BRL Late Model Invitational S29R01 | North Wilkesboro Speedway

Welcome to 2025 at Bootleg Racing League! This year kicks off with Season 29 Round 01 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Joe Segalla and Todd Liston lead the field at the start of the first race of the season. Segalla gets a great jump and clears Liston for the lead. Liston has the option to choose lanes and opts for the inside of Segalla off of turn 2 but eventually backs off. Joseph Snyder follows closely in third place.

A battle for the lead causes a major wreck, impacting almost the entire field and momentarily turning the front stretch of North Wilkesboro into a chaotic scene. After the shuffle at the front, Jason Menda and Todd Cousins bring the field to green on Lap 11. Menda cleanly clears for the lead, while Cousins begins battling Bruce Pearson for second, managing to clear him and move to the inside. Pearson, now on the inside, fights with Aiden Young for third but ultimately loses the position to Young.

A caution on Lap 18 leads to a stack-up in Turn 2. Racing resumes on Lap 23 with Menda and Cousins leading the pack. Cousins stays close to Menda on the restart, racing side by side for a lap before Menda clears him for the lead. Young and Scott Negus engage in a battle for third, but another caution comes out on Lap 25.

When racing resumes on Lap 30, it’s Menda and Cousins up front again. This time, Menda gets a better start and maintains first place, with Cousins in second and Young in third by Lap 31. Another caution waves on Lap 34. Racing resumes on Lap 38 with Menda and Cousins at the front, and Menda clears Cousins into turn 1. Young and Negus once again battle for third.

On Lap 55, Young gets inside Cousins and starts to battle for second, successfully clearing him. Negus then moves in to take third from Cousins. By Lap 61, Young attempts to look inside of Menda, but as they get close to contact, Young wisely backs off to stay in second. A caution is called on Lap 75.

Racing resumes on Lap 80 with Menda and Young leading. Menda manages to clear Young and maintain the lead. Young tries to get a run on the outside of turn 2, crossing over to get inside of Menda, but he has to back off, dropping him to third as Negus takes second. On Lap 86, Negus challenges Menda for the lead, and they race side by side, but they end up wrecking when Menda tries to cross under and slightly tags the back of Negus.

This caution reshuffles the front once again, and now Young and Mike Holloway lead the field to green on Lap 92. Young clears first, and Holloway battles with Donny Moore on the outside, managing to hold onto second. Holloway looks to the inside of Young on Lap 97, racing side by side, and ultimately clears for the lead on Lap 98. Mark Hertzog and Donny Moore battle side by side for third, with Hertzog eventually clearing using the outside line.

Mike Holloway crosses the finish line first, claiming victory in the opening race of Season 29. Aiden Young finishes in second place, followed by Mark Hertzog in third.

There was some exciting action in this one and a great way to kick of 2025 and Season 29 of Bootleg Racing League Late Model action. Be sure to come back next Saturday for Season 29 Round 02 action at Lanier National Speedway at 9:10pm ET on VGN!

Highlights

🏆 Mike Holloway wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 29 Round 01 race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

🚀 Mark Hertzog was the biggest mover, gaining 18 spots, racing from 21^st to 3^rd!

🏁 The race featured 5 leaders for 4 lead changes. Jason Menda led the most laps (79), followed by Aiden Young (9), Joe Segalla (6), Mike Holloway (5), and Joseph Snyder (1).