Wenatchee, WA (April 30, 2017) For East Wenatchee, Washington’s Garrett Evans, the “young guns” are everywhere. They even travel with him around the northwest to race. Son Jan and his sister Stephanie have stepped up to tour with the Northwest Super Late Model Series Inc. this season, where their father has been champion for the past three years (NWSLMS).
Saturday night, the “young guns” gave the elder Evans a run for his money on his way to a victory in the Park Model Homes 125 at Spokane Super Oval (SSO). The wily veteran showed the up and coming drivers he is still boss, while praising their performance at the same time.
“These young drivers we have coming up are phenomenal,” said Evans. “It’s unbelievable how good they’re doing, and I think the northwest has something to be proud of.
Evans started fourth on the grid after qualifying third in the inverted six field. Spokane’s Braeden Havens took the lead from pole setter Jan Evans on lap 1. By lap 10 though, Evans had started reeling in Havens, with Joey Bird and Zack Beaman tagging along for the ride. Evans made the pass on Havens for the lead on lap 32. Double file restarts kept Evans on his toes, with Havens starting right by his side.
On a late restart, Beaman made his presence known when as passed both third and second place positions with Evans in his sights. Beaman dove to the inside, but Evans nosed ahead. Jan Evans and Brooke Schimmel got together and brought out the yellow flag. On the restart, Beaman’s tires had cooled enough for him to make a run on the inside with Evans choosing the outside starting position. Beaman’s car stuck to the track and he made it wide enough to take the lead on lap 96. With Evans in his rear view and on his back bumper, Beaman held off the veteran. Evans stayed close and found room underneath, retaking the lead on lap 106.
Evans set the cruise control and was looking for the checkered flag when Schimmel spun, setting up a green-white-checkered shootout. The double file restart had Evans, Beaman, Havens and Brittney Zamora gridded for a showdown. Beaman spun the tires and Evans pulled away to the checkered. Zamora got her nose underneath Havens to take the third position, her first podium finish of the season.
Evans takes control of the point lead, with Zamora trailing by only three points in the championship chase. With Evans’ announcement that he will be focusing more on Jan and Stephanie’s program than racing his own, Zamora has a good shot of taking over the top spot. “I’ll probably be parking my car for a while,” noted Evans. “My daughter Stephanie and Jan will be running the rest of the season, and hopefully I’ll get to come back for the last one.”
The next event for the NWSLMS is at South Sound Speedway on June 3, 2017 at www.southsoundspeedway.com
Official Finish
Pos. Car No. Name Hometown Laps
1 64 Garrett Evans E. Wenatchee, WA 126
2 25 Zack Beaman Yakima, WA 126
3 52 Brittney Zamora Kennewick, WA 126
4 83 Braeden Havens Spokane, WA 126
5 72 Kameron McKeehan Lewiston, ID 126
6 29 Jason O’Neil Spokane, WA 126
7 1k Mitch Kleyn Quincy, WA 126
8 91 Alan Cress Staten, OR 126
9 64j Jan Evans E. Wenatchee, WA 125
10 33 Brooke Schimmel Woodland, WA 125
11 11 Ed Thomsen Kennewick, WA 124
12 51 Glenn Knutson Quincy, WA 94
13 24 Joey Bird Spokane, WA 93
14 93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA 61
15 1r Christian Roeder Ephrata, WA 51
Lap leaders: 1-31 Braeden Havens, 32-95 Garrett Evans, 96-105 Zack Beaman, 106-126 Garrett Evans.
This week’s contingency prizes were awarded to the following drivers:
Hoosier Tire Award – Mitch Kleyn, Alan Cress, Glenn Knutson
KRC Power Steer Gift Certificate – Brooke Schimmel
Longacre Racing Products Longest Tow - $50 Gift Certificate to Alan Cress
Longacre Racing Products Hard Charger - $50 Gift Certificate to Kameron McKeehan
Wheel Chill $100 Gift Certificate off Retail Set of Wheel Chills – Zack Beaman
Wheel Chill $25 Gift Certificate off Driver Cool Box – Braeden Havens
Wheel Chill $25 Gift Certificate off Retail Grill Chill – Christian Roeder
Frank’s Radio Gift Certificate $25 – Garrett Evans, Zack Beaman, Brittney Zamora
The Ti Company “Move of the Race” – Zack Beaman
Current Points Standings
1 64 Garrett Evans 96
2 52 Brittney Zamora 93
3 24 Joey Bird 91
4 83 Braeden Havens 91
5 64j Jan Evans 80
6 1k Mitch Kleyn 79
7 91 Alan Cress 74
8 11 Ed Thomsen 73
9 1r Christian Roeder 66
10 51 Glenn Knutson 66
11 33 Brooke Schimmel 66
12 93 Dave Garber 59
13 99 Shane Mitchell 53
14 25 Zack Beaman 53
15 75 Jeremy Doss 45
16 72 Kameron McKeehan 43
17 29 Jason O'Neil 42
18 89 Doni Wanat 42
19 9 Josh Roberts 39
20 64s Stephanie Evans 37
21 14 Brandon Carlson 35
22 22 Bryon Goetz 32
23 31 Chad Holaday 31
24 81 Darrell Midgely 29
25 66 Jeff Bishofberger 29
26 86 Tom Berrow 26
27 20 Andy Sole 25
28 95 Buck Noel Jr 20
In their fourth season, 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 marketing partner including Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, AR Bodies, Accelerated Graphics, Five Star Bodies, Longacre Racing Products, KRC Power Steering, Franks Racing Radio, Jefferson Pitts Racing, Bassett Wheels, TI Company, Child Haven Learning Center, Pacific Steel Structures, LLC and Racing Dynamiks. For more information on the series visit www.nwslmseries.com or on Social Media, Facebook (NWSLMS) or Twitter (@nw_latemodels).
