Lowe Outduels Altice in Wild Myrtle Beach Thriller

Myrtle Beach, SC — The Bootleg Racing League Late Model Invitational Series returned to the legendary Myrtle Beach Speedway for Round 4 of Season 35, where the demanding “Turtle Town” oval once again lived up to its reputation. With no pit stops, no tire changes, and no fast repairs permitted during the 100-lap feature, drivers were forced to carefully manage their equipment while surviving one of the most caution-filled races of the season. When the dust finally settled, points leader James Lowe once again found himself in Victory Lane after another championship-caliber performance.

As is tradition in the BRL Late Model Invitational Series, the starting lineup was determined by inverting the top 13 finishers from the previous event. That placed defending series champion Ruben Altice on the pole alongside Donnie Moore, while Steve Hilbert and Kurt Smith occupied the second row.

When the green flag waved, Altice immediately took control of the race, but the battle behind him proved far more turbulent. The Myrtle Beach surface, famous for its unforgiving inside curbing known as the “turtles,” immediately became a major talking point as competitors fought to avoid upsetting their cars through the opening corners.

The cautions began almost immediately. Michael Goodman, Chris Haizlip, and Bobby Hayes were among the first drivers caught in early incidents as Turns 1 and 2 repeatedly claimed victims. The frequent yellow flags quickly interrupted any opportunity for the field to establish a rhythm.

One of the most remarkable recoveries of the opening half belonged to Kenny Allen. After experiencing technical issues that dropped him multiple laps behind the leaders, Allen methodically fought his way back onto the lead lap by receiving three Lucky Dog free passes during the caution-filled opening stages, keeping his hopes alive despite the early setbacks.

As the race settled into its middle stages, the battle at the front began to intensify. Steve Hilbert briefly became the pivotal figure in the event, using his defensive driving to hold off both James Lowe and Kurt Smith in a thrilling multi-car battle. Acting as the proverbial cork in the bottle, Hilbert forced Lowe to work relentlessly for every inch before the points leader finally cleared him and set his sights on Altice.

The race’s defining battle soon followed. For lap after lap, Lowe and Altice traded the lead in a classic short-track duel. Altice expertly utilized the outside lane to maintain momentum while Lowe relentlessly hugged the preferred bottom groove, searching for any opportunity to complete the pass. Neither driver was willing to concede an inch as they exchanged the lead in one of the season’s most memorable battles.

On Lap 79, patience finally paid off. Lowe completed the decisive pass to officially take over the lead, using superior tire conservation to gain the advantage as Altice’s grip began to fade during the closing stages.

The final laps, however, were anything but calm. A series of late-race incidents pushed the caution count into double digits, making it one of the most interruption-filled Late Model Invitational races in recent memory. The largest accident came when Kurt Smith, Kenny Allen, and Jeffrey Kemper became entangled in a violent crash that sent Kemper’s car tumbling, bringing out another caution and setting up a dramatic green-white-checkered finish.

Lowe responded with a flawless restart. Launching cleanly, he immediately created a comfortable advantage while John Wilson and Mike Holloway battled fiercely behind him for the remaining podium positions. A final spin involving Lowell Jewell near the back of the field brought the race to its conclusion, allowing Lowe to take the checkered flag after another dominant performance.

Perhaps most impressively, Lowe recorded his fastest lap of the race, a blistering 19.243-second circuit, during the closing laps despite having nearly 100 laps on his tires, highlighting just how effectively he had managed his equipment throughout the evening.

Following the race, Lowe credited his victory to patience and tire conservation, explaining that he intentionally drove well within the car’s limits during the opening stages while many of his competitors used their tires too aggressively.

Altice was pleased to salvage a runner-up finish, noting that although his original plan centered around saving his tires, Lowe’s relentless pressure forced him to race harder than intended during the decisive middle portion of the event.

Mike Holloway completed one of the night’s best recovery drives, charging from 20th on the grid to finish third. After surviving multiple accidents throughout the evening, Holloway described the podium as a race of persistence as much as outright speed.

With another victory added to his growing résumé, James Lowe further strengthened his championship lead as the BRL Late Model Invitational Series continued its march through an increasingly competitive Season 35.