Red Light Racing – The Brothers Stout Season Ends in Style: Patrick Stout Wins New Smyrna Finale, Eric Stout Crowned Champion
📊 Race Stats at a Glance
🏆 Winner: Patrick Stout (#24) — 38 Laps Led
🥈 2nd Place: Bradley Stefane (#89)
🥉 3rd Place: Chad Alcares (#17) — 17 Laps Led
⏱️ Fastest Lap: Chad Alcares – 17.194 sec (Lap 109)
🚦 Pole Position: Eric Stout – 17.321 sec
🔁 Leaders: 4 | Lead Changes: 8
🚨 Cautions: 8 (for 32 laps)
⏱️ Race Distance: 150 laps | Time: ~55 minutes
✨ Clean Machines: Chad Alcares, Chris Oliver (0 incidents)
🚀 Hard Charger: Ethan Troutman (+8 from 16th to 8th)
Qualifying Recap
The season’s final qualifying session had a familiar feel as Eric Stout delivered yet another RaceDayCT.com pole run with a 17.321 second qualifying lap. Behind him sat Bradley Stefane and Patrick Stout, the same trio that’s set the tone for much of the year. Bill Benedict (#90) and Ken Allen (#49) rounded out a top-five separated by just five-hundredths of a second, classic New Smyrna parity.
With the championship mathematically locked up, Eric Stout had the luxury of racing for pride, while the rest of the field eyed one last shot at the spotlight.
Race Breakdown
The green dropped on a brisk Florida night and the finale got off to a smooth start—for a moment. Eric Stout jumped to the lead and controlled the opening third of the race, pacing the first 80 laps with the #12 looking untouchable.
But the middle segment rewrote the script. Lap 23 contact between Jeff Aho (#21) and Bill Benedict (#90) triggered the first big caution, setting the tone for an eventful evening. By the halfway mark, cautions had bunched the field repeatedly, and strategy calls began to matter more than raw pace.
Out front, Patrick Stout slowly reeled in his brother, but Kenny Allen (#49) also put himself in the mix. Contact between Allen and Eric on a Lap 82 restart sent Eric out toward the outside wall, but he deftly avoided spinning in front of the field. Eric fell back to sixth place, while Patrick Stout moved up to second because of the kerfuffle. Battling for the lead on Lap 97, the younger Stout and Allen had apparent netcode “contact,” sending Allen into the outside wall of Turn 4.
Through it all, Chad Alcares quietly moved up to second and took over the point on Lap 102, leading for 17 laps before Patrick Stout retook the lead on Lap 119, not to give it up again for the remainder of the race.
Bradley Stefane capped a consistent season with another podium, while Chad Alcares held on to third—an impressive feat considering he was one of only two drivers to end the night with zero incidents. Eric Stout faded to fifth but had long since locked up the championship.
Championship Recap
Consistency and composure carried the day, and the season.
🏁 Eric Stout closed out Season 14 as the undisputed Red Light Racing SK Modified Champion, finishing with:
- 6 wins, 15 top-5s, and 16 top-10s in 17 counted starts
- A 103-point margin over runner-up Ethan Troutman
- Only 42 incident points across 18 events—the fewest of all drivers with at least 17 starts this season
Rounding out the final Top 5 in the standings:
1️⃣ Eric Stout – 768 pts
2️⃣ Ethan Troutman – 665 pts
3️⃣ Jeff Aho – 653 pts
4️⃣ Chad Alcares – 629 pts
5️⃣ Joshua Buckley – 624 pts
The title was earned the hard way, through speed, racecraft, and week-in, week-out execution.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
From short-track fireworks to photo finishes, Season 14 delivered it all. Patrick Stout’s finale win was a fitting bookend to a year dominated by family, rivalries, and late-race drama.
With the trophy secured and the virtual haulers heading home, attention now turns to the off-season and what’s next for the Red Light Racing SK Modified Series. New faces, new setups, and the same trademark Thursday-night intensity await when Season 15 fires up. Keep up with everything Red Light Racing at redlightracingoffi.wixsite.com/redlightracing. Look for Season 15 to be broadcast on Virtual Grip Network.
