Strategy Trumps Speed as AJ Hamel Wins The Bullring Battle in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV — Under the neon glow and constant pressure of The Bullring, AJ Hamel played the long game to perfection, using strategy over raw speed to claim victory in Round 11 of the Skitter Creek Modified Series.

Championship leader Eric Stout led the field to green with Dalton Williamson to his outside, and it didn’t take long for tempers and tight quarters to make their presence known. Early contact between Fred LeClair and Kenny Allen stacked up the field and forced multiple drivers to the rear, immediately turning the race into a survival test.

The chaos continued on the restart when Brian Bianchi got loose on cold tires and clipped Josh Buckley, sending the No. 13 hard into the outside wall and ending his night early.

Once the race found a rhythm, the spotlight shifted to the front. Williamson, showing the composure of a four-time champion, began closing in on Stout with consistently faster lap times. Just past halfway, he made his move, slipping by to take the lead and briefly taking control of the race.

Then came the pivotal moment.

A caution at halfway split the field on strategy. Williamson and Stout stayed out, committed to track position, while Hamel and Bianchi rolled the dice and came down pit road for fresh right-side tires. It was a gamble that turned the race on its head.

Restarting seventh, Hamel surged forward with a clear advantage, carving through traffic and quickly erasing the gap to the leaders. With momentum building, he dove underneath Williamson and took the lead in a decisive move that ultimately sealed the race.

Bianchi followed the same path, charging into second with fresh rubber, but ran out of time before he could mount a serious challenge for the win.

At the checkered flag, it was AJ Hamel taking a statement victory, with Brian Bianchi finishing second and Dalton Williamson holding on for third. Eric Stout came home fourth after leading early.

In the championship fight, Williamson gains a point and now sits just seven back from Stout heading into Concord, where the intensity is only expected to ramp up.

The chess match is tightening… and every move matters.