Kasey Kleyn seeks Wenatchee 200 win at home track

Kasey Kleyn returns to Wenatchee Valley Super Oval this weekend looking to add his name to the list of Wenatchee 200 winners as the CARS Tour West Super Late Models make their debut in Washington.

After finishing runner-up to Owen Riddle in last year’s race and fifth in 2023, Kleyn enters Saturday’s $25,000-to-win event looking to finally break through in one of the Pacific Northwest’s marquee Super Late Model races.

Saturday’s race comes at a pivotal point in Kleyn’s career. Earlier this month, Kleyn and Trevor Cristiani Racing announced they would part ways after two seasons together. The teenager signed with Rackley WAR Racing and will make his NASCAR Truck Series debut in July at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the Quincy native will compete in the Wenatchee 200 for Anthony Campi Racing.

“It’s just a great opportunity that you can’t turn down really,” Kleyn said. “You can’t turn down the opportunity to go race a truck. It wasn’t like we were having bad finishes or anything like that.”

Additionally, he will compete in the NASCAR Truck Series at Richmond Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway later in the season.

With 25 cars entered and little room for error around the fast quarter-mile oval, avoiding trouble could be just as important as having race-winning speed.

“This is my home track and I have plenty of laps around here,” Kleyn said. “We have a good car, we just need to stay out of all the chaos. This track’s so small with 20 plus cars. There’s going to be a lot of bumping and banging, so just be there at the end and keep the car clean.”

Kleyn began racing go-karts at age seven before working his way through the Northwest short track ranks. He became the Junior Late Model track record holder at Meridian Speedway in 2020.

He moved into the Northwest Super Late Model Series in 2023, becoming the youngest driver in series history while winning three races and recording 15 top-five finishes. At 15 years old, Kleyn also became the youngest winner of the Fall Classic at Tri-City Raceway. In 2024, Kleyn became the youngest champion in series history.

Kleyn’s passion for racing and success is fueled by a desire to be the best every time he climbs behind the wheel.

“I don’t think there’s anything I’ve ever stepped foot into whether it be cars or anything in life where I just didn’t want to be the best at it,” Kleyn said. “I’ve always grown up that way. My dad always instilled that in me and made me who I am in the race car. I can be a little too aggressive sometimes but it’s something that I’ve been working on and keeping it in check to finish these races, but it’s always helped me be really fast and always gave me that edge.”

This past winter, Kleyn finished fourth in the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway, one of Super Late Model racing’s most prestigious events.

For the Quincy, Washington native, Wenatchee carries a different feeling than most stops on the schedule. Living just 30 miles from Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, Saturday’s race is an opportunity for family and friends to see him compete close to home.

“Yeah, it’s nice, I get to sleep in my own bed every night,” Kleyn said. “Then all my friends and family are going to be out here and you feel a lot more welcome, and the atmosphere is a lot more different. Everyone’s out here rooting for you. You’re not the new kid in town, so it’s really nice to be back at home.”