10/06/2026
Evan Goetz Suprises in “Fall Classic 200” Victory at Tri-City Raceway RMEC
Spokane, WA – 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 (BC) to Tri-City Raceway RMEC (WA), 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, WA 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”, 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 recalled about his long day. “We had one practice and about four laps before qualifying. We didn’t qualify as good as we wanted, but I knew my car was going to turn good, and I just waited, and waited, and waited, and then I knew it was go-time and stuff started to get dicey there at the end, but I loved it, it was awesome!”
Haeden Plybon got the days activities started off by setting Fast Time over the 26 competitors that made it to day #3 of the Classic. Plybon turned a lap of 17.719 seconds on the triangular paved half mile. Defending “Fall Classic” winner Ethan Ebert was second fastest with Zach Riehl, Wyatt Gardner, Scott Walker, Zandar Peters, Gabe Sessler, and Haley Constance the redraw participants. Walker would draw the #1 pill to start on the pole with Sessler, Plybon, Riehl, and Peters the top five starters. Goetz would qualify a disappointing 12th.
Walker assumed the lead at the initial green flag, as teams would employ varying strategies over the 200-lap event. Many teams went into conservation mode, while others made their way to front. Tyler Brown was one of the drivers on the move, grabbing the lead from Walker on lap 34, after starting ninth. The first Competition Caution flew on lap 40 with Brown leading Walker, Plybon, Ebert, and Zach Riehl. The field then ran another 40 laps with minor shuffling in the top five, but Dalton Cristiani on the move up to fourth from 16th starting. Brown led Walker, Ebert, Cristiani, and Gardner.
The restart saw the first incident related caution fall, as Cristiani laid down oil, with Garder spinning Plybon as a result in Turn 3. Both returned at the tail of the field with Cristiani pitting for repairs during the long ensuing Red. The intensity picked up with the restart and Walker battled back to the lead on the outside, clearing Brown two laps later. Brown applied pressure to Walker with the two making contact, as Ebert drove by both in a three-wide move on lap 85. The trio raced to the lap 100 halfway break with Ebert leading Brown, Walker, Zack Riehl, and Jason Jefferson.
After refueling and a two-tire change, the field restated with Ebert to the back, missing the 10-minute call due to a dead battery. Just before the green Plybon also broke an axle and retired. On the restart, Jefferson used the high line to advance to second behind Brown, but the veteran racer slowly started to fall through the field with mechanical issues. Another Competition Caution flew on lap 140 as Brown now led Walker, Andrew Riehl, Zach Riehl, and Zandar Peters, with Ebert back up to sixth.
The ensuing restart saw Ebert continue his charge, getting under Walker on lap 145 in his pursuit of Brown. Walker’s strong effort was slowed on lap 161, as Zach Riehl contacted the racing veteran in Turn 3, spinning the West Richland, WA racer from third. Both restarted in the rear. The resultant restart saw Ebert grab the lead from the inside row, but the field was reset when Peters was found spinning, as a result of contact with Haley Constance. Brown was able to hold the lead, as the field got going again, with Gabe Sessler now up to third in front of a charging Goetz and Andrew Riehl.
Goetz grabbed third from Sessler, as the top four began to break away from the pack. Ebert began to put heavy pressure on Brown, as the leader began to trail smoke on lap 176. On lap 179, Ebert wrestled the lead away from Brown on the dogleg, but Brown fought back to the inside, ultimately spinning in Turn 1, trying to stay off the Ebert Super Late Model. Goetz was now up to second. The ensuing restart was waved off after Jason Robinson exploded a motor in Turn 1. After two restart attempts, Goetz was moved back a position for jumping the start and Sessler was now up to second.
