BRL LM S23 R3 Recap

15 July 2023
Bootleg Racing League | Season 23 | Round 3
Late Model Series | USA Speedway

In a thrilling race at USA Speedway, J R Shepherd of Different Path Motorsports emerged as the victor in the Bootleg Racing League Late Model Invitational Series presented by Gargamel’s Kitchen. With Bruce Pearson starting on the pole position, Shepherd faced a challenging task as he began his race from 11th place on the grid.

Right from the start, Pearson found himself under intense pressure as the green flag waved. Both Matt Hoose and Michael Goodman were eager to make their move and challenge for the lead. However, Pearson skillfully maintained his position, creating a slight gap between himself and his rivals. Meanwhile, Shepherd steadily made his way through the field, gradually advancing towards the front.

As the race progressed, Kenny Kibbey made a remarkable charge, swiftly gaining five positions and breaking into the top five by the sixth lap. On lap 24, Goodman made a decisive move, overtaking Pearson to claim the lead, with Kibbey following closely in second place. In the second half of the 85-lap event, Kibbey intensified his pursuit of Goodman, while Shepherd continued his relentless climb through the ranks.

Shepherd’s tenacity paid off as he maneuvered past Jeffery Hardin to secure third place. Meanwhile, Kibbey kept the pressure on Goodman, ultimately executing a daring low dive into turns 1 and 2 to snatch the lead on lap 50. With just 11 laps remaining, Shepherd closed the gap to Goodman and swiftly moved into second position. Determined to secure the win, Shepherd continued his relentless charge, ultimately overtaking Kibbey to claim the lead just four laps later.

Shepherd held his ground in the final six laps, skillfully navigating the track to cross the finish line and take the checkered flag. With this impressive victory, Shepherd solidified his position at the top of the points standings, now 11 points ahead of Goodman.

The next round of the thrilling Late Model Invitational Series is set to take place on July 22nd at Stafford Motor Speedway. Racing enthusiasts won’t want to miss a moment of the action, which will be broadcast live at 8:55 PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network.