BRL OUTLAWS S36 R11 Recap

14 September 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Final Round
Outlaw Modified Series | Five Flags Speedway

On Saturday, September 14th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series concluded its 36th season at Five Flags Speedway. Todd Liston of INDY Autosport entered the season finale with a solid 9-point lead over Donny Moore, and he was determined to defend his championship lead, starting the night off strong by setting the fastest time in practice.

The race began with Lowell Jewell on the pole, flanked by Joe “Kingpin” Segalla. Donny Moore started in 7th, while Liston lined up 11th. As the green flag dropped, Jewell took off, pulling away from the field. Meanwhile, Liston wasted no time moving through the pack, and within just five laps, the three championship contenders—Liston, Moore, and Bruce Pearson—were running nose-to-tail in 5th, 6th, and 7th. Moore led the trio, but soon Stephen Spies, a known race winner, caught up to them and slipped past, with Liston wisely letting him by to avoid unnecessary risks.

The first caution came on lap 18 when Scott Negus and Tom Hilbert tangled just behind Liston. Once racing resumed on lap 24, Jewell maintained his lead, while Segalla was shuffled back as he struggled on the outside. Moore and Liston capitalized on this, advancing to 3rd and 4th. As the green flag run continued, Jewell extended his lead, but on lap 38, Liston made a bold move, diving under Moore to take the 3rd spot, with his sights set on Steve Hilbert in 2nd.

A long green flag run allowed Jewell to build a commanding 2-second lead. However, a caution on lap 67 caused by contact between John Heyn, Spies, and Pearson erased that advantage. The restart on lap 73 saw Liston now in 2nd place, right on Jewell’s bumper. It didn’t take long for Liston to find his way around Jewell, grabbing the race lead, while Spies followed suit, moving up to 2nd.

In the closing laps, Spies put intense pressure on Liston, managing to get inside on a few occasions. The two raced side-by-side for much of the final lap, but Liston, running the outside, managed to get a better exit off the final corner, edging Spies at the line by just 4 hundredths of a second. With the victory, Liston not only claimed his third win of the season but also secured the season championship in dramatic fashion.

The next season for the BRL Outlaw SK Modifieds is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, September 28th, at North Wilkesboro Speedway, with live coverage on the Virtual Grip Network starting at 7:40PM ET!