Until next season, congratulations to Patrick Stout, race winner, and Eric Stout, 2025 Season 14 Champion!
Triple Bypass Racing: Grzech Gambles, Goes the Distance for Sonoma Victory in DJ Yee-J’s ARCA Farmer 40
📊 Race Stats at a Glance
- 🏆 Winner: Kyle Grzech (#27), 21 Laps Led
- 🥈 2nd Place: Tyler Merritt (#38), 19 Laps Led
- 🥉 3rd Place: Chad Winstead (#97)
- ⏱️ Fastest Lap: Tyler Merritt, 1:15.471 (Lap 8)
- 🚦 Pole Position: Tyler Merritt (#38)
- 🔁 Leaders: 2 | Lead Changes: 1
- 🚨 Cautions: None (Cautions Disabled)
- ⏱️ Race Distance: 40 Laps
- ✨ Clean Machines (0 Incidents): Alan Kundman (#3), Brad Cress (#9)
- 🚀 Hard Charger: Zachary Nurney (#36) — +9 (P18 → P9)
Qualifying Recap
Tyler Merritt (#38) set the pace early by leading the pack in qualifying. Kyle Grzech (#27) joined him on the front row, followed by Chad Winstead (#97), Alan Kundman (#3), and Adam Bosse (#83) in a stacked top five poised for a strategy race.
Race Breakdown
With cautions turned off, the DJ Yee-J’s ARCA Farmer 40 became a 40-lap green-flag chess match where pit timing and tire/fuel conservation mattered as much as raw pace.
- Early Domination (Laps 1–20): Merritt launched cleanly from pole and immediately built a 2 second lead by Lap 7, stretching to six seconds by Lap 20 over Grzech.
- Pit Cycle Flips the Board (Laps 21–30): Merritt pitted on Lap 22 for fuel/tires; several others cycled earlier (Baxter on Lap 10 fuel-only, Kundman Lap 11 fuel+4). Grzech and Bosse committed to a no-stop strategy.
- Control Up Front: By Lap 30, Grzech commanded the lead by 3.5 seconds over Winstead, with Merritt charging back through to P3.
- No-Stop Masterclass: Grzech and Bosse nursed pace and fuel to the end, while Merritt’s outright speed couldn’t claw back the time lost on pit road.
- Checkers: Kyle Grzech (#27) sealed the win on strategy, Merritt (#38) settled for second after leading 19 laps, and Winstead (#97) completed the podium. Only eight cars finished on the lead lap in this caution-free grind.
Championship Update
Consistency continues to pay: Adam Bosse retains the points lead at 221, but Alan Kundman trims the gap to -7 with another clean, mistake-free day. Brad Cress remains firmly in the hunt after banking another incident-free finish, while Justin Baxter and Terry Brooks round out a tightly packed top five.
Top 5 in Points After Sonoma
- Adam Bosse — 221 pts
- Alan Kundman — 214 pts (-7)
- Brad Cress — 209 pts (-12)
- Justin Baxter — 183 pts (-38)
- Terry Brooks — 181 pts (-40)
Next Week’s Teaser
The tour leaves wine country and heads back to the ovals with a trip to Kern Raceway, where track position and restart craft return to the spotlight. With just 12 points covering the top three, every bonus point could swing the momentum. Keep up-to-date with all the Triple Bypass Racing League action at triplebypassracing.com!
