Friday, May 31, 2019

Hinkle Aims for Home Win at South Sound



Via NWSLMS Media

Wenatchee, Wash. (May 30, 2019)–Chad Hinkle moved to competing on the Northwest Super Late Model Series two seasons ago after a successful career at South Sound Speedway in their local Late Model class. With a resume full of big race wins at his home track, Hinkle looks to add a touring-level Super Late Model victory to his body of work. That chance may come in Saturday’s South Sound 125 that features the top touring drivers of the Northwest battling it out for supremacy on the tricky .375-mile oval.

With two challenging tracks to follow South Sound Hinkle is well aware this weekend’s race is key to his chances for the 2019 NWSLMS championship. The Yakima-based driver sits in third place in the title standings, just two points off of leaders Garrett Evans and Alan Cress.

“We’re hoping for big things this year and a win here in the middle of the season could give us a good push towards a possible championship run in this deal. The next two tracks are tracks that will be first time for me in a super late, so we will need a good run here.”

Hinkle’s knowledge of his home track may be an edge for the weekend, he added.

“It's a tough track to be good on both ends, the corners are different and there is 20 feet more room on the back stretch, so the front stretch can get small. You have to have a car that can work in the second groove here because you will need it before the night is over. I think local knowledge helps at all tracks but two out of the three of the tour races have been won by tour regulars, not local guys.

“I'm counting Alan Cress (winner of the August 2018 NWSLSM South Sound race) as a local guy because we have ran quite a few races with him there over the last three or four years at South Sound.”

Touring Super Late Model racing brings out the best racers a region has to offer, according to Hinkle. With that said, this may the year South Sound-based drivers can challenge for a win in the South Sound 125.

“The competition level is high at this level and there are ten plus cars that could win each week. Some of the local guys to watch at South Sound are Bob Presley, Riley Watson and Tristian Haider who are always good at this track. It should be a great field of cars so we’re looking for the win, but a top three would be great.”

Earning a top finish in the South Sound 125 means putting attention to detail in race car set-up and being in the right frame of mind, Hinkle said.

“The preparation for this race as far as our team and the car is the same at this level as it is at any other level of racing. You get to the finish of the race to be there at the end so all the same pre-race preparation that we’ve always done week in and week out. My mindset is good for this weekend because I started there and know my way around South Sound pretty well.”

The South Sound 125 marks the third points event of the 2019 season for NWSLMS teams and drivers. Ticket and other information can be found at southsoundspeedway.com

The Northwest Super Late Model Series is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Northwest. The series has many valued sponsors including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Port City Race Cars, AR Bodies, Joes Racing Products, Penske Racing Shocks, Accelerated Graphics, Five Star Bodies, Longacre Racing Products, Wheel Chill, KRC Power Steering, Atomic Screenprinting and Embroidery, Franks Racing Radio, BLP, Jefferson Pitts Racing, Leonard Evans Used Car Super Store, The Ti Company, and Pacific Steel Structures LLC. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook or Twitter. To contact the series please email northwestsuperlatemodels@gmail.com