Hislop Claims First Season Victory in Wild Atlanta Finish

Atlanta, GA – June 29, 2025
In a season defined by unpredictability, drama, and razor-thin margins, Round 18 of the OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series at the virtual Atlanta Motor Speedway delivered what may have been the most intense finish yet. In a green-white-checkered dash to the line, James Hislop stormed from 27th on the grid to capture his first victory of the season and lock himself into the playoffs.

After Cortney Nelson’s green-white-checkered triumph at Pocono one week earlier, the series shifted to Atlanta—a track that has previously produced epic moments, including Daniel Hill’s memorable three-wide victory earlier this season. But this time, things were different.

A recent iRacing aero update dramatically changed the feel of the cars, making them more difficult to control and sensitive to the air around them. The reduced grip and volatile handling forced drivers to rethink how they approached the draft, restarts, and corner entries.

As commentator Zach “Shaggy” Chapman noted during the broadcast, “These guys aren’t just racing the track—they’re wrestling their cars every lap.”

The opening laps were all about adaptation. Patience was key as drivers tried to stay within half a second of the car in front—close enough to draft, but far enough to avoid unsettling the car in dirty air.

Luke Lane impressed early, charging from the rear of the field and gaining nine spots within the first 15 minutes. But it wouldn’t last—his night took a dramatic turn when a slide through the grass and hard contact forced him to retire just past the quarter mark of the race.

Meanwhile, pit road became a critical battleground. Tom Ogle was hit with a speeding penalty, then eventually parked the car. Daniel Hill also suffered a costly pit miscue but fought back valiantly into podium position by race end.

Cautions came early and often, with one major incident collecting multiple drivers after a spin off Turn 4. Veteran Dwayne McArthur prophetically predicted more carnage, and the field didn’t disappoint. Contact between mid-pack drivers and volatile corner exits led to several crashes that jumbled up the standings and tested the patience of contenders.

Strategic plays around Lucky Dog opportunities paid off for drivers like Michael Dow, who managed to claw their way back onto the lead lap thanks to timely cautions. In contrast, others gambled on staying out and were caught off-cycle when yellow flags flew.

With many top contenders eliminated or shuffled back by strategy, the stage was set for a new name to rise. A handful of winless drivers occupied the top 10 late in the going, and the conversation turned to who would seize the moment.

A final restart brought the field to a green-white-checkered finish, ratcheting up the tension. James Hislop, who had quietly worked his way forward all night, took the outside lane and timed the run perfectly. In a chaotic final lap, Hislop emerged on the front stretch with a clear advantage while Hurley edged out Hill for 2nd by a thousandth of a second.

Post-Race Reactions:

• 🏁 James Hislop (1st):
  “That was white knuckle, man. I’m just relieved. We’ve got some road courses coming up and those aren’t really my thing, so to lock this in now—it means everything.”
• Daniel Hill (3rd):
  “That was crazy. Probably one of the hardest races I’ve driven this season. I had to fight back from that pit road issue, but somehow, we got back up here. A lot of luck and a lot of grit.”
• Roger Hurley (2nd):
  Hurley’s mic failed post-race, but his effort spoke volumes. A performance that will surely carry momentum into next week.

With only a few rounds remaining in Season 8, the tour now turns toward the Chicago Street Course—a road race that could shake up the playoff picture even further. For Hislop, this was a win that could not have come at a better time. For Hill and others, it’s another reminder that in the OBRL, no lead is safe, and no race is predictable.