Red Light Racing: Stout Snatches Stafford Win in Thrilling Green-White-Checker Finish
📊 Race Stats at a Glance
🏆 Winner: Eric Stout (98 Laps Led)
🥈 2nd Place: Brian Bianchi
🥉 3rd Place: Joshua Buckley (1 Lap Led)
⏱️ Fastest Lap: Brian Bianchi – 19.121 sec (Lap 105)
🚦 Pole Position: Jeff Aho – 19.225 sec
🔁 Leaders: 4 | Lead Changes: 5
🚨 Cautions: 4 (16 Laps)
⏱️ Race Time: 39 minutes (105 Laps, extended by green-white-checker)
✨ Clean Machine (0 Incidents): Eric Stout
🚀 Hard Charger: Brian Neff (+11, from 16th to 5th)
Qualifying Recap
The day at Stafford Speedway began with Jeff Aho putting down a blazing 19.225 to earn the RaceDayCT.com pole position in front of a tightly packed field. Eric Stout joined him on the front row, followed by Ethan Troutman, Patrick Stout, and Brian Bianchi in fifth. With many of the drivers at the top of the championship standings starting mid-pack, the stage was set for an eventful 100 laps at the birthplace of the SK Modifieds.
Race Breakdown
Eric Stout took command early, slipping past pole-sitter Aho on Lap 6 to grab the lead. Once in clean air, he built a steady gap while the field jostled for position behind him. The first caution flew on Lap 35 when Patrick Stout and Brian Bianchi tangled in Turn 1, collecting Joshua Buckley in the process. All three were able to continue, but the incident erased Stout’s one-second lead.
Luke Logan Allen had an up and down race, climbing to 2nd on lap 54 from his 12th-place starting position. Ultimately, though, “Lemon-Lime” would finish in ninth position.
With 25 to go, Stout held a two-second advantage over Bianchi, Buckley, and Patrick Stout, while Neff climbed from 16th into the top five, an impressive feat. The caution waved with 8 laps remaining when Devin Visnaw pushed up into Chad Alcares sending them both into the turn 4 wall, erasing Stout’s cushion.
A restart with 4 laps remaining turned chaotic as Fred LeClair and Brian Bianchi made contact, sending LeClair hard into the outside frontstretch wall. That set the stage for a green-white-checker finish.
On the final restart, Stout got the jump he needed, holding off a determined Bianchi and Buckley to secure victory by 0.18 seconds. Bianchi’s runner-up and Buckley’s podium run capped an excellent night for both, while Patrick Stout and Brian Neff rounded out the top five.
Championship Update
The win marked Eric Stout’s sixth victory of the season, extending his commanding championship lead to 99 points over Ethan Troutman. Aho remains third despite a frustrating finish outside the top 10, while Joshua Buckley’s third-place run moved him into the top five in the standings. The final race is but a formality for Eric Stout as he is assured to take home the Championship trophy.
Top 5 in Standings after Stafford:
1️⃣ Eric Stout – 727 pts (+99)
2️⃣ Ethan Troutman – 628 pts
3️⃣ Jeff Aho – 615 pts
4️⃣ Chad Alcares – 586 pts
5️⃣ Joshua Buckley – 584 pts
Next Week
The Red Light Racing SK Modified Series travels to New Smyrna Speedway on October 9th for a 150-lap showdown. The fast Florida half-mile promises another night of close racing as season 14 comes to a close.
Catch the action live on Virtual Grip Network and follow ongoing coverage of Red Light Racing at www.redlightracing.net.
Triple Bypass Racing: Bosse Scores Third Straight with Phoenix Triumph in Slaughter Racing Designs 125
📊 Race Stats at a Glance
- 🏆 Winner: Adam Bosse (51 Laps Led)
- 🥈 2nd Place: Alan Kundman (1 Lap Led)
- 🥉 3rd Place: Justin Baxter
- ⏱️ Fastest Lap: James Honeycutt – 26.535 sec (Lap 60)
- 🚦 Pole Position: Chad Winstead
- 🔁 Leaders: 5 | Lead Changes: 5
- 🚨 Cautions: 6 (18 Laps)
- ⏱️ Race Time: 1h 05m (127 laps, extended by green–white–checker)
- ✨ Clean Machines (0 Incidents): Jon Crutchley
- 🚀 Hard Charger: Steven McLendon (+17, from 24th to 7th)
Qualifying Recap
The front row at Phoenix was all about speed, with Chad Winstead putting down a blistering lap to claim the pole. Behind him, Alan Kundman and Adam Bosse both qualified inside the top four, setting the stage for a night where track position would be critical.
