Lowe Outsmarts Ogle in YesterYear Classic at Martinsville

Martinsville, VA — The YesterYear Racing Tour Modified Series returned to one of the sport’s most iconic short tracks for Round 13 of Season 2, the YesterYear Classic at Martinsville Speedway. The 150-lap event, steeped in 1966 nostalgia, featured the full throwback treatment — unlimited tires, no “lucky dog” passes, and no “fast repairs.” It was pure, old-school short track chaos, where precision and patience meant as much as horsepower. When the dust finally settled, James Lowe outsmarted points leader Tom Ogle in a masterclass of defensive driving and strategy to take the win.

The field of 17 roared to life on the tight half-mile paperclip, with polesitter Jerry Isaacs leading them to green alongside Lowe on the outside. But before the first lap was in the books, calamity struck. Coming off Turn 4, Brian Neff got too high on corner exit, causing a chain reaction pile-up that sent Todd Liston’s #87 machine flipping down the frontstretch in spectacular fashion. Though heavily damaged and multiple laps down, Liston refused to quit, continuing to turn laps in true YesterYear spirit, hoping attrition might bring him back into the fight.

After the restart, Ogle quickly worked his way forward from the second row. By Lap 12, he had powered underneath Isaacs to take the lead, showing the same poise and racecraft that has kept him atop the points standings all season. Chris Davis made an early charge through the field as well with some daring, if not a little overly aggressive, moves on the outside line. But aggression came at a cost — on Lap 40, Davis’s race ended abruptly when Robert Guarisco spun in Turn 4, collecting him and sending his modified hard into the inside wall.

That caution triggered the first major round of pit stops. Ogle, Isaacs, and Kenny Allen all opted for fresh right-side tires, gambling they could make it to the finish on that set. Lowe, however, rolled the dice and stayed out, inheriting the race lead. The call proved pivotal. Although Ogle’s new rubber quickly allowed him to retake the top spot, Lowe’s decision set him up perfectly for the strategy battle that would unfold in the race’s second half. Meanwhile, Scott Negus — quiet but methodical — began working his way up from 15th, living up to the league’s AI “Hubble” prediction that had pegged him as a sleeper for a podium finish.

A second caution flew just past halfway when Chris Haizlip looped his car in Turn 4. This time, most of the front-runners, including Ogle, came in for another set of right-sides, hitting what teams called the “magical number” for tire longevity. Allen stayed out on slightly older rubber, explaining that he needed to “do something opposite of Tom” if he hoped to cut into Ogle’s championship lead. The strategy mix shuffled the field, putting Ogle mid-pack for the restart. His march back toward the front was nearly derailed moments later when Allen spun in the lead group on Lap 82, collecting Isaacs and Torrance Childs. Ogle escaped with minor contact, but Isaacs and Childs weren’t so lucky — both suffered terminal damage, ending their nights early.

From that point on, the race became a two-man showdown between Lowe and Ogle. Lowe inherited the lead on the restart and never relinquished it, holding off constant pressure from the championship leader. Ogle’s newer tires gave him an edge in corner grip, allowing him to close in through the turns, but Martinsville’s narrow inside groove made passing nearly impossible. Lowe kept his machine planted to the curb, hitting every apex perfectly and launching off the corners with just enough traction to stay in front. Lap after lap, Ogle searched for a way around, but Lowe’s composure under fire was flawless.

Behind them, Negus capped off a superb drive to third after starting deep in the field, while Allen recovered from his earlier spin to finish fourth. Robert Guarisco turned in a solid effort to round out the top five after keeping his car clean through the night’s early chaos. Points contender Brian Johnson quietly climbed nine spots to finish seventh, continuing to put in consistent performances.

In the end, Lowe’s strategic brilliance and unshakable calm under pressure earned him the YesterYear Classic victory, leading 69 of the 150 laps. Ogle settled for second but extended his championship advantage with another strong run, while Negus’s podium confirmed his emergence as one of the tour’s most consistent late-season threats. Nine of the 17 starters finished on the lead lap in a race that showcased everything the YesterYear Racing Tour stands for — grit, racecraft, and a little bit of luck. The series now turns its attention to the old Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the championship battle is set to intensify even further.