BRL LM S24R11 | Five Flags Speedway

18 December 2023

The final race of Season 24 was a thrilling event, with the top drivers of the season facing off against each other. The race started with Chris Davis and Kurt Smith taking the front-row positions. Davis was quick off the line, and Smith maneuvered from the top lane to the bottom to secure second place. The outside lane wasn’t working for anyone initially, so most drivers were forced to drive in single file, while some engaged in side-by-side racing, hoping to gain an advantage.

The first half of the race was particularly exciting, as Kenny Kibbey and J R Shepherd battled it out, moving their way up the positions on the track. By Lap 40, Kibbey and Shepherd had overtaken Smith for 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively, while Chris Davis held onto a 1.4-second lead. On Lap 64, Kibbey and Davis were neck and neck, with Shepherd and Smith closing in. Kibbey managed to complete the pass after an impressive battle with Davis. Shepherd then fought for 2nd place with Davis and managed to take it.

The top four drivers were now locked in a thrilling battle, with the rest of the field trailing about 2 seconds behind. On Lap 69, Shepherd dove down under Kibbey to take the lead, but Kurt Smith followed closely behind and also overtook Kibbey to take second place. On Lap 78, Jason Menda worked his way up to 3rd place, and there was an intense 3-car battle for the lead between Shepherd, Smith, and Menda. By Lap 81, Adam Schoen joined the fray, making it a four-car battle for first.

On Lap 83, Smith made a daring move and dove under Shepherd to take the lead, with Menda following suit. However, once Kurt Smith had taken the lead, there was no stopping him. He masterfully employed his driving skills and strategic prowess to create a 3-second lead over second place. A surprising turn of events occurred during the latter half of the race, where only 9 cars were on the lead lap at the end due to blown right front tires. Nevertheless, Kurt Smith emerged victorious, clinching the final race of the season. Jason Menda finished second, and Adam Schoen finished third, rounding out the podium.

Highlights

🏆 Kurt Smith wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 24 Round 11 race at Five Flags Speedway.

🚀 Jason Menda, Adam Schoen, and Darryl Wineinger were the biggest movers of the race, finishing in 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4th, and all drivers had gained 13 spots from their starting positions.

🏁 Entering this race, the championships were pretty much decided, and Kenny Kibbey is your Season 24 Late Model Invitational Champion! Congrats to Kenny!

🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers, with an interesting late-race tire twist that caused some drama and intense racing action.

A special shout out and thank you to Gargamel’s Kitchen for their support of BRL!