Worrell Wins Under Contention at South Boston: Last-Lap Contact Denies Schoen Victory

South Boston, VA — The seventh round of the Bootleg Racing League Late Model Series at the historic South Boston Speedway was defined by a controversial overtime finish that shook up the podium. The event was framed by the absence of defending champion James Lowe, who was serving a suspension for poor sportsmanship last weekend at Stafford. This left the door open for points leader Chris Worrell to maintain his grip on the competition on the tight, high-falloff short track.

The race featured a 20-car field with the starting grid determined by a top-13 invert, placing Lowell Jewell on the pole alongside Todd Liston. As the green flag dropped, Liston immediately utilized the high line to seize the lead from Jewell. Early contenders included Mike Holloway, Jeffery Hardin, and Adam Schoen, the latter of whom quickly began muscling his way toward the front using a strong outside lane.

The race was governed by strict short-track rules meaning no tire changes or fast repairs were permitted, forcing drivers to manage their equipment over the long run. Liston and Holloway engaged in a fierce battle for the lead, at one point crossing the start-finish line in a dead heat. As the race progressed, Chris Davis surged forward 11 spots after starting near the back of the field, while Schoen became a dominant force by the midpoint, challenging Liston for the lead in a multi-lap, door-to-door battle.

The later stages were defined by a series of incidents that thinned the field. A major caution was triggered when Holloway hit the wall, causing a chain reaction that swept up Bobby Hayes, Allen Wannamaker, and Ed Foster. Foster suffered through a difficult night, enduring heavy body damage after being involved in multiple skirmishes. Following a restart, another multi-car wreck occurred when Liston and Kenny Allen made contact, sending several cars spinning and allowing Davis to weave through the carnage into a podium position.

The race reached a fever pitch during a Green-White-Checkered finish. Adam Schoen appeared to have the race won, leading the field into the final corners on the last lap. However, contact occurred between Schoen and Chris Worrell, sending Schoen spinning out of the lead while Worrell maintained control to take the checkered flag.

The final finishing order saw Chris Worrell secure the victory, followed by Lowell Jewell in second and Todd Liston in third. Joe Segalla and John Wilson rounded out the top five. In post-race interviews, the atmosphere was tense. Worrell defended his move, claiming Schoen attempted a block and that he had used his brakes to try and avoid the collision. Jewell expressed surprise at his runner-up finish after sustaining head-on damage in an earlier wreck, while Liston remained satisfied with his podium strategy. The series now enters the Memorial Day break before returning at Lanier International Speedway.

Allen Triumphs at South Boston: Chaotic Round 7 Reshapes the Championship Standings

South Boston, VA — The Bootleg Racing League Super Late Model Series Round 7 at South Boston Speedway delivered a night of high-intensity short-track racing defined by strategic tire management and a chaotic series of incidents. The event began under a cloud of controversy following a three-week suspension issued to defending champion James Lowe for unsportsmanlike conduct last week at Stafford during the BRL Late Model Invitational Series. This absence opened the door for points leader Chris Worrell to try and extend his advantage over Louis Flowers on the tight, high-falloff short track.

Charles Roth started on the pole alongside Steve Hilbert, with Luke Logan Allen and John Wilson making up the second row. Roth took the early lead, but the action was quickly interrupted on lap four when Jeffery Hardin and Tom Hilbert collided. The incident resulted in a rollover for Tom Hilbert and left Ruben Altice with heavy damage. Once racing resumed, Steve Hilbert muscled his way past Roth to take the point before a second caution involving Jeff Sharp and Kurt Smith forced points leader Chris Worrell to the pits, severely damaging his championship cushion.

The middle stages of the 100-lap feature saw Todd Liston and Steve Hilbert engage in a fierce duel for the top spot. Liston eventually took the lead, but Hilbert remained anchored to his bumper. Behind them, Louis Flowers climbed into the top three, eyeing the points lead. A fourth caution was triggered when Kurt Smith tapped Luke Logan Allen; while Allen made a spectacular save, the resulting check-up caused a pile-up that swept up several cars, including Worrell once again. On the restart, Adam Schoen made a bold charge toward the front before Flowers established himself firmly in third.

