A Champion Crowned, A Sponsor Victorious: Mark Hertzog Wins at Rockingham

Rockingham, NC – The TBP ARCA Series 2025 Season came to a dramatic close Tuesday night at Rockingham Speedway, where the Turkey Trot 140 delivered a storyline-rich finale filled with dominance, disaster, and the crowning of a deserving champion. Race sponsor Mark Hertzog stole the show with a commanding performance over the final 73 laps to take the victory, while Alan Kundman survived a chaotic night to officially secure the championship. It was a fitting conclusion to a season built on consistent excellence rather than single-race heroics.

Kundman entered the finale with a comfortable 23-point lead over his nearest rival, Adam Bosse, backed by three wins and a flawless record of single-digit finishes in every counted race. The math only required Kundman to finish 17th, assuming Bosse swept the night and collected all possible bonus points. Instead, the championship drama fizzled almost immediately as Bosse, starting deep in 28th, disconnected before Lap 44 and was scored 35th. The sudden exit effectively sealed the title for Kundman before the race had truly settled into rhythm.

But even with the championship clinched, Kundman still had to survive Rockingham—never an easy task. His night unraveled early when a connection issue for Keith Handlon caused Ryan Hyatt to slide up into Kundman, sending the points leader into the grass. Later, a separate incident left Kundman sitting sideways on the track, where he was clipped by Cory Silva. Fortunately, Kundman was able to nurse the car home to a 23rd-place finish—more than enough to lock down his well-earned crown.

While the championship narrative settled early, the front of the field put on a strong performance, highlighted by long green-flag runs and an emphasis on mastering Rockingham’s notorious tire wear. Justin Baxter led the opening 22 laps from the pole before Brad Cress surged forward using the top lane to seize control, leading 20 laps of his own. Meanwhile, drivers like Steve McLendon and Nicholas Deal sliced through the field with big gains, and Hertzog established himself as a constant presence among the leaders. Hertzog eventually worked his way into the top spot by executing a strong, patient move through Turns 1 and 2, signaling that the No. 57 was only getting better as the track loosened up.

As the first half of the race unfolded, tire strategy became the defining element. Hertzog and several others pitted around Lap 70—giving up track position in hopes of catching a caution. That gamble paid off when the first major incident erupted near Lap 95, involving Deal and others, cycling Hertzog to the front. From there, his strategy and pace aligned perfectly.

The cautions that followed reshaped the running order again, with Matt Harmon emerging as a late-race threat. Starting 23rd, Harmon charged through the field using what he estimated was a 15-lap tire advantage. His preference for the bottom lane when the tires were fresh allowed him to move past Chad Winstead and Dakota Floyd, positioning him as the last real obstacle between Hertzog and a storybook win for the race sponsor. Hertzog’s finesse on the high side proved too much to overcome, and Harmon simply ran out of tire and time.

Hertzog, who said Rockingham was a track he “gets along with pretty well,” never faltered in the closing laps and powered to victory, leading a race-high 73 laps. Harmon’s remarkable charge from 23rd ended in second, while Winstead claimed his fifth third-place finish of the season.

When the dust settled, Alan Kundman officially became the TBP ARCA Series Season 9 Champion—an earned honor built on consistency, discipline, and the ability to avoid major mistakes over the long haul. His 23rd-place finish mattered little in the context of a season defined by smart racing and near-perfect execution.

Rockingham reminded the field why it remains one of the toughest tracks in stock car racing. It rewarded tire management, punished impatience, and, in the end, crowned the two drivers who played the long game best: the race winner who mastered the strategy and the season champion who mastered everything else.