BRL LM S24R7 | South Boston Speedway

12 November 2023

In an enthralling race, J R Shepherd made a late race pass to clinch victory in round 7 of season 24. The margin of his victory was an impressive 4 seconds. Despite the tricky outside line that can cause a car to spin within seconds, the race featured some excellent side-by-side racing, showcasing the drivers’ skills and sportsmanship.

The race began with Todd Liston and John Wilson at the front. Liston took an early lead, with Wilson trying to keep up from the outside. Joe Segalla secured the third position at the start, and racers were competing fiercely from fourth place onwards. The first caution came out on Lap 7, bringing the race to a temporary halt. After the restart, Liston and Wilson were still on the front row, with Liston getting a great start. Wilson took the second position, and Segalla and Tre Blohm battled for the third position. Blohm won the battle and secured the third position, while the rest of the field worked on settling their positions and fighting for the inside line. Another caution was called on Lap 15, and after the restart, Liston and Wilson were still on the front row. This time, Wilson stayed with Liston on the outside and tried to fight for first place before settling back in second. The field had calmed down by this point, with mostly single-file racing.

On Lap 40, Shepherd battled with Wilson for second place before a caution was called on Lap 42, pausing the battle for second. We resumed racing on Lap 48, with Liston and Shepherd leading the pack. Liston got a great start, and Shepherd followed behind, eventually claiming the second position from Wilson. Wilson and Mark Hertzog quickly challenged Shepherd, with Hertzog moving up to third place on Lap 51. However, a caution caused a big pileup on Lap 52, again bringing the race to a halt.

We went green again on Lap 58, with Liston and Shepherd leading the pack. Shepherd was able to use the top line to clear Liston and claim the lead. From there, he maintained his lead, gaining a 3-second advantage by Lap 93. The green flag racing continued, with the top 7 racers being in contention for the win, while the rest of the field (8th onwards) were about 2 seconds behind. Mike Holloway made a move on Liston on Lap 87 and took second place, while Liston battled with Matt Hoose, who dove underneath for the third position.

On the final lap, Shepherd was comfortably ahead and claimed victory with a 4-second lead. Mike Holloway finished second, and Matt Hoose rounded out the podium in third place. Mike Holloway was also the biggest mover of the race, finishing 16 spots ahead of his starting position of 18th. Overall, it was an exciting race, featuring some of the best racers in the circuit showcasing their skills and passion for the sport.

Highlights

🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 24 race at South Boston Speedway.

🚀 Mike Holloway was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in second place after starting from 18th.

🏁 J R Shepherd’s victory gave a big point boost for his battle for the season championship

🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.