The race’s defining moment occurred in the final third of the event. While battling for the lead, Kyle Feimster and Steve Hilbert made contact, triggering a multi-car wreck that ensnared many of the fastest cars on the track, including Ed Foster and Adam Schoen. Amidst the carnage, Luke Logan Allen emerged unscathed to inherit the lead.

The final restart saw Allen leading a depleted field. While the young driver focused on maintaining his pace and saving his right-front tire, Chris Haizlip was putting on a clinic, charging all the way from 18th on the grid. Haizlip utilized the outside line to bypass Todd Liston and Ruben Altice to capture second, but he ran out of time to catch the leader. Luke Logan Allen crossed the finish line to claim his first-ever BRL win, while Chris Haizlip secured a series-best second-place finish, followed by Louis Flowers in third.

The fallout from South Boston was immense for the championship hunt. With his third-place finish and Worrell’s 10th-place result, Louis Flowers moved into a provisional tie for the points lead. Top finishers noted that extreme tire saving was the ultimate key to surviving the high-falloff surface, especially given the high frequency of restarts. The series now moves on to the next round of late model action with the championship battle closer than ever.

Williamson Dominates Oxford Plains: Title Lead Extends After Late-Race Drama

Oxford, ME — The penultimate round of the Red Light Racing Modified Series at Oxford Plains Speedway delivered a high-stakes showdown that solidified Dalton Williamson’s path toward a fifth championship. Entering the night with a slim three-point lead over defending champion Eric Stout, Williamson successfully navigated the unique challenges of the flat 3/8-mile oval, known for its lack of outside walls and treacherous inside curbs.

Dalton Williamson started the 100-lap feature on the pole, flanked by rookie Hayden Austin, while Eric Stout lined up seventh. The green flag had barely waved before a pile-up erupted on the opening lap. Brian Neff checked up, leading to contact from Stout that triggered a chain reaction. While Williamson escaped unscathed, Stout plummeted to 14th position. A second caution followed shortly after on lap six when Rex Hoyle and Mark Poe collided in the tight pack, further scattering the field.

Once the race settled into a long green-flag run, Williamson demonstrated his veteran capability, leading a train of cars and managing the gap to second-place Ethan Troutman to conserve his equipment. The middle stages highlighted several strong recoveries. Fred LeClair carved through the field from 15th to enter the top five by lap 14, while Luke Logan Allen remained a constant threat near the front. Eric Stout also mounted a furious rally, clawing his way back to sixth by the halfway mark.

The championship battle took another dramatic turn on lap 85. Stout, who had previously lost ground after clipping an inside curb, spun out on his own to bring out a caution. This forced him to gamble on a two-tire stop to stay on the lead lap. On the subsequent restart, further chaos ensued when Fred LeClair and Ethan Troutman collided in turn one, triggering a multi-car pile-up that also ensnared Rex Hoyle.

The race restarted for a final sprint on lap 93. Luke Logan Allen quickly cleared Hayden Austin to move into second, setting his sights on the leader. Known as Kid Lemon Lime, Allen pressured Williamson relentlessly on the high line but chose to race the leader cleanly without using the bumper. Williamson remained composed, opening a small gap as Allen’s momentum faded in the closing laps.

Dalton Williamson crossed the finish line first, leading all 100 laps to secure a dominant victory. Luke Logan Allen finished a career-best second, followed by Hayden Austin in third. Fred LeClair and Chris Davis rounded out the top five. Eric Stout finished a disappointing 15th, leaving him with a significant points deficit to overcome heading into the season finale.

Hammett Masters the Iowa Oval: Strategy and Speed Secure Round 2 Victory

Newton, IA — The second round of the YesterYear Racing IROC Championship took place at Iowa Speedway, bringing 15 drivers together in equally prepared Cadillac Touring Sedans for a 150-lap battle. Known for being a challenging car-to-track combination, the race required drivers to manage a tight chassis setup and avoid burning up their right front tires to maintain turning capability on the short track.

