BRL Late Model Invitational S25R05 | Kern Raceway

Hello racing fans! This is a make-up recap of the BRL action from last weekend (April 27th, 2024) at Kern Raceway. Tom Hilbert and Jeffrey Kemper led the field to the start, with Hilbert getting an excellent start. Joseph Snyder peaked to the inside, while Kemper rolled the outside, and Snyder made it three-wide for a moment, while Kemper was able to maintain momentum to take the lead just as a caution came out.

Racing resumed on Lap 7 with Kemper and Hilbert out front. This time Kemper started well, while Snyder snuck in under Hilbert. Behind him, Tre Blohm took 3rd, followed closely by Kenny Kibbey and the rest of the field. Blohm made an inside pass on Snyder on Lap 10 but got loose on exit, giving Kibbey a chance, and they almost went three-wide into turn 3. Mike Holloway started challenging for fourth against Snyder. A caution came out on Lap 14.

Racing resumed with Kemper and Blohm on the front on Lap 20. Kemper started, but a checkup back in the field caused a massive pileup right as the race resumed. Racing resumed with Kemper and Bruce Pearson up front again on Lap 26. Kemper got another great start, and Pearson rolled the top line while Holloway followed in 3rd. Kibbey moved to the inside of Blohm with season point leader Jeffery Hardin followed closely behind. A caution came out on Lap 29.

Working on Lap 35, Kemper and Holloway led the field to the green. Kemper started well, and Kibbey was able to pass Holloway for 2nd. Blohm and Hardin worked behind for 4th. Kibbey moved to the inside of Kemper on Lap 36, working side by side, but Kibbey took the lead on Lap 37. J R Shepherd made a big run off Turn 2 to go inside of Hardin on Turn 3 and grabbed 5th place on Lap 41. Holloway peaked inside of Kemper on Lap 42, challenging for 2nd. Lap 43 had two rows side by side for position battles on 2nd and 3rd. There was a great battle between Kemper and Blohm for 4th, for a few laps, with side by side racing, and Blohm was finally able to make the pass on Lap 57, with Young and Hardin following suit on the inside line, passing Kemper.

On Lap 61, Shepherd peaked inside Holloway on exit of turn 4 for 2nd and made the pass. A caution came out on Lap 72. Racing resumed with Kibbey and Shepherd out front on Lap 77. Kibbey got a great jump, and Shepherd had to lag back to avoid jumping the leader, but they both battled fiercely on the restart, and Shepherd made a crossover maneuver to claim the lead on Lap 78. Kibbey tried to follow suit but didn’t quite have the momentum.

Racing resumed on Lap 88 with Shepherd out front and Kibbey behind in 2nd. Aiden Young and Mike Holloway battled for 3rd. Young secured 3rd, and Holloway secured 4th but under pressure from Brennan Myers. A late race caution with 3 laps remaining came out to give the dramatic Green-White-Checker restart. Shepherd lead the field, followed closely by Kibbey, but Young fought inside but wasn’t able to get 2nd from Kibbey. The white flag flew, and Shepherd had a convincing 0.5s lead and claimed his 4th win in a row, followed by Kenny Kibbey and Aiden Young.

Highlights

🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 26 Round 05 race at Kern Raceway.

🚀 J R Shepherd and John Heyn were the biggest movers of the race, finishing in 1^st and 10^th respectively, both drivers up 12 spots.

🏁 There were three leaders for two lead changes: Kenny Kibbey led the most with 42 laps, followed by Jeffrey Kemper with 35, and finally J R Shepherd with 28 laps led.

🌟 Ruben Altice accomplished 5000 Late Model laps during the race, congrats Ruben!