Race Breakdown
The Slaughter Racing Designs 125 was originally slated for 125 laps but saw overtime thanks to a green–white–checker finish, pushing the field to 127 circuits around Phoenix Raceway.
- Early Action: On lap 1, Terry Brooks (#23) wasted no time, snatching the lead from Winstead. The opening run saw Kundman (#3) and Brooks trade blows up front, while Bosse patiently stalked in the top five.
- First Yellow (Lap 38): A multi-car tangle involving Donald Ristau (#25) and Angel Resendiz (#333) shuffled the deck. Several frontrunners, including Brooks and Justin Baxter, pitted, handing the lead back to Winstead.
- Mid-Race Swings: By lap 51, pit strategy again shook up the order as most of the top 10 ducked in. Kundman and Winstead elected to stay out, giving them track position. But cautions on laps 55 and 71 kept the field tight.
- Bosse Moves Forward: Restarting outside the top 10 after pit stops, Bosse methodically picked his way back through traffic. By lap 77, he powered past Daniel Williams (#31) to retake the top spot.
- Drama for the Pole Sitter: Winstead’s strong night unraveled late when contact while lapping traffic dropped him from contention. A top 5 finish is always strong, but if Winstead was disappointed for this one it is understandable. The fans were disappointed to not see how the battle between Winstead and Bosse was going to finish.
- Overtime Finish: With just 10 to go, Bosse had Kundman and Baxter breathing down his neck. A caution on lap 122 set up a green–white–checker showdown. Bosse nailed the restart, fended off Kundman, and secured his third straight win.
Championship Update
The win vaulted Adam Bosse into the points lead with 182 points, building an 8-point advantage over Alan Kundman. Brad Cress climbed to third after another steady top-five run, while Steven McLendon’s +17 charge pushed him to fourth in the standings.
Meanwhile, Terry Brooks and Caleb Brown slipped outside the top five after tough nights, showing just how quickly fortunes can swing in this competitive field.
Top 5 in Points After Phoenix:
- Adam Bosse – 182 pts
- Alan Kundman – 174 pts (-8)
- Brad Cress – 169 pts (-13)
- Steven McLendon – 159 pts (-23)
- Justin Baxter – 152 pts (-30)
Next Week’s Teaser
The Triple Bypass Racing League ARCA tour rolls on to wine country and away from the ovals to take on the twisties at Sonoma Raceway on October 7th. Bosse will look to extend his win streak to four. But with Kundman, Cress, and a hungry pack of challengers all within striking distance, the championship battle is only heating up. Keep up with all the latest Triple Bypass Racing League news at triplebypassracing.com!
Patrick Stout Steals Glory in 200-Lap Red Light Racing Tour Mod Marathon
📊 Race Stats at a Glance
- 🏆 Winner: Patrick Stout (3 Laps Led)
- 🥈 2nd Place: Luke Logan Allen (5 Laps Led)
- 🥉 3rd Place: Eric Stout (184 Laps Led)
- ⏱️ Fastest Lap: Keven Alicea – 13.658 sec (Lap 119)
- 🚦 Pole Position: Eric Stout – 13.685 sec
- 🔁 Leaders: 6 | Lead Changes: 14
- 🚨 Cautions: 9 (36 Laps)
- ⏱️ Race Time: 1h 9m
- 📏 Race Distance: 200 Laps (Double-Distance Special)
- ✨ Clean Machine (0 Incidents): Eric Stout
- 🚀 Hard Chargers: Patrick Stout (+10, from 11th to 1st); Mike Taschereau (+10, from 19th to 10th)
Qualifying Recap
The step up to Tour Modifieds and double-distance 200 laps at Bristol, the Last Great Coliseum, meant qualifying carried extra weight this week. Eric Stout delivered in style, blistering a 13.685-second lap to claim the pole on the RaceDayCT.com starting grid. He was flanked by Chad Alcares on the front row, with Ethan Troutman and Rob Higgins filling out row two. Behind them, the depth of the field promised a night of fireworks, and Bristol delivered.