With the grid based on an inversion of the previous round’s results, Andrew Kotska and Chris Worrell led the field to the green flag. Worrell quickly asserted himself, taking the lead from Kotska early on. Behind them, the field settled into a single-file rhythm as drivers looked to preserve their equipment. Matt Watkins and Greg McDaniel were among the early movers, with Watkins aggressively picking up positions while McDaniel utilized the bottom lane to move into the top five. Defending champion J R Shepherd began a methodical climb through the field from 12th, utilizing a slide job to clear Jerry Isaacs on lap 32.

The race was defined by a long green-flag run, forcing teams to make critical strategy calls regarding their one extra set of tires. Around lap 70, the pit cycle began. Chris Worrell, who had dominated the first half by leading 61 laps, saw his chances vanish when he was hit with a speeding penalty on pit road. This shifted the lead to Chris Hammett, who executed a successful overcut strategy by remaining on track longer than his rivals. Hammett emerged from his pit stop on lap 75 with a commanding lead, eventually building an eight-second gap over the field while James Lowe experimented with an alternate pit strategy.

In the final third of the race, J R Shepherd moved into second place after passing McDaniel but found himself facing a massive deficit to the leader. Shepherd, racing with a broken finger, admitted post-race that he had misread the strategy, losing too much time on track before his stop to mount a serious challenge. The anticipated caution flags never flew, leaving the leaders to navigate lap traffic.

Chris Hammett took the checkered flag to secure the Round 2 victory, leading a total of 62 laps. In victory lane, Hammett expressed surprise at his success, noting he didn’t expect his road-course skills to translate so well to the Iowa oval. J R Shepherd finished second, while Greg McDaniel rounded out the podium in third, noting that he pushed his fuel window to the limit. Andrew Kotska and Roger Hurley completed the top five. The series now looks ahead to Round 3, which will take the drivers to Japan for an oval event.

Sheppard Dominates Charlotte: A Masterclass in the Carolina Heat

Concord, NC — The OBRL YesterYear Gen 4 Cup Series Round 12 at Charlotte Motor Speedway provided a 210-mile masterclass in domination by Ben Sheppard, though the race was far from a simple Sunday drive. With track temperatures reaching a blistering 112°F, the 140-lap event was defined by extreme tire falloff and high-stakes strategy under the Carolina sun.

The race began with immediate drama when Clay Walker spun his tires on the initial start and slammed into the outside wall. The resulting chain reaction ensnared several contenders, most notably Dwayne McArthur and Cortney Nelson. While Nelson escaped with minor damage, McArthur’s car was severely hobbled, forcing him to spend much of the race a lap down.

As the race settled into a long green-flag run, tire management became the primary narrative. The extreme heat caused lap times to fall off by nearly two seconds, forcing a strategic split between a risky one-stop and a more standard two-stop strategy. Most of the field, including the leader Ben Sheppard, eventually committed to two stops. Meanwhile, Matt Watkins utilized an early-pitting strategy to surge from the back of the pack to second place, pressuring Sheppard for the lead.

The relative calm was shattered late in the race when a hard hit by Rick Nitz triggered a caution that erased Sheppard’s comfortable lead. The ensuing restart became a frantic shootout as Kevin Strandberg and Todd Cousins gambled by staying out on old tires, only to be overwhelmed by the cars on fresh rubber. The intensity spiked further when Cortney Nelson and Matt Watkins made contact in the tri-oval, sending Watkins spinning and ending the strong run of Allen Wannamaker, who had nowhere to go.

The race concluded with a 21-lap sprint to the finish. Tom Ogle gained critical track position to start on the front row alongside Sheppard for the final restart. Despite a fierce challenge from Nelson, Ben Sheppard maintained his composure and utilized a middle line to provide superior drive-off from the corners. He successfully defended his position and crossed the line to take a dominating victory, having led the vast majority of the 140 laps.

Beyond the competition, the race served a higher purpose. The OBRL donated 5 cents for every lap completed by each driver in the 36-car field to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, with many drivers sporting pink liveries in honor of Mother’s Day.

