Rookie Kyle Feimster Slays the Dragon at South Boston

South Boston, VA — South Boston Speedway played host to one of the most dramatic races of the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series this season, as rookie Kyle Feimster stunned the field with his first-ever broadcast win. The race—sponsored by Tre Blohm in a heartfelt Thanksgiving tribute featuring a throwback A5 paint scheme honoring his grandfather—unfolded with equal parts chaos, heartbreak, and unexpected heroics. And at the center of it all stood a newcomer who managed to outwit the series’ most consistent veteran, points leader James Lowe.

Entering the weekend, Lowe had expanded his championship lead to a commanding 276 points over Chris Davis, despite not winning in the previous three rounds. South Boston’s starting grid inversion placed him mid-pack while John Wilson, “the Canadian Goose,” rolled off from the pole with Todd Liston alongside and Feimster slotted directly behind them in third. But the opening lap delivered instant turbulence. A tangle involving Lowe, Ruben Altice, and one of the Hilbert brothers folded the nose of Lowe’s No. 99 machine and knocked the toe out. Even as cars scattered and slowed, race control inexplicably swallowed the whistle and kept the field under green, sending Lowe tumbling back to 15th with a wounded race car.

While the early chaos set the tone, Wilson quickly established himself as the runaway favorite. With smooth laps and a steady rhythm, he built a small but stable lead and held it for nearly the entire race, ultimately pacing an incredible 92 of the 100 laps. Passing was nearly impossible on South Boston’s worn single-groove bottom lane, forcing drivers to search endlessly for grip and opportunities. Feimster, however, approached the situation with surprising maturity. Knowing the track would devour right-rear tires if pushed too hard, he spent the first half of the race easing into the throttle, preserving his equipment while quietly stalking the leaders.

Meanwhile, Lowe began his long, methodical climb back up the order. Even with his early damage, he carved his way forward with calculated inside-line pressure and stubborn persistence, including a stubborn duel with Altice, who refused to yield. Farther ahead, Tom Hilbert entertained the crowd with a determined scrap against Adam Schoen in a prolonged fight for fourth place. Hilbert eventually ceded the position but rallied later in the race to earn the better end of the family rivalry with a gritty top-five finish.

Everything changed in the closing laps. Following a late caution triggered by Kenny Allen and Schoen, the field reset for a sprint to the finish. On the Lap 92 restart, Mark Hertzog—who had charged from 14th and was positioned as the event’s biggest mover—got a run on Wilson and made contact that sent the race leader up the track and out of contention. And just like that, the “goose” was officially cooked. The door flew open for Feimster, who slipped through to take command, while Lowe seized second place and prepared for one final showdown.

The decisive moment arrived with a three-lap dash beginning on Lap 98. Feimster launched perfectly and immediately protected the bottom, refusing to surrender the preferred groove. Lowe tried everything—rolling the middle, diamonding the corner, pressuring the rookie’s bumper—but Feimster never cracked. With the poise of a seasoned veteran, he held firm over the final two circuits and even clocked the fastest lap of the race as he crossed the line two-tenths ahead of the points leader.

For a rookie to outduel a reigning powerhouse is rare enough. For him to do it in his first televised victory, in a holiday tribute event, after saving tires like a chess prodigy sacrificing pieces early to spring a late-game trap—that’s the stuff of sim-racing folklore. Even Lowe admitted afterward that he “didn’t have anything for Kyle there,” a testament to just how complete Feimster’s performance was.

Wilson’s misfortune relegated him to a 10th-place finish despite his 92 laps led, while consistent runs from names like Kurt Smith, Brennan Myers, and Todd Liston helped shape the overall complexion of the top ten. But the night belonged unmistakably to Feimster, a North Carolina racer and Army veteran, who summed up the evening with fitting simplicity: “It was a fun race—I mean, chaos.”

Chaos, yes. But also clarity—a moment where preparation, patience, and a perfectly timed opportunity allowed a rookie to slay the dragon and announce his arrival in spectacular fashion.