Race Breakdown
The green flag barely waved before chaos struck. A pileup on the front stretch collected multiple cars on Lap 3, setting the tone for a caution-filled but dramatic night.
Eric Stout controlled the early going, but on Lap 24 Luke Logan Allen muscled past to briefly take the lead only for Stout to snatch it back five laps later. Through the first 100 laps, Eric was the class of the field, pacing the Tour Mods with authority.
Strategy began to play a role around Lap 53, when Brian Neff spun, triggering pit stops on the ensuing caution. Several drivers, including Allen and Jeff Aho, pitted at odd intervals as the iRacing booth had an unexplained computer glitch, setting up a shuffled restart cycle. That chaos peaked on Lap 100, when Brian Bianchi and Jeff Aho wrecked while leading, handing the point right back to Eric Stout.
Restarts defined the middle stages. Chad Alcares accidentally restarted in the wrong gear at Lap 111, stacking the field and letting Eric escape again. Ethan Troutman’s night unraveled around Lap 96 in a tangle with Allen, while other hopefuls like Fred LeClair and Rob Higgins saw their races end early.
By the final 25 laps, four names rose to the top: Eric Stout, Chad Alcares, Luke Logan Allen, and Patrick Stout. Eric continued to lead, but cautions bunched the pack and gave challengers a shot. With 12 laps to go, Patrick climbed to 2nd, stalking his brother at the front.
The finish was one for the ages. With three laps remaining, the front three went nearly three-wide for the lead. Patrick Stout found the momentum and edged ahead, leading the final three laps to take home the win. Luke Logan Allen claimed 2nd, while Eric Stout settled for a bittersweet 3rd after dominating 184 laps. Eric can take some solace: in addition to controlling most of the race, he was the only driver to complete the distance without any incident points, earning this week’s Clean Machine honors.
Championship Update
- Eric Stout (678 pts) keeps the top spot with a firm 87-point cushion despite heartbreak in the closing laps. As long as he starts each of the final two races, he’s essentially a lock to win the championship.
- Ethan Troutman (591 pts) holds 2nd, though his 15th-place finish stings.
- Jeff Aho (585 pts) lurks just 6 points back in 3rd.
- Chad Alcares (561 pts) jumps to 4th, adding heat to the top tier.
- Patrick Stout (+2 to 16th, 406 pts) rockets upward thanks to his win, reminding everyone that momentum matters late in the season.
Looking Ahead
After the chaos of Bristol’s 200-lap Tour Mod special, the series returns to its familiar SK Modifieds and 100-lap sprints at Stafford. But if this week proved anything, it’s that no lead is safe when cautions, pit cycles, and late-race nerves collide under the lights.
Catch all the action September 25 live on Virtual Grip Network at 7:55 PM Eastern: . Stay up-to-date with all the Red Light Racing news at www.redlightracing.net.
BRL Late Model Invitational S31R11 | New Smyrna Speedway
Season 31 of the BRL Late Model Invitational featured its Championship night for Season 31, Round 11, racing at New Smyrna Speedway. Chris Haizlip and Tom Hilbert led the field to green. A caution came out on Lap 1. Racing resumed on Lap 6 with Haizlip and Hilbert at the front. The #25 moved up to second on Lap 6. Kurt Smith passed Hilbert for third on Lap 7. Smith then overtook Hilbert on Lap 9, and Ruben Altice advanced to third. Smith passed Haizlip on Lap 10 for the lead, with Altice moving into second. Haizlip was stuck on the outside line, dropping back. By Lap 14, the field was single-file.