Worrell Wins the Holly 100: A Poignant Victory at Stafford

Stafford Springs, CT — The Holly 100 at Stafford Motor Speedway, round six of the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series, was a poignant tribute to Holly Wenzlick, the late partner of longtime league member Matt Hoose. On a night where the community’s emotional bonds were on full display, the 100-lap event provided a masterclass in short-track strategy, tire management, and late-race drama.

The narrow and challenging bullring set the stage with a mandatory same-tire rule and a top-13 invert from the previous race. This placed Tom Hilbert on the pole, while dominant drivers James Lowe and Chris Worrell started on the sixth row. Matt Hoose, despite being the fastest in practice, started 18th due to the inversion.

When the green flag dropped, Hilbert seized the early advantage, leading the opening 27 laps before his tires eventually began to fade. John Wilson briefly took the lead before Kenny Allen, known as Papa Kenny, surged ahead for 23 laps.

As the race crossed the halfway point, the duo of Chris Worrell and James Lowe began a methodical march through the field. Using a “shake and bake” strategy, Lowe followed Worrell through traffic. By lap 61, Lowe—seeking his fourth consecutive win—caught Kenny Allen and took the race lead. Behind them, Adam Schoen and Ed Foster mounted a methodical charge as Lowe’s tires began to overheat.

In a surprising twist, Chris Worrell passed his teammate Lowe for the lead with 22 laps remaining. Lowe’s tires were spent, and he settled into a defensive role to protect Worrell from the charging Schoen and Foster. The race seemed destined to end under green until lap 98, when Adam Schoen spun after contact with Ed Foster, triggering a multi-car pileup and setting up a Green-White-Checkered finish.

On the restart, Chris Worrell executed a perfect jump to maintain the lead. Ruben Altice, who had recovered from an early-race spin, made a daring low-line move in the final turn to steal second place, narrowly edging out Ed Foster. Chris Worrell crossed the finish line to claim his first victory of the season, a win he dedicated to the Hoose family.

In a heartwarming finish, Matt Hoose successfully navigated the late-race carnage to finish in sixth place, having gained 12 positions from his starting spot. The night concluded with the BRL community reflecting on the strength of their virtual family and the memory of Holly Wenzlick.

Feimster’s Flawless Stafford Run: First Super Late Model Win in Historic Green-Flag Event

Stafford Springs, CT — The sixth round of the Bootleg Racing League Super Late Model Series at Stafford Motor Speedway delivered a historic performance, marked by a rare flag-to-flag green-flag run. The 100-lap feature at the legendary half-mile track—often called the home of the modifieds—emphasized track position and methodical tire management, as the 18-car field faced narrow racing surfaces and difficult passing conditions.

Per league rules, the grid was set using a top-13 invert, placing Tom Hilbert on the pole with Kurt Smith to his outside. At the drop of the green flag, Smith attempted a high-side challenge but was unable to clear Hilbert. While the front runners settled in, Trey Blohm was forced to start from pit road, and Adam Schoen suffered an early spin into the infield; however, because he did not impede traffic, the race remained under green-flag conditions.

The early stages were dominated by a battle between Hilbert and John Wilson. Wilson utilized the low line to eventually seize the lead, forcing Hilbert into the marbles. Jeffery Hardin, a two-time winner at Stafford, remained a constant threat by utilizing a wider arc to straighten his corner exits. By lap 31, Hardin successfully executed a pass on Wilson to take the lead.

While the leaders battled, Kyle Feimster began a calculated climb from eighth. Feimster spent the first 25 laps saving his tires while others, like Luke Logan Allen, began to overheat theirs. As the race passed the halfway point, Feimster moved into second and began pressuring Hardin. Around lap 60, Hardin drifted slightly high, leaving a gap on the apron that Feimster seized to take the lead. Once out front, Feimster managed a gap of nearly four seconds, backing off his throttle intermittently to cool his rubber before a final push.

The difficulty of passing became increasingly apparent as the track rubbered up. James Lowe and points leader Chris Worrell fought through traffic to reach the front, with Lowe eventually moving into second after Hardin lost momentum late in the race. Worrell followed suit, moving into third in the final five laps as Hardin’s tires faded. Further back, Ed Foster and Luke Logan Allen made contact in turn one, but the race continued without interruption.

