BRL OUTLAWS S35 R9 Recap

31 May 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 35 | Round 9
Outlaw Modified Series | South Boston Speedway

On Friday, May 31st, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series descended upon South Boston Speedway for the thrilling 9th round of the season. Steve Hilbert had the honor of starting the night on the pole, with Jeffrey Hardin flanking him in second position. As the green flag dropped, Hardin quickly began probing for opportunities to pass Hilbert, while Donny Moore and Lowell Jewell engaged in a fierce battle for the third spot in the early laps.

Five laps into the race, Hardin spotted an opening to the inside and made a decisive move. Despite Hilbert’s efforts to leverage the high side’s momentum to fend off Hardin, the persistent challenger succeeded in completing the pass on lap 9. This maneuver left the door open for Moore to also advance, moving into the second spot. The field then settled into a single-file formation, with drivers keenly focused on chasing Hardin around the track.

The front trio, composed of Hardin, Moore, and Matt Hoose, maintained a tight race, avoiding any major incidents during the first half of the night. It was evident that neither Moore nor Hoose intended to let Hardin slip away. However, on lap 56, contact between Hoose and Moore caused Hoose to spin low, dropping him to the rear of the field without triggering a caution. This allowed Jewell to capitalize and claim the third spot. Shortly after, Moore attempted a pass under Hardin for the lead but was unsuccessful, which resulted in Moore falling back to fifth as he scrambled to regain his rhythm. Mark Hertzog seized the opportunity, leaping into second place and setting his sights on Hardin.

As the race progressed, it appeared Hertzog might not have enough time to catch Hardin. Meanwhile, Hoose, determined to recover from his earlier misfortune, was making an impressive charge back through the field, breaking into the top 10 with 20 laps to go. Moore, still positioned in fifth, was aggressively vying with Jason Menda for the fourth spot. A late-race caution with 12 laps remaining, caused by contact between Moore and Menda, brought the field back together. Crucially, this incident catapulted Hoose into the top five, as he skillfully avoided the chaos ahead.

With just eight laps remaining, the green flag briefly waved again, only for another caution to emerge almost immediately when Moore and Hardin collided in the first corner, sending Hardin spinning. Hoose deftly navigated through the turmoil, moving up to third and turning his earlier setback into a remarkable comeback.

The race concluded under a Green-White-Checkered (GWC) finish, with Moore crossing the line first to take the checkered flag, followed by Hertzog in second, and Hoose, rounding out the podium in third. This exciting and unpredictable race was a testament to the resilience and skill of the drivers.

The Bootleg Racing League will return next weekend on Friday, June 7th, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The action promises to be just as intense, with live coverage starting at 8:55 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network. Be sure to tune in for another electrifying round of racing!