Via NWSLMS Media
Wenatchee, Wash. (October 2, 2019)– It all comes down to a 200-lap battle for victory in the 32nd Annual Fall Classic at Yakima Speedway, plus the potential for a Northwest Super Late Model Series championship as four drivers, joined by a stellar field of contenders, invade the famed half-mile this weekend to close out the 2019 racing season.
Points leader Trevor Cristiani, Alan Cress, Garrett Evans (2014-16 NWSLMS champion) and 2019 NWSLMS Rookie of the Year, Tristan Haider, have shown plenty of speed throughout the season, but will be joined by some of the biggest names in the region chasing Fall Classic glory.
The race’s history features some of the greatest drivers in stock car racing from across the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. Evans is part of that history and will be out to add to more this weekend. The East Wenatchee, WA driver has won the Fall Classic three times. One of the biggest moments in Fall Classic history happened in 2001 when Evans took a back-of-the-pack challenge to pass 40 cars and win the race along with a $50,000 bonus. Evans has been strong this season on the NWSLMS circuit, as he has amassed two race victories in six starts.
The all-time Fall Classic winner is Surrey, BC driver Pete Harding with four wins including three consecutive wins between 1997-1998. This season’s event may be the first time in many years Harding is not a part of the action as he has run a limited schedule in 2019, with no announced plans to race Yakima this weekend.
Several past Fall Classic winners entered for this weekend’s race including multi-time Evergreen Speedway NASCAR champion, Naima Lang, who has also scored several Fall Classic victories in his career.
Mike Longton, who etched his name in Fall Classic history by sweeping all the weekend’s racing action in 2008, a feat that paid him nearly $20,000, is also on the pre-entry list. Naches native and 2016 race winner, Jason Jefferson, is expected to contend for his second Fall Classic victory in his last three starts.
All will be chasing defending race winner, Jason Fraser, who will look to join an elite club of drivers who have won the Fall Classic in consecutive years, including Harding.
With this race being the championship for the NWSLMS, the points battle between Cristiani, Cress, Evans and Haider is a focus, however fifth-place driver, Christopher Kalsch will have his hands full as he tries to keep the position over the likes of Trenton Moriarity, Robert Presley and Dave Garber, who will be out to advance their positions in the championship standings.
Fall Classic racing is more than just NWSLMS action as the event attracts the top regional drivers from divisions such as Mini Stocks, Legend Cars, Pro Late Models and Hobby Stocks.
The weekend will kick off with practice on Friday. On Saturday, all divisions will run Qualifying, Trophy Dashes with main events in the Legend and Mini Stock divisions. Sunday will feature Hobby Stock and Pro Late Model main events along with the NWSLMS Fall Classic 200-lap finale. For ticket and other information log onto yakimaspeedway.us or the NWSLMS Facebook page.
ABOUT THE NORTHWEST SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES:
The Northwest Super Late Model Series Inc. 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, Jostens, 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.