Kyle Feimster crossed the finish line to claim his first career Super Late Model win, finishing 2.8 seconds ahead of the field in a race that went 100 laps without a single yellow flag. James Lowe and Chris Worrell followed in second and third, with Jeffery Hardin and Louis Flowers rounding out the top five. In victory lane, Feimster credited tire conservation for the win, while Worrell noted that the lack of restarts prevented him from fully utilizing his saved equipment. Worrell exits Stafford with an extended points lead heading into next week’s race at South Boston Speedway.

Stout Triumphs in Richmond Overtime: Points Gap Narrows After Short Track Duel

Richmond, VA — Round 16 of the Red Light Racing Modified Series at Richmond Raceway delivered a high-stakes showdown between the series’ heavyweights, characterized by heavy tire wear and a dramatic overtime finish. Entering the 80-lap event, Dalton Williamson held the points lead, looking to defend his position against Eric Stout in a battle that combined tactical patience with aggressive short-track maneuvers.

Rookie Hayden Austin began the night on the pole, but his lead was short-lived. On the opening lap, Stout pressured Austin, who wiggled and opened the door for Stout to seize the lead immediately. The race was quickly interrupted by a massive multi-car pileup that collected nearly a dozen drivers, including Jeff Aho, Fred LeClair, and Kevin Alicea. As the race settled into a green-flag run, tire management became the primary focus. Austin managed to reclaim the lead from Stout by utilizing a unique high racing line in turns three and four to carry more momentum onto the straightaway.

The complexion of the race changed just past the halfway point when Geoffrey Souza spun, triggering a caution. While the leaders—including Stout, Austin, and Williamson—pitted for fresh right-side tires, Mark Poe and Joshua Buckley stayed out to gain track position. Stout and Williamson quickly carved through the field on their fresher rubber, with Stout reclaiming the lead after Poe yielded the position. Meanwhile, Rex Hoyle emerged as a major factor, charging from 17th into the top five.

The final segment saw a fierce three-way battle between Stout, Williamson, and Ethan Troutman. During a series of restarts, Troutman briefly took the lead by diving three-wide to the inside, but Williamson eventually executed a patient pass to take the top spot. With fewer than ten laps to go, Stout harassed Williamson, making contact that momentarily sent the leader out of shape. A late-race disaster for Rex Hoyle ended his impressive run in a wreck that also involved Austin and Bill Benedict, setting the stage for a Green-White-Checker finish.

The overtime period was marked by a crucial timing loop decision. Stout and Williamson were racing side-by-side when another caution flew; despite Williamson appearing to have the momentum, the lead was awarded back to Stout based on the last completed timing loop. On the final restart, Stout used his position to pin Williamson to the bottom, allowing Glenn Jamieson to make a sensational move from fourth to second place.

Eric Stout held on to take the victory, significantly narrowing the points gap with Williamson, who finished second. Glenn Jamieson finished third after starting 23rd, while Kenny Allen and Rob Higgins rounded out the top five. In post-race interviews, Stout emphasized the importance of the win following recent technical difficulties, while Williamson remained focused on the championship despite the frustrating overtime circumstances.

Taylor Wins Pocono and the Crown: A 0.06-Second Championship Statement

Long Pond, PA — The season finale of the ISRA Open Wheel Series at Pocono Raceway provided a thrilling conclusion to the winter schedule, culminating in a 0.06-second margin of victory that decided both the race and the championship. Entering the 14th and final round, Matt Taylor held a 30-point lead over the only champion the series had ever known, Kyle Klendworth.

The front row featured the two title protagonists, with Taylor securing the pole just ahead of Klendworth. At the drop of the green flag, Klendworth wasted no time, diving to the inside of Taylor in turn two to take the lead. While the two leaders engaged in a high-speed dance of draft-swapping, Richard Hearn quickly moved up to third, showing early aggression against the leaders. Despite several lead changes on track, Klendworth officially led the first eight laps at the start-finish line.

