For the third time in his career, Steve Needles has climbed to the top of the Outlaw Super Late Model mountain.
The St. Joseph, MI driver dominated the second half of Kalamazoo Klash XXXII, taking the lead from 2023 winner Brian Bergakker on lap 62 and cruised to his third win in Outlaw Super Late Model racing’s oldest and biggest race. He charged from the 14th starting spot, making his way through early attrition that took out the likes of Phil and Andy Bozell, and Tyler Roahrig before his No.14 came to life just before halfway.
“It was hairy, there were a lot of moments where I wasn’t sure we were going to get through the chaos for a while. I bounced around there a bit in the middle and the car didn’t fire off great right at the beginning,” said Needles. “It came to me and a couple breaks went our way and we were able to get up there and find a good groove up on the outside for a couple restarts and gain a couple spots. The car just hooked up about halfway and it took off, it was awesome.”
It was his third win of the year and his biggest yet, after winning the Reveal The Hammer opener at Owosso Speedway in May and the Grand Slam No.2 race at Plymouth Motor Speedway two weeks ago. His winnings from his three victories now total $32,500.
“This year’s been up and down. We’ve had a fast car every week, it’s been incredibly fast. We’ve won three big races but we’ve also had a couple races where we didn’t run so hot and one that we crashed out of. We’ve had some engine issues a couple times. But to win this, it’s the granddaddy of all the Outlaw Late Model shows so to be able to win it takes the sting off some of those bad nights.”
His first Kalamazoo Klash victory came 15 years ago in 2009 while driving for the late Terry Gentry over the likes of Tom Thomas, Andy Bozell and Joe Bush. A lot has changed in the discipline over the years, which saw him win a second Klash in the 2020 edition of the event.
“It seems like it’s a lot harder. The competition seems so much tighter, these guys are tough between Tyler (Roahrig), (Mark) Shook, (Brian) Bergakker and Adam Terry. These guys have a ton of speed and they can win on any given week. It’s such a tough, tight field; it’s always been tough but it seems like everybody’s so good now, it’s just hard.”
“(Three wins) sounds pretty good, four would sound better.”
Jeff Ganus won his second Late Model Hustle in three years after a lengthy battle with defending track champion Luke Krick. In the Street Stocks, a three-wide pass for the lead netted Ricky LaDuke his second consecutive Raber’s Rumble triumph in the Mark Fliearman-owned ride.
Kalamazoo Klash Results:
Steve Needles
Brian Bergakker
Mark Shook
Blake Childers
Kyle Crump
Scott Hantz
Austin Maynard
Adam Terry
Corey Ryman
Buddy Head
Matt Sullivan
Rick Hahn Jr
Cory Pressler
Andy Bozell
Lane Head
TK Whitman
Tyler Roahrig
Zack Cook
Matt Frazier
Brandyn Ross
Doug Rodanhisler
Kevin Stewart
Marty Crawford
Phil Bozell
Late Model Hustle Results:
Jeff Ganus
Luke Krick
Dylan Stovall
Hunter Jack
Andy Bozell
Billy Shannon
Eric McGlothlen
Kenny Head
Jared Blanchard
Jerry Pierman
Isaac Ross
Chris Munson
Cam Schoeck
Jorden Brinkert
Rich Michalak
Chris Garrett
John Trudell
Ken Papesh
Buddy Head
DJ Provost
Raber’s Rumble Results:
Ricky LaDuke
Tyler Hufford
Blake Hybels
Austin Maynard
Nick Pressler
Jeffrey Town
Logan Maynard
Brandon Zachary
Brock Ganus
Andrew Rutherford
Alex Sexton
Ronnie Maynard Jr
Zach Westdorp
Madi Snyder
Chad VanSparrentak
Toby Montgomery
Greg Brown
Bryan Passick
Danny Oxford
Billy Roberts
Kyle Ribble
Bubba Brooks
Phil Bozell
Photo/Story - Koty Geyer, KG Media
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