The field finally got away, with Goetz losing position to Andrew Riehl, as Ebert led Sessler. Sessler applied heavy pressure to the leader, but the action was stalled when Robert Presley and Ken Bonney where involved in an incident on lap 183. Another restart saw Goetz back around Andrew Riehl for third behind the lead duo. Ebert and Sessler pulled away slightly but began an intense battle that brought Goetz and A. Riehl back to their bumpers. On lap 196, Sessler was finally able establish the outside line and grabbed the lead, as he and Ebert battled. On lap 197, Ebert got into the back of Sessler, spinning the Snohomish, WA racer and advancing the opportunistic Goetz to the lead, with Ebert sent to the rear.
Zach Riehl was now up to second ahead of his brother Andrew, Gardner and Danica Dart. The ensuing restart was called off after a multi-car incident brought back the yellow, but the field got away again with Goetz to the lead. One lap later Tyler Brown would spin after a charge from the rear to bring out the final caution. When the green fell, Goetz pulled out to a comfortable lead with Zach Riehl falling back with a tire going down. Andrew Riehl moved up to second with Gardner getting by Dart for third. When the checkered flew, Goetz scored the unlikely victory over Andrew Riehl, Wyatt Gardner, Danica Dart, and Zandar Peters. Gabe Sessler rebounded for sixth, ahead of Casey Jeske, Dave Garber, Ethan Ebert, and Zach Riehl. 14 cars finished on the lead lap.
In Victory Lane, Goetz was asked about the last frantic laps, and how he was able to navigate the hard racing.
“It is pretty easy…. just don’t hit people, it’s that easy”, Goetz explained. “It’s not hard to not hit people. Those Riehl brothers, they didn’t touch me one time and that is the way it should be!”
Andrew Riehl had a career best second place finish with the NWSLMS, after coming off his CARS Northwest Pro Late Model championship. He also employed a strategy of patience, which ultimately produced his career best Super Late Model finish.
“We were just saving (our car) for the first 100, following the pace of my brother and everyone out there. The car got a little tight in the second half, but you just gotta drive it. It got better as the race went on, but I’m just super proud of the car and what we had today.”
Riehl continued, “I didn’t have anything for Evan. I was just trying to keep her on all fours and just bring it home second and keep the car clean.”
Wyatt Gardner had a strong car all weekend, and once again came close to winning the Super Late Model portion of the “Fall Classic”, after finishing second in 2024. 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.
“It was bittersweet”, Gardner stated about his third-place finish. “We really had a good car. I hate that we got sent to the back. 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). It’s a gametime call and I have so much respect for everyone who puts on this great tour. I enjoy running it every time we can. These guys deserved a trophy this year as we went winless, but I’ve got to thank all my guys and sponsors.”
The “Fall Classic 200” completed the 13th season for the Northwest Super Late Model Series and Christopher Kalsch clinched his first series title over Dave Garber and Andy Beaman. Kalsch ran a conservative race and finished 15th, attempting to stay out of trouble. The title was his second Super Late Model crown after earning a track championship at the now defunct Yakima Speedway (WA). It was only fitting to clinch the crown at the facility that took over the “Fall Classic”, from the former ½ mile oval, located in Yakima, WA.
Plans for an exciting 2027 Northwest Super Late Model Series presented by Knottical Marine season will be announced as the schedule comes together. It will be the series 14th season of operation in the Pacific Northwest.
Results: 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
ABOUT THE NORTHWEST SUPER LATE MODEL SERIES
The Northwest Super Late Model Series is the premier regional touring Super Late Model series in the Northwest. The series has many valued partners including Knottical Marine, RaceCals, Hoosier Racing Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Penske Racing Shocks, Five Star Bodies, AFCO Racing / Longacre Racing Products, Franks Radio Service, Jefferson Racing, Zero Handicap Golf Cars, Atomic Screenprinting, Port City Racecars, In Front Motorsports , Peltier Racing, Shockwave Seats, and Short Track Heroes. For more information on the series visit www.nwslms.com or on Facebook and Twitter.
Article: K. Peters, NWSLMS Media
PC: S, Garber, NWSLMS Media
