Stanford wins biggest race to start the 2026 season

Many drivers would tell you the same thing after winning a race, they treat them and race them like any other, thank their sponsors and exit the podium. But climbing out of his racing winning No. 19 Thomas Stanford didn’t shy away from recognizing the importance of his victory. 

(Photo by Amber Taylor, 2026)

“This feels big, this feels like the biggest win of my career.” Said Stanford standing in victory lane with Cars Tour West pit reporter Tim Huddelston. “I’m proud as a family team to come out here and compete with some big big teams.” 

Tri-City Raceway which at times has gained the reputation of claiming race cars hence a nickname like the Tricky Tri-Oval saw an unusually tame start to the ICCU 125 Saturday, April 11th. In front of a sold out grandstand the race would see its first caution on lap 62 for the halfway break, the No. 9 Ethan Ebert led them into the controlled caution, of the contenders only the No. 27 of Kole Raz opted to come down and pit, playing strategy and fueling the racecar.

The second half would fall more in line with expectation, restart violations, single car spins and multi car contact would mean cautions killed any idea of a long green flag run like the first half. The war of attrition and lack of patience eventually caught up to the leaders.

Heading into the dogleg on lap 95 the No. 62 Keelan Harvick would get into the rear quarter panel of the leader Ebert causing Harvick to drive up onto the rear of Ebert's car. Both drivers would need repairs and change flat tires. Unfortunately for Harvick his race wouldn’t get much better as one lap after the restart a lapped car would get into Harvick and have them both in the turn three wall ending their days and drawing a red flag.

Stanford would inherit the lead after the incident and wouldn’t look back.

“I was pushing to keep up with the 62 and the 9, wish we could have raced it out at the end.” Said Stanford.

Harvick and Ebert wasn’t the only major incident of the day by cars running in the top five. Now in a fight for the podium and possibly the race, the No. 11 of Johvan Dillon and the No. 1 of Kasey Kleyn found both of their days ended in the turn one.

(Photo by David Nelson, 2026)

After multiple turns of cross overs and cross unders, the two drivers battling hard came together with Dillon on the bottom driving up and across the car of Kleyn. Both drivers were out of their cars and not happy with one another. Neither would hold back when FloRacing caught up with them moments after the wreck.

“(I) Got pushed in the dirt and pinched and ran into, and here we are. Happens when you race with dummies.” Said Dillon standing outside the remains of his race car. 

Kleyn climbing out of the ambulance on the track made sure to get his remarks heard.

“He just drove up over my car, and then he gets out and tells me I need to learn how to drive. When you have an idiot racing like that he can go f--- himself.” said Kleyn.

Kleyn later apologized for his use of language on the microphone in a statement on social media, but emphasized that his feeling remained the same. 

“I want to address my interview from last night. First off, I need to apologize for the language I used over the mic. That’s on me, and it’s not how I want to represent myself, my team, or the people who support me. At the same time, the frustration behind it is real.” Kleyn wrote.

After the second red flag the race would settle in again with a sprint to the finish, but it became clear quickly, no one would have anything for Stanford. Including a late race green, white, checkered situation. 

Haeden Plybon and Raz would round off the podium behind Stanford, Wyatt Gardner and Ebert completed the top five. A points day salvaged for Ebert after having to drive from the back with a damaged car.

“It’s my background that got me to it, you know racing Baja anything can happen so you just stick through it. Got into a little racing incident and worked our way back from there.” Said Ebert.

Next up for the Cars Tour Northwest will be the TreeTop 150 Leonard Evans Memorial from the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval on April 25th, the Northwest Legend series will join plus more. Information available on the Cars Tour West website.