The race’s only major disruption occurred around lap 18 when Ryan O’Donoghue got loose and was struck by Hunter Funderburke. The collision left O’Donoghue’s car on three wheels, though he managed to limp into the pits before a yellow flag was thrown for debris. During the ensuing pit cycle, David Sirois opted for an alternative strategy by staying out on old tires to lead the field. While Sirois held the point for several laps after the restart, his tires eventually faded, allowing Klendworth to reclaim the top spot on lap 24.

As the race neared its final third, a second round of green-flag pit stops reshaped the leaderboard. Strategy became paramount as drivers calculated fuel loads. Disaster struck for several front-runners during this window; Christopher Ragan and series organizer Mike Rigney both received black flags for speeding on pit entry, effectively removing them from contention. Meanwhile, Sirois continued his gamble by staying out until lap 45, hoping for a caution that never materialized.

The final 10 laps evolved into a tactical battle between Matt Taylor, Kyle Klendworth, Richard Hearn, and a surging Matt Wagner. Taylor, who had earlier dropped back due to a wall rub, methodically clawed his way back to the front. In the closing stages, Taylor and Klendworth traded the lead repeatedly. On the white-flag lap, Taylor executed a decisive pass through turn three. Despite Klendworth’s best efforts to stick to the bottom, Taylor maintained superior momentum to cross the line just 0.06 seconds ahead.

With this victory, Matt Taylor officially secured the Season 3 Championship, ending Klendworth’s streak. Kyle Klendworth finished second, followed by Matt Wagner, Richard Hearn, and Alex Guyon. In post-race interviews, Taylor described the finish as a chess match, noting the light fuel load allowed for a perfect run out of the final corner. Klendworth acknowledged Taylor’s dominant season, noting he simply had too much speed at the end. The league now prepares for a transition to Monday nights and a move to the classic Lotus 79 for next season.

Theriault Saves Fuel to Steal the Title: A Strategy Masterclass at Auto Club

Fontana, CA — The season finale of the Red Light Racing Scrambler Series, the Turn 4 120, concluded at the two-mile Auto Club Speedway with a tactical finish that redefined the championship battle. The race served as the final showdown for the Championship Four: Maxime Theriault, James Skelton, Chris Hammett, and Trent Potter. While Bill Benedict started on the pole, the tension was immediate as the field fanned out four-wide in the opening laps.

The high-stakes atmosphere boiled over early when a massive incident erupted at the front of the pack. Sean Single drifted up into James Skelton, triggering a chain reaction that involved Matthew Duvall. While Theriault narrowly escaped, Skelton’s truck sustained heavy nose damage and was issued a meatball flag, effectively ending the title hopes for the four-win driver.

Following the early caution, a massive divergence in strategy began to take shape. Chris Hammett dominated the majority of the race, leading a single-file train of trucks. Trent Potter opted for a two-tire stop early to gain track position, but Hammett’s four fresh tires eventually allowed him to retake the lead. As the race progressed toward the final green-flag pit cycle, Hammett and Potter continued to push a high pace that required a late stop, while Maxime Theriault, Connor Blasco, and Tim Combs committed to a fuel-saving gamble that began during the very first caution.

With 20 laps to go, the leaders were forced to pit for fuel, handing the lead to Theriault. Hunkered down in fuel-save mode and running the extreme bottom of the track to shorten the distance, Theriault faced a closing gap as Hammett and Potter charged back through the field on fresh rubber. Despite the pressure, Theriault and his drafting partners managed to stretch their fuel to the very end.

Maxime Theriault crossed the finish line to win the race and secure the Season 21 Championship, coasting on fumes as he took the checkered flag with only one lap of fuel remaining. Connor Blasco finished second, with Tim Combs, Ethan Troutman, and Geoffrey Souza rounding out the top five. Chris Hammett’s dominant night ended in a 12th-place finish after the late-race pit stop proved to be his Achilles’ heel, while Trent Potter and the unfortunate James Skelton finished 13th and 17th, respectively. In victory lane, Theriault credited his drafting partners for the assist in a championship win defined by calculated risk.