Spears CARS Tour Northwest Event Preview: Apple Cup at Tri-City Raceway
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
BROADCAST INFO: FloRacing (3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET Saturday, April 11, 2026)
Track: Tri-City Raceway
Location: West Richland, Wash.
Length: .500-mile paved oval
Laps: 125 (PLM)
The inaugural season of the Spears CARS Tour Northwest Pro Late Models makes its long-awaited debut this weekend at Tri-City Raceway as part of the 57th running of the storied Bonney’s Tractor Apple Cup presented by Legends Casino Hotel.
Opening the inaugural 2026 campaign for the Northwest PLMs, the event offers $7,500 to win and has attracted a stout field of 28 drivers from six states and Canada—marking the second-largest entry list across any CARS Tour West division this season. Fans can catch all the action live on FloRacing beginning at 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Competing as the standalone CTW division, the Northwest PLMs will take on Tri-City Raceway’s three-turn, half-mile oval—one of the most distinctive layouts in the region. The unique combination is expected to showcase a deep pool of regional talent, with local experience likely playing a key role.
A strong contingent of drivers from Washington and Oregon headlines a substantial field, including East Wenatchee, Wash. native Thomas Sanford, winner of the 2025 Apple Cup PLM division, and 2025 Tri State PLM champion Wyatt Gardner, hailing from Lake Stevens, Wash.
That depth extends further with Haley Constance, the 21-year-old Snohomish, Wash. native who opened her season with a PLM win at Evergreen Speedway last month. She is entered alongside veteran standout and multi-time Fall Classic winner Naima Lang, also of Snohomish.
Also expected to be factors are Johan Dillon, Kasey Kleyn, Haeden Plybon, and brothers Andew and Zach Riehl, of Corbett, Ore. Zach Riehl enters as the reigning Apple Cup winner in SLM competition.
In addition to the Northwest regulars, several drivers will cross over from the CARS Tour Southwest PLM division, including entries driven by Vito Cancilla, Billy Coles of British Columbia, recent Bullring winner Keelen Harvick, and Ryan Phipps, adding even more skill and star power to an already competitive field.
NOTES:
NORTHWEST PLM DIVISION DEBUTS: The Northwest PLM division was announced last season as the Spears CARS Tour West expands its regional footprint. The Northwest PLM division makes its debut with a nine-race schedule in 2026, beginning at Tri-City Raceway (April 11) and concluding at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval (Sept. 19).
SPEARS CARS TOUR NORTHWEST PLM FULL SCHEDULE: The 2026 PLM features a nine-race schedule that continues at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval (April 25), Stateline Speedway (June 13), Evergreen Raceway (SW/NW Rivalry Race; June 27), Stateline Speedway (July 18), Colorado National Speedway (SW/NW Rivalry Race; Aug. 1), Evergreen Speedway (Aug. 14), Tri-City Raceway (Sept. 5) and the season finale at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval (Sept. 19).
STAKES ARE HIGH FOR NORTHWEST/SOUTHWEST SHOWDOWNS: The major highlight of the Northwest and Southwest PLM slate is a pair of high-stakes interdivision rivalry events - first at the Mark Galloway Shootout at Evergreen Speedway (June 27) and then at the Summer Nationals at Colorado National Speedway (Aug. 1). These Rivalry Races will bring together competitors from both regional divisions and crown the top overall racer(s).
SOUTHWEST CROSSOVERS: The list of Northwest competitors who also made PLM starts in the Spears CARS Tour Southwest earlier this year includes Kasey Kleyn, Ken Bonney, Ryan Phipps, Ethan Ebert, Johvan Dillon, Vito Cancilla, Haeden Plybon, Keelan Harvick and Billy Coles.
RECORD SETTING PURSE IN 2026: The biggest payout in Spears CARS Tour West history is up for grabs in 2026 with $2.1 million in total payouts, including $200k in championship awards, $1.9 million in purse money and bonuses and partner awards at every race. Multiple marquee events with high-dollar purses are on the docket through the season.
Spears CARS Tour Northwest PLM race: 1 of 9
PLM Entry List (28 cars): #00 Naima Lang, #1 Kasey Kleyn, #3 Ken Bonney, #3 Wyatt Gardner, #3 Logan Cole, #5P Ryan Phipps, #05 Madex Moran, #7 Zach Riehl, #9 Ethan Ebert, #09 Patrick Mullins, #11 Johvan Dillon, #19 Thomas Sanford, #27 Sydney Hamlin, #27 Kole Raz, #27 Vito Cancilla, #29 Jason O'Neil, #32 Chase Gardner, #33 Kyle Lang, #40 Dylan Caldwell, #54 Trace Thompson, #55 Haeden Plybon, #57 Brad Clarke, #62 Keelan Harvick, #67 Billy Coles, #69 Andrew Riehl, #78 Haley Constance, #81 Ray Clever, #021 Todd Connell
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Be sure to stay active and social with the tour by following @CarsTourWest on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) and liking Spears CARS Tour West on Facebook.
Founded in 2024, the Spears CARS Tour West is the premier stock car series of the West Coast. Under the ownership of California natives Tim Huddleston and Kevin Harvick, the series aims to create an organized, structured, and competitive place for racers on the West Coast. Competing at the best tracks on the West Coast, the Spears CARS Tour West provides the space and platform to crown champions and elevate West Coast racing to the top levels of motorsports. For more information, please visit www.carstourwest.com.
