BRL OUTLAWS S35 R8 Recap

17 May 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 35 | Round 8
Outlaw Modified Series | New Smyrna Speedway

On Friday, May 17th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series competed in a 100-lap race at New Smyrna Speedway for round 8 of 11 in season 35. Joe Segalla started the night from the pole. In the opening laps, brothers Steve and Tom Hilbert battled for the 2nd spot, with Tom securing the position. Early cautions plagued the first half and set the tone for the race overall, forcing drivers to focus on short green flag runs and making more aggressive moves for gains. This aggressive mindset led to disaster for points leader Matt Hoose and his closest competitor in the points, John Wilson, as both drivers were caught up in early incidents, putting them each a lap down.

Throughout the race, Segalla maintained the lead while drivers like Donny Moore and Todd Liston quietly climbed up through the field with each restart. By lap 20, Moore had reached Segalla’s rear bumper and started making attempts for the lead but was unsuccessful each time. On lap 33, Moore pushed too hard, breaking the rear end loose and spinning in front of the oncoming field. After racing resumed, this opened the way for Liston, who had moved up to 2nd and made a bold move to challenge Segalla on the outside. They ran side by side for several laps, with Ricky Hardin waiting in 3rd to see which lane prevailed.

As the battle for the lead continued, Stephen Spies moved up to 4th, joining Hardin, with Rubin Altice rounding out the top 5. Approaching the halfway point, Liston finally cleared himself out front in the lead, with Segalla slotting back into 2nd ahead of Hardin. Spies worked on Hardin for much of the 2nd half before finding his way into 3rd on lap 82. A caution soon afterward gifted Hoose the lucky dog, bringing him back onto the lead lap, but it was too little, too late, as there wasn’t enough time left in the race to make up for the bad luck earlier in the night.

As the green flag came back out, Spies took advantage to steal the 2nd spot from Segalla but didn’t have the pace to challenge Liston before Liston claimed the checkered flag. Hoose still holds a slim 2-point lead in the standings, now ahead of Liston, who took the 2nd spot from Wilson with his win. After taking off next week for Memorial Day, the BRL will return on Friday, May 31st, at South Boston Speedway for the next round of the season, with the action going live at 8:55 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!