Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Doni Wanat Snags First Career NWSLMS Win



Wenatchee, WA (September 12, 2016)–Short track racing was at its best for the Neal Newberry 125 at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval Saturday night in Wenatchee, WA. When the lights came on and the checkered flag flew it was Doni Wanat taking home his first career Northwest Super Late Model Series victory.

Joey Bird, Clint Habart, Braeden Havens and Alan Cress rounded out the Top-5 finishers.

The day started out with the 24-car field taking to qualify for the 125-lap feature. Current NWSLMS point’s leader, Garrett Evans, set a new track record at 12.535-sec. lap. Both Jan Evans, son of Garrett and Braeden Havens would also break the previous track record. An eight-car invert was pulled by Garrett Evans, putting Andy Sole and Steve Floyd on the front row.

Sole and Floyd brought the 24 car field through the gears to the green flag with Floyd using the outside line to overtake Sole for the lead. Floyd stayed out front for the first 17 laps until Brent Harris moved from third to first in just two laps with a pass on Floyd to the outside. Harris would showcase his horsepower on the fast quarter mile for the next 50 laps, withstanding pressure throughout the stretch from hard-charging Shane Mitchell.

On lap 67 a car spinning brought out the caution bringing Mitchell and Harris side by side for the restart. When the green flag flew it was Mitchell getting a run to the outside as the two raced side by side for the next two laps. On lap 70 Harris made contact with Mitchell in turn No. 4 sending Mitchell sideways. Harris and Mitchell would retire for the evening after the contact.

After the smoke settled it was Garrett Evans in the top spot with Wanat to his outside on the restart. The lead wouldn’t last long for Evans as Alan Cress would make a run to pass both Wanat and the leader Evans to establish himself at the front of the field.

Cress would hold the lead for several laps until Wanat made a move to retake the top spot with less then 40 laps to go. In the closing laps both Cress and Evans would fall back due to handling issues.

Wanat was able to build a commanding lead until a caution came out on lap 114 bunching up the field once again. This time on the restart it was a fast charging Bird who would battle Wanat to the checkered flag. Bird came from the thirteenth starting position to second and positioned himself for a win but it Wanat who was able to hold the young gun and take the checkered flag.

JOES Racing Hard Charger was Molly Helmuth who advanced 13 positions from 24th to 11th place finish. Bird power driving to the front earned him the “KRC Power Steering Power Move of the Race”.

Next up for the NWSLMS is the series championship race, the 29th Annual Fall Classic, at Yakima Speedway. Set for September 30-October 2, this is the premier season finale for the Northwest.

The Northwest Super Late Model Series Inc. is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Pacific Northwest. The series has many valued sponsors including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Port City Race Cars, AR Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Accelerated Graphics, Five Star Bodies, Longacre Racing Products, Wheel Chill, KRC Power Steering, Racers Against Child Abuse, Atomic Screenprinting and Embroidery, Franks Racing Radio, BLP, Jefferson Pitts Racing and Racing Dynamics. For more information on the series visit www.nwslmseries.com or on Facebook or Twitter. To contact the series please email northwestsuperlatemodels@gmail.com

NORTHWEST SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Mountain Dew/EZ Burger Neal Newberry 125 Presented By Clearwater Saloon and Casino
Wenatchee Valley Super Oval
125 Laps 37.5 Miles

Unofficial Finishing position/Car No./Name/Hometown/Laps completed
1. 89 Doni Wanat Woodinville, WA 125
2. 24 Joey Bird Spokane, WA 125
3. 09 Clint Habart Cranbrook, BC 125
4. 83 Braeden Havens Airway Heights, WA 125
5. 91 Alan Cress Stayton, OR 125
6. 65 Tyler Tanner Auburn, WA 125
7. 20 Andy Sole Cle Elum, WA 125
8. 51 Glenn Knutson Quincy, WA 125
9. 1k Mitch Kleyn Quincy, WA 125
10. 94 Andrew Koens Roseburg, OR 125
11. 90 Molly Helmuth Seattle, WA 125
12. 5 Ryan Wells Hingham, MT 125
13. 52 Brittney Zamora Kennewick, WA 125
14. 11 Ed Thomsen Pasco, WA 125
15. 64g Garrett Evans East Wenatchee, WA 125
16. 9 Josh Roberts Ephrata, WA 125
17. 23 Christian Roeder Ephrata, WA 123
18. 88 Dirk Bennett Spokane, WA 119
19. 33 Brooke Schimmel Woodland, WA 117
20. 0 Brent Harris East Wenatchee, WA 73
21. 99 Shane Mitchell East Wenatchee, WA 72
22. 64j Jan Evans East Wenatchee, WA 69
23. 98 Chris Kellogg Spokane, WA 49
24. 40 Steve Floyd Wenatchee, WA 37

Race Contingency Awards-
Wheel Chill Fast Time- No. 64. Garrett Evans 12.535 ($200 award)
Wheel Chill Lucky “7” Award- No. 20 Andy Sole (7th place finisher $25 award)
Wheel Chill 11- No. 90 Molly Helmuth (11th place finisher $25 award)
Wheel Chill Early Exit- No. 40 Steve Floyd (First car out of the race)
JOES Racing Products Hard Charger- No. 90 Molly Helmuth (advanced from 24th to 11th)
JOES 12th Man Award- No. 5 Ryan Wells (finished in 12th place)
KRC Power Steering “Power Move Of the Race”-No. 24 Joey Bird
Racers Against Child Abuse Hard Luck Award- No. 98 Chris Kellogg ($50 award)

2016 Top-10 NWSLMS Unofficial Points
Driver Total
1 Garrett Evans 335
2 Braeden Havens 285
3 Ryan Wells 278
4 Mitch Kleyn 270
5 Brittney Zamora 257
6 Ed Thomsen 239
7 Glenn Knutson 216
8 Clint Habart 215
9 Dirk Bennett 186
10 Shane Mitchell 177