From NWSLM Media & NW Motorsports News Services
West Richland, Wash. – The 39th annual “Fall Classic 200” wasn’t even on Evan Goetz’s schedule on Saturday morning. But after a late-night decision to drive from Penticton Speedway in British Columbia to Tri-City Raceway, Goetz is now a two-time “Fall Classic” champion.
He led only the last three laps of the event, taking advantage of an incident between the leaders, to win the $10,000 prize and survive a wild finish to the prestigious event, in front of a packed cheering grandstand. The “Fall Classic 200” closed out the 13th season for the Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine.
The Okanogan, Wash. racer arrived at Tri-City Raceway RMEC just in time to run four laps in final Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine practice. He drove overnight, after experiencing an alternator failure while leading the “Western Rattler 222” at Penticton catching only a couple of hours sleep.
The lack of sleep didn’t seem to bother the now four-time winner in the series, as he played a wait and see strategy over the course of the 200-lap event. His patience found him in the right spot at the right time, in an event that could have been won by any number of competitors.
“We showed up two days late and got here at about 9:45 this morning,” Goetz said about his long day. “We had one practice and about four laps before qualifying.”
And a moment of good fortune as the checkered flag was being unfurled.
On lap 197, Ethan Ebert got into the back of Gabe Sessler, spinning him and advancing the opportunistic Goetz to the lead.
Andrew Riehl had a career best second place finish with the NWSLMS. “I’m just super proud of the car and what we had today.”
Wyatt Gardner had a strong car all weekend. The third-place effort may have been ever better if it wasn’t for an incident on lap 80, that sent him to the rear of the field.
“The 83 (Dalton Cristiani) blew up in front of me and I drove in there and slid up the track and unfortunately got into the 55 (Haeden Plybon),” Gardner said.
Danica Dart and Zandar Peters rounded out the top-5 in a race where there were three former Fall Classic winners, Ebert (2025), Naima Lang (2011, 2012 & 2020) and Jason Jefferson (2016).
Christopher Kalsch clinched his first series title over Dave Garber and Andy Beaman.
Plans for the 2027 Northwest Super Late Model Series season will be announced as the schedule comes together. It will be the series 14th season of operation in the Pacific Northwest.
39th Fall Classic finish
1. Evan Goetz, 2. Andrew Riehl, 3. Wyatt Gardner, 4. Danica Dart, 5. Zandar Peters, 6. Gabe Sessler, 7. Casey Jeske, 8. Dave Garber, 9. Ethan Ebert (#), 10. Zach Riehl, 11. John Dillon, 12. Ken Bonney, 13. Tyler Brown, 14. Andy Beaman, 15. Christopher Kalsch, 16. Bob Presley, 17. Naima Lang (#), 18. Jason Robinson, 19. Haley Constance, 20. Scott Walker, 21. Jason Jefferson (#), 22. Dalton Cristiani, 23. Haeden Plybon, 24. Bud Rumsey, 25. Jim Franklin, DNS Michael Haslam.
# Former Fall Classic winner