Kotska Controls Gateway to Punch Ticket Into Round of 12

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series 2025 rolled into Worldwide Technology Raceway on Sunday night, September 7th, for Round 28 of the season and the second race of the Round of 16 playoffs. The event was billed as a tricky test and Gateway more than lived up to its reputation. With its two very different sets of corners, heavy braking zones, and constant shifting, the 1.25-mile oval demands precision and discipline — traits that only a handful of drivers managed to master across the 130-lap contest.

Andrew Kotska set the tone from the outset by grabbing the pole position, beating out a strong lap from Tom Ogle, with Dwayne McArthur starting third. The drama began before the field even found a rhythm, as Ogle was handed an iRacing drive-through penalty for jumping the start, dropping him to the back while Kotska inherited the lead. From there, Kotska’s focus and tire management allowed him to control the pace, while McArthur shadowed him closely in the early going. Further back, the race came alive with surges through the field — most notably Cortney Nelson, who clawed his way from an EOL penalty at the rear to inside the top 10 before tire wear and wall contact stalled his charge. Dan Hill also impressed, starting 13th and steadily working his way forward into contention.

Tire management quickly emerged as the defining factor of the night. While most drivers aimed for a single pit stop around halfway, Tommy Emasie rolled the dice early with a short-pit strategy around lap 45, showing just how powerful fresh tires could be. But for most of the front-runners, patience and timing were everything. The pivotal cycle of green-flag stops came around lap 65, when Kotska, McArthur, and James Hislop ducked in. Andrew Medlin tried to undercut, while Jerry Isaacs made the biggest leap, vaulting himself into second with a perfectly executed stop. Scott Negus briefly appeared in the mix after short-pitting but eventually faded with worn tires, underscoring just how tricky Gateway can be on long runs.

From there, the race belonged to Kotska. He paced himself masterfully, leading 126 of the 130 laps and never putting a wheel wrong. Behind him, the best battle unfolded between Isaacs, Hill, and Hislop for the podium. Isaacs nearly threw away his run with a late wiggle out of turn two but hung on with a remarkable save to secure second place. Hill, meanwhile, showcased his trademark patience and tire-saving style, methodically picking his way into third after a spirited fight with Hislop. McArthur, already safe in the playoffs thanks to his Darlington win, rounded out the top five.

Kotska’s victory not only cemented his dominance on the night but also locked him into the Round of 12, a huge relief as the series heads next to the high-banked chaos of Bristol. Isaacs left Gateway pleased with second but admitted nothing short of a Kotska mistake would have given him a shot at the win. Hill was equally satisfied with third, calling it a strong recovery after a disappointing qualifying brush with the wall.

Ogle, despite his early penalty, salvaged 11th, keeping his playoff hopes alive. With Gateway complete, the playoff picture tightens, and all eyes turn to Bristol — a short-track wild card where fortunes can flip in the blink of an eye.