Lowe’s Perfect Streak Continues in Action-Packed Irwindale Showdown

Irwindale Speedway, CA – The Bootleg Racing League Late Model Invitational Series rolled into the historic Irwindale Speedway for Round 3 of Season 32, and once again, the story was all about James Lowe. Entering the night two-for-two, Lowe extended his undefeated streak with another calculated and commanding performance on the demanding California half-mile, taking the win in a Green-White-Checker finish after 100 laps of high-intensity racing that tested every driver’s patience and tire management skills.

The Irwindale Speedway, a “Southwestern California gem,” has long been known for its brutal tire wear, and that reputation proved accurate from the drop of the green flag. VGN commentators warned early that running the bottom line too long would “cook those right side tires,” forcing competitors to migrate higher up the racetrack as the run developed. With the top 13 inverted from the previous week’s results, Tom Hilbert and Jeff Kemper led the field to green while Lowe rolled off from Row 6, setting up another come-from-behind challenge for the points leader.

Hilbert controlled the opening laps, maintaining a narrow advantage while the rest of the top ten fought side-by-side behind him. Adam Schoen was among the early movers from sixth, but the first caution flew before momentum could build when Schoen made contact with Kemper entering Turn 1. Following the restart, Hilbert and Bruce “Double Deuce” Pearson staged a fierce battle for the top spot, both utilizing the apron to help rotate their cars. The fight ended with contact that sent Hilbert into the outside wall, opening the door for Pearson to take command. Behind them, Lowe began his familiar, measured charge forward, climbing seven spots to fourth before the race reached halfway.

As the laps clicked off, the front of the field formed a three-car breakaway featuring Pearson, Lowe, and Kyle Feimster in the No. 14. Feimster, who clocked the fastest early lap of the night at 18.293, ran an aggressive pace up front, opting for track position over long-run conservation. On Lap 62, he executed a clean and well-timed slide job to take the lead from Pearson, earning praise from the commentary booth for the “textbook move.” But Irwindale’s worn surface doesn’t reward aggression for long. Within a handful of laps, Feimster’s right-rear tire began to fade, and Lowe—known across the league as a “tire whisperer”—began closing rapidly. By Lap 69, Lowe made what was called his “easiest pass of the night” to reclaim the top spot and never looked back.

With 20 laps to go, Lowe built a comfortable 1.3-second lead while Feimster fell into the clutches of Chris Davis, who lived up to his “Mr. Aggressive” nickname by diving deep under Feimster several times in search of second. The battle boiled over in dramatic fashion when Davis sent his car low in Turn 3, making contact that spun Feimster around and collected Kurt Smith in the process. The incident brought out the third caution of the night and set up a tense Green-White-Checker finish to decide it all.

Lowe took the bottom lane for the restart, while Davis lined up high and Tre “The Caveman” Blohm lurked just behind. When the green flag waved, Lowe launched perfectly and never gave the pack a chance, while Davis fended off Blohm for second. Lowe crossed the line unchallenged to secure his third consecutive victory of the season, further extending his growing points lead. “The tires were definitely an issue,” Lowe said in his post-race interview. “I managed to save mine, and we actually ran our fastest lap on Lap 101. That’s how much it came together late.”

Chris Davis held on for second after a hard-fought night, while Blohm’s tire-saving strategy paid off as he grabbed third in the closing laps. Behind them, Todd Liston and John Wilson rounded out the top 5. Next week, the Bootleg Racing League Late Model Invitational Series heads east to The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Mike Holloway and Tom Hilbert will lead the field to green as the championship battle continues to heat up.