave Garber (2007 – 2009,

2016, 2017) 1994 Northwest Late Model Series champion Mark Groskreutz, 2019 Track

Champion Alex Lessor, 2020 Pro Late Model (PLM) champion Hayden Plybon, 2021

champion Jason O’Neil, and 2023 track champion Nick Gibson.

2019 Pro Late Model track champion Alex Lessor will make his first appearance at the

facility in nearly four years. Lessor has now accumulated six Late Model championships,

including three at Montana Raceway Park (MT) and two at the Mission Valley Super

Oval (MT). Lessor will now turn his attention to SLS, where he is excited to make his

return.

“I am super excited to be returning there again, now that I have a Pro Late car again”,

Lessor stated. “It’s been a few years since we have run there, and I’ve missed it a lot. I

think the biggest key to running well there is being patient and staying out of trouble and

being there at the end to contend for a win.”

In 2023, Nick Gibson dominated the Pro Late Model scene in the Pacific Northwest. He

scored a trifecta of championships including Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway,

Hermiston Raceway (OR), and another with the Tri State Challenge Series Pro Late

Model Series. He won the “Idaho 200” and the “Duel in the Desert 75” at the Idaho and

Northeast Oregon facilities. Gibson is still looking for his first NWSLMS victory

however, after earning four top five finishes in 17 career series starts. He will be reunited

with Trevor Cristiani Racing, driving the Hamke Racing Super Late Model he finished

fifth with in last year’s event.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to work with Trevor (Cristiani) and

everyone at TCR (Trevor Cristiani Racing) at Stateline Speedway”, Gibson stated.

“Trevor is extremely knowledgeable, and I’m focused on taking in as much as I can and

learning from his experience. My goal is to stay disciplined, keep improving each

session, and put ourselves in a strong position for a solid run.”

2020 SLS track champion Haeden Plybon will make his first NWSLMS start of the 2026

season. Plybon was the 2023 series champion and is the defending race winner. Last

season’s win was his first series victory at SLS. He will be seeking his ninth overall

series win this weekend, in his sixth series start at the ¼-mile oval. He was the 2022

“Idaho 200” winner and will be one of the favorites on Saturday.

NWSLMS champion Ryan Phipps and championship runner-up Ken Bonney will both be

looking for a rebound this weekend. Bonney finished 13 th , while Phipps had to go to a

backup car, after missing qualifying. He ultimately finished 19 th . Bonney finished ninth in this event in 2025 with Phipps a disappointing 15 th . Phipps started the 2025 season with consecutive top five finishes with Bonney in the top 10 in the first four events. Both

drivers will seek to tame the ¼-mile this weekend.

Schedule: Friday May 15th will open the weekend with Military Appreciation Night and

events for the Road Runners, Hobby Stocks, Bandoleros, and the Pro Late Models, with

Qualifying beginning at 4:00 PM. Trophy Heats will occur before the Main Events.

Fireworks will follow the Main Events. Saturday will find the Auto Credit Sales Legends,

Bandoleros, and Park Model Homes Fever 4 in action with the Northwest Super Late

Model Series for a full two days of racing action. Saturday: Qualifying takes place at 4:00

PM, with Trophy Heats for the Bandoleros, Legends, and Fever 4’s following. Main

Events for the Bandoleros, Legends, and Fever 4’s will be followed by the “Western Rail

150” for the NWSLMS, paying $7,500 to win. Grandstand Admission is free on Saturday

for fans 17 and under, which will also include a bike giveaway for the kids.

Livestream: For those unable to attend, the event will be shown LIVE on Low Budget

TV with a paid subscription.

Expected Entry (5/12/26)

3B Andy Beaman Selah, WA

3K Ken Bonney Hermiston, OR

5H Jess Havens Spokane, WA

5P Ryan Phipps Burley, ID

8 Tyler Brown Kennewick, WA

9 Mitch Kleyn Quincy, WA

11 Nick Gibson Nampa, ID

16 Casey Jeske Spokane, WA

22 Garret Sawyer Spokane Valley, WA

29 Jason O'Neil Mead, WA

33 Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro, OR

34 Scott Walker West Richland, WA

53 Alex Lessor Kalispel, MT

55 Haeden Plybon Spokane, WA

63 Rowdy Rupinski* Dalton Gardens, ID

72 Marc Groskreutz Spokane, WA

77 Scott Murphy Spokane, WA

93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA

97 Jason Jefferson* Naches, WA

*Tentative

Remaining Schedule:

May 16 - "Western Rail 150" - Mode Stadium Stateline Speedway

June 12 & 13 - "Kennedy Classic 150" - Saratoga Speedway

August 1 - "Weathergaurd 200" - South Sound Speedway

August 29 - "Neal Newberry 125" - Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval

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, and Short Track Heroes. For more

information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Article, PC: K. Peters, NWSLMS Media