October 6, 2023

 EVAN GOETZ BECOMES YOUNGEST FALL CLASSIC WINNER AT 16

West Richland, Wash. — Evan Goetz may be new behind the wheel on the streets and highways, but he can drive with the best of them on the racetrack.

That he proved Oct. 1 when the Okanogan teen who just turned 16 a few weeks back won the 36th running of the Fall Classic on the half- mile tri-oval at Tri City Raceway at Red Mountain Event Center.

Goetz, who just two weeks ago, won the Neal Newberry 125 at Wenatchee Super Oval, capped the 2023 season with victory over another youngster, Kasey Kleyn, by a third of a second and Naima Lang, .954 seconds back in the 125-lap, 62.5-mile race.

Winning the $10,000 first place money was not an easy victory for Goetz, as 2019 series champion, Trevor Cristiani grabbed the lead on a lap 99 restart. Goetz stalked Cristiani and took the lead back on lap 114.

Kleyn, who won Saturday’s Pro Late Model main event win, grabbed second on lap 118 and took up chase of Goetz. Drama was added to the finish when the yellow flew on lap 120, resulting in a five-lap shootout.

Trevor Cristiani and Thomas Stanford completed the top-five. Andy Beaman, Ashton Cristiani, last chance qualifying race winner Trace Thompson, Dave Garber and Jason Jefferson rounded out the top-10.

Lang is a three-time winner at the Fall Classic, last visiting the top step on the podium in 2020. He won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012 when the race was staged at Yakima Speedway.

Besides Lang, the 2023 Fall Classic included four former winners. Jason Jefferson (2016), Tayler Riddle (2015) landed 11th and 2022 victor, Donnie Wenat was 12th. Mike Longton (2008) finished 22nd.

Fourteen drivers finished on the lead lap while 2023 champ, Haeden Plybon, lost his engine on lap 117 and finished 17th. Plybon’s earlier four races wins clinched the championship.

Fall Classic top-three included race winner Evan Goetz (center), runner-up Kasey Kleyn (right) amd third-place Naima Lang (left). - NWSLM photo

 HAYDEN PLYBON CLAIMS NWSLM CHAMPIONSHIP

After a four-win season in the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by RaceCals, congratulations to Haeden Plyson for winning the series championship.

Plyson lost a motor with eight laps remaining, to finish 17th in the Fall Classic. It was his only finish outside the top-10.

Northwest Super Late Model Series

Previous champions
2014 Garrett Evans
2015 Garrett Evans
2016 Garrett Evans
2017 Brittney Zamora
2018 Brittney Zamora
2019 Trevor Cristiani
2020 None due to COVID 19
2021 Garrett Evans
2022 Kaiden Anderson
2023 Haeden Plybon

Plybon is shown with Scott Mader of Racecals and his championship trophy. -NWSLM photo.

 HAYDEN PLYBON CLAIMS NWSLM CHAMPIONSHIP

Congratulations to Zach Riehl for scoring the Northwest Super Late Model Series Rookie-of-the-Year Award.

The honor was especially hard fought for Riehl who was involved in a late-race wreck on a lap 99.

The team thrashed on the car to get the car back on track. The effort was worth it, as Riehl earned the rookie honors over Wyatt King after a 16th-place finish in the Fall Classic.

Zach Riehl's car being towed to the pits where the crew peeled away body parts and made it race ready to finish the event. - NWSLM photo.

Zach Riehl gathers with family and friends for Rookie of the Year trophy presentation. - NWSLM photo.