Andrew Medlin Clinches Playoff Spot with Win at Daytona

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series capped off its regular season with a nail-biting 100-lap showdown at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. With playoff berths on the line and a full 43-car grid roaring under the Florida sun, the stage was set for chaos, drama, and a finish that would go down as one of the season’s most unforgettable moments.

Before the green flag, commentators Zach Chapman (a.k.a. Shaggy) and Josh Buckley reminded viewers of Daytona’s reputation as a “wild card” track—where anything can and usually does happen in the blink of an eye. For playoff hopefuls like Allen Wannamaker, Roger Hurley, and Luke Lane, Daytona represented their last shot at making the cut. Meanwhile, defending champion Josh Robinson, already sitting comfortably with four wins, could focus on fine-tuning his strategy. On pole was Andrew Medlin, who entered the race in a must-win situation, hoping to keep his playoff dreams alive against impossible odds.

The race wasted no time proving unpredictable. The first caution flew after a check-up near the back of the pack caused an accordion effect that collected drivers including Andrew Kotska and Jerry Isaacs. The incident, though frustrating for those caught in it, gave trailing drivers a chance to top off fuel without losing much track position. A second caution followed not long after when Guarisco in the #28 got loose, while Dakota Pischke pounded the outside wall. It was also the first glimpse of the dreaded three-wide racing, something the drivers knew could end badly at any moment. Under yellow, most of the field fueled up, with many surprisingly opting for four tires—a move the booth openly questioned so early in the event. For playoff bubble drivers Victor Lane and Luke Lane, though, the timing was perfect, saving their races from disaster.

Once the field settled into its rhythm, the race transformed into classic Daytona pack racing. The draft became everything, with drivers carefully choosing lines and managing engine temperatures as they tucked in behind one another. The “third car” in line repeatedly proved critical in keeping momentum alive, while the outside lane struggled all night to sustain energy. Pit road execution separated the contenders from the pretenders—Ben Sheppard learned the hard way when a solo pit stop left him stranded a lap down, while Allen Wannamaker squeezed out a bonus point by staying out just one lap longer before pitting. Scott Negus, who needed a win to make the playoffs, turned heads with one of the most aggressive and cleanest solo pit entries of the season, keeping his name in the mix.

As the laps ticked away, the urgency ramped up. With 12 to go, a lead pack of 12 cars pulled a five-second gap on the rest of the field, effectively locking the trailing pack out of contention unless a late caution arrived. Negus, Wannamaker, and other bubble drivers became increasingly aggressive, darting in and out of lines to find momentum. The outside lane, however, kept stalling, leading to frustrating “accordion” effects and burned-up runs.

The finish proved every bit as dramatic as promised. Andrew Medlin, who needed nothing short of a victory to sneak into the playoffs, found himself in 2nd at the white flag. Ken Allen loomed large in close behind, waiting to pounce, while Tom Ogle—running out front—played a surprising role. In the final moments, Ogle admitted to working in tandem with Medlin and Jerry Isaacs, determined to help Medlin secure his first OBRL Cup win. As Allen tried to time his run, Medlin threw blocks in every lane he could, clinging desperately to the top spot. Coming off the final corner, Ogle gave Medlin one last push, propelling him across the line first by a razor-thin margin of just 0.007 seconds over Allen.

For Medlin, the win was the stuff of dreams: his first-ever OBRL Cup victory, and it came at the most famous track in America with a playoff berth hanging in the balance. The top five included Medlin, Allen, Ogle, Jerry Isaacs, and Sean Foltz, with Wayne Hufford, Clay Walker, Greg McDaniel, James Hisop, and Dwayne McArthur rounding out the top 10.

Emotions ran high post-race. Medlin thanked his wife, family, his teammates with Team Miata, and Storm Motorsports, admitting that his gamble to not be leading at the white flag “worked out perfectly” thanks to Ogle’s help. Allen, frustrated but classy in second, believed he had the winning run saved up but was blocked at just the wrong moments. Ogle himself laughed off his third-place finish, openly saying, “my goose was cooked anyhow—I just wanted to get Andrew a win.”

For the OBRL, the Daytona regular season finale delivered everything fans could want: drama, strategy, tension, and a photo finish that swung the playoff field on its head. With the post season set to begin at Darlington Raceway, the stakes only climb higher from here.