By Seth Blanton

As we near closer to Round #2 of the 2020 Northwest Super Late Model Series, the pre-entry list continues to grow in depth and talent. The seventh running of the “Neal “Newberry 125”, to be held September 26th at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval has an expected entry list of 31 cars. Former champions, Brittney Zamora and Trevor Cristiani have both pre-entered. Three-time champion, Garrett Evans will turn the driving duties over to his son Jan, for this event. Joining the field for this year’s “Neal Newberry 125” is the 2019 Jefferson Racing “Rookie of the Year” and the driver of the #24, Tristan Haider of Olympia, WA.

Haider, who finished fourth in NWSLMS points in 2019, has had a stellar 2020 campaign. On July 11th, Haider picked up a victory in a non-series Super Late Model event at South Sound Speedway. This was his first Super Late Model victory since 2018.

When asked how it felt to score the win Haider said, “I am very grateful to be able to get back into victory lane. It was a great way to kick off our year and to know that all the off-season work has paid off.”

After picking up the win at South Sound, the Haider team turned their sights towards Stateline Speedway, for the 21st Annual Idaho 200. For Haider, this would be a weekend of “firsts”. It will be his first time on the Hoosier 970 tire and his first time competing at Stateline.

Haider would qualify 11th quick, in a talent filled field of over 40 cars (Pro Late Models). With the help of a 12-car invert, he would start on the outside pole. At the drop of the green flag, Haider jumped to the early lead, which he held until West Coast standouts #75 Jeremy Doss and the #16 of Glenn Knutson charged to the front.

When the checkered flag flew, Haider found himself in the seventh.

“To have a fast car all weekend and lead laps against a field containing names like Doss and Evans was a big success for us.” Haider said.

Haider also had a strong showing at the Northwest Super Late Model Series season opening “Wofford 100”, at South Sound Speedway. Qualifying second, he was one of the cars to watch in the feature. Haider ran a clean and patient race, driving to the second position late in the race.

On lap 77, the stars looked like they were aligning in Haider’s favor, as race leader #52 Brittney Zamora lost a right front tire and had to pull off the racing surface. On the restart Haider held off the #17 of Max Schroeder and would lead until the caution flew, in heart breaking fashion on lap 81.

When the green flew again, Schroeder powered to outside to take the lead and ultimately the win. Haider would fall back to fourth.

“That was a tough finish to swallow, after learning we had a right rear tire going down” Haider stated. “I felt like I put our team into a good shot at winning that race. Our team is riding high on momentum and we are hungry to get a big win”.

The question is, can the 2020 “Neal Newberry 125” be the breakthrough weekend for Tristan Haider? He is one of the drivers to keep your eyes on! Haider’s current best finish on the “Tour” is a second-place effort at Hermiston Raceway last season, on Labor Day weekend.

Haider and his team plan to finish off the 2020 season with the “Tour” at Wenatchee’s “Neal Newberry 125” and at the historic Yakima Speedway’s “Fall Classic”. He exclaims, “We’re really excited to take our Senneker Chassis to these tracks for the first time this year, to see how it runs.”

Haider adds, “We would love to challenge our team by running some big races down south, but we would need to pick up a little more sponsorship to do so.”

Tristan Haider and the #24 Team would like to thank his family for their support over the years and his sponsors: Thurston County Transmission, Sunset Air, and Daiken.

Expected Driver’s List (31 Cars)

September 26, 2020

Wenatchee Valley Super Oval

Neal Newberry 125

00 Naima Lang Lynnwood, WA

3 Wyatt Gardener Lake Stevens, WA

3 Ken Bonney Hermiston, OR

5 Larry Lasmanis Olympia, WA

7 Bryce Bezanson Snohomish, WA

9 Mitch Kleyn Quincy, WA

12 Michael Brooks Olympia, WA

13 Matt Doyle Wenatchee, WA

17 Max Schroeder Tacoma, WA

22 Dave Miller Coquille, OR

22 Jake Woods Seattle, WA

24 Tristan Haider Olympia, WA

24 Randy Marshall Jr Naches, WA

27 Gracin Raz Lake Oswego, OR

29 Jason O'Neil Spokane, WA

31 Chad Holaday E Wenatchee, WA

33 Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro, OR

40 Brent Harris Wenatchee, WA

42 Lance Elliott Laramie, WY

45 Trevor Flora Cle Elum, WA

51 Mike Knutson Quincy, WA

52 Brittney Zamora Kennewick, WA

55 Haeden Plybon Spokane, WA

64 Jan Evans E Wenatchee, WA

65 Tyler Tanner Auburn, WA

83 Braeden Havens Spokane, WA

89 Doni Wanat Woodinville, WA

90 Trevor Cristiani Boise, ID

91 Alan Cress Stayton, OR

93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA

97 Kole Raz Lake Oswego, OR

Current Series Point’s Standings

# Driver Name Points

1. 17x Max Schroeder 53

2. 27 Gracin Raz 50

3. 24 Tristan Haider 48

4. 52 Brittney Zamora 46

5. 7B Bryce Bezanson 43

6. 2 Tommy Elstoen 43

7. 20 Jay Sauls 41

8. 65 Tyler Tanner 41

9. 33K Christopher Kalsch 40

10. 13 Matt Doyle 39

11. 17L Mike Longton 38

12. 00 Sean Jones 37

13. 17 Robert Presley 35

14. 5 Larry Lasmanis 34

15. 60 Scott Graf 33

16. 91 Alan Cress 20

Seth Blanton Seth.nwp4@gmail.com

Saturday, September 26, the Northwest Super Late Model Tour will roll into East Wenatchee, WA to take on the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval for the Neal Newberry 125. This event will be the lone appearance on the fast 1/4 mile after an abbreviated 2020 season.

All eyes are on young gun, rookie of the year leader and championship points leader #17 Max Schroeder of Tacoma, Washington. Schroeder picked up his first Northwest Super Late Model victory in his first career start at South Sound Speedway’s Wofford 100 in August.

Schroeder, a former quarter midget, Pro4 and Pro Late Model standout is looking to go two for two and pick up the win at WVSO. Earlier this week, Schroder Motorsports released their tentative schedule for the remainder of 2020, including the 2020 Fall Classic at Yakima Speedway and finishing the season at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Looking to rebound from difficulties at South Sound Speedway are Auburn, Washington’s #65 Tyler Tanner and Kennewick, Washington’s #52 of Brittney Zamora. Tanner led the early going of the Wofford 100 before having to retire from the event. Zamora drove her machine to the lead, but a flat tire on lap 77 would cause her to bring out the caution and lose a lap. Zamora would rebound to finish on the lead lap in the third position. Tanner would be scored in 12th.

Defending Neal Newberry 125 race winner, Garrett Evans will not be in this year’s field, but instead his son Jan Evans will pilot the iconic #64. Looking to defend his Leonard Evans 150 feature win last spring, Gracin Raz will roll his #27 car into town. Raz finished 2nd to Schroeder at South Sound Speedway but is looking to use his experience at Wenatchee to propel himself the win.

The Northwest Super Late Models also put on a great show at the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval. You can catch this year's event live on NCWLife TV or live steamed on WVSO’s Facebook!