Foltz Doubles Down in Vegas: Two-Tire Gamble Locks Up Spot in OBRL Cup Finale

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series hit Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Round 3 of the 2025 playoffs, where 150 laps turned into a tense battle of pit strategy, tire management, and playoff survival. What began as a race of patience ended in bold calculation — and it was Sean Foltz’s daring two-tire gamble that paid off big, earning him another playoff victory and locking him into the OBRL Cup Series finale.

From the drop of the green flag, pole-sitter Andrew Kotska set the early tone while Tom Ogle struggled to get up to speed. Within the opening laps, tire falloff became apparent, with lap times dropping nearly a full second by Lap 20. Championship hopeful Daniel Hill found speed running the high line against the wall and used that momentum to pass Kotska for the lead around Lap 29. Further back, Lloyd Moore made an incredible save after a massive slide that could have easily ended his night, losing less than a second in the process.

The first round of green-flag pit stops began early, around Lap 46, with Kotska and Dwayne McArthur pitting in unison to gain track position through the undercut. Ogle briefly cycled to the front but lost time after overshooting his pit box. Then, the race flipped on its head when the first caution came out on Lap 71 after Brian Lynch ran into the back of Ken Huff while entering pit road. The timing of the yellow completely neutralized the early pit advantage for Kotska and McArthur and handed the upper hand to Hill, who had stretched his fuel window longer than most. Restarting as the leader, Hill seemed to have his strategy working to perfection.

But Vegas rarely lets anyone off easy. Around Lap 87, the second caution flew when Robert Guarisco lost control and hit the wall, collecting several others including Roger Hurley and Lynch. That incident reshuffled the field once again and left several playoff contenders scrambling to recover lost ground.

As the laps wound down, the race evolved into a masterclass in strategy. Sean Foltz, who had pitted later than most of the front-runners on Lap 79, began carving through the field on fresher tires. When the final green-flag pit cycle began near Lap 125, Foltz made the move that would define the race. While Hill and Ogle pitted together — Hill losing time when he had to back up after the jack dropped — Foltz took only two tires on his final stop, a strategy he’d tested during the week. The gamble loosened his car slightly, but it slashed his pit time and gave him the track position he needed.

The call worked flawlessly. Foltz rocketed through the field, blowing past Ogle and McArthur in the final stretch. When Greg McDaniel, who had stretched his fuel beyond the window, finally pitted on Lap 133, Foltz inherited the lead and never looked back. He crossed the line more than a second ahead of Ogle, claiming his second playoff victory and securing his spot in the championship finale.

Tom Ogle rebounded from a tough start to finish second, while McArthur brought home a strong third after running near the front all night. Kotska finished fourth, with Cortney Nelson rounding out the top five after a clean and consistent run. Dale Copeland, Lloyd Moore, David Brann, Scott Negus, and McDaniel completed the top ten.

Not all playoff hopefuls were so lucky. Daniel Hill’s late-race strategy gamble — pitting under green and hoping for a caution — backfired, dropping him a lap down and leaving him 17th at the finish. Jerry Isaacs took 13th after a fierce battle with Jeffery Lyden, leaving him in a precarious points position heading into the next round.

As the series now shifts to Talladega, the stakes couldn’t be higher. With Foltz locked into the finale and Hill suddenly vulnerable, the Round of 8 will be a minefield for those still chasing the title. Ogle summed up the mood perfectly after the race: “Talladega’s about survival. Horrible things can happen there, and you just have to hope you’re not the one in it.”

One thing is clear — momentum belongs to Sean Foltz, who’s quickly become the man to beat in this playoff run.