On Lap 18, Altice tried to find a lane past Smith but lacked enough momentum. Bruce Pearson got alongside Hilbert on Lap 23 but couldn’t make the move to third. Pearson tried again on Lap 24. James Lowe also threatened to go low for a three-wide attempt, but everyone settled back into position. The race continued single file on Lap 28, with Smith and Altice starting to pull away from the pack. On Lap 30, Pearson looked inside Hilbert off turn 2 but still lacked enough momentum. Lowe got inside Pearson on turn 3 of Lap 32, racing side by side for fourth. Lowe completed the pass on Lap 33, then immediately set his sights on Hilbert, getting to the inside on the backstretch of Lap 35. However, Lowe didn’t have enough to complete the move.
The leaders shortened their lead on Lap 37, with Lowe finding room inside Hilbert on turn 4 to take third. Lowe quickly pursued Altice on the backstretch of Lap 39, challenging for second, but Altice defended his position. Lowe attempted to get underneath Altice on Lap 45 but was shut out again. On Lap 48, Lowe successfully got inside Altice, leading to a battle for position that was halted by a caution. Racing resumed on Lap 53 with Smith and Altice at the front. Smith got a great start, allowing Lowe to duel with Altice into turns 1 and 2. Lowe passed Altice for second, and Altice then had to fend off Chris Davis for third. A caution was called on Lap 53.
Racing resumed on Lap 59 with Smith and Lowe at the front. Lowe then overtook Smith in Turn 3 on Lap 61, taking the lead on Lap 62. Smith stayed on the outside and had Altice pass by for second, while Chris Davis moved into third. By Lap 73, Lowe had established an almost one-second lead over Altice. Caution again on Lap 76. Racing resumed on Lap 82 with Lowe and Altice at the front. Lowe’s strong restart allowed Davis to challenge Altice on the inside. Altice used the outside line effectively to pass Davis and maintain his second position.
After the restart, on Lap 82, Lowe continued to extend his lead, with over a second advantage as the white flag flew. James Lowe won Season 31, Round 11, at New Smyrna Speedway. Ruben Altice finished second, and Chris Davis came in third. Kurt Smith ran a solid race and is well-positioned to defend his points and be crowned the Season 31 Late Model Invitational Champion!
Highlights
🏆 James Lowe wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 31 Round 11 race at New Smyrna Speedway.
🚀 Chris Davis was the biggest mover, gaining nine spots, racing from 12th to 3rd!
🏁 Kurt Smith is the Season 31 BRL Late Model Invitational Champion!
YYR Tour Modified Series S2R10 | Langley Speedway
YYR Tour Mod Series Season 2, Round 10, kicked off at Langley Speedway this past Tuesday with Jerry Isaacs and Scott Negus on the front row based on their qualifying efforts. Negus qualified only 0.007 seconds behind Isaacs’ 14.719. Isaac gets a great start, but Negus slips back a bit at the restart. Cars went three wide into turn three, but everyone came out unscathed. Brian Neff moved up to second. By lap 5, the race settled into mostly single-file racing. Tom Ogle, in third, made a move to pass Neff on lap 7 to take second place. At 25 laps, the top three drivers had a two-second lead over the rest of the field. Ogle pressured Isaacs from lap 25, attempting to find an opening, but lost some ground on lap 30. He increased the pressure again on lap 40, trying to peek inside on corner exits of Isaacs, but got a little loose on turn 4 at lap 41 and had to reset. Neff tried to get inside Ogle on lap 59, and they made contact. Ogle saved it but lost several spots. Isaacs had a clear lead of about two seconds by lap 61. Ogle had to pit due to damage.
After the dust settled, the top three were Isaacs, Neff, and Chris Davis. Neff then began his challenge for the lead, appearing to have slightly more speed on corner exits, but Isaacs ran a solid, defensible line. Isaacs got loose and spun out on lap 76, bringing out a caution on lap 77. That moved Brian Neff into the lead, with cars pitting except for Neff. Racing restarted on lap 82, with Neff controlling a late restart, bunching up the field before rocketing off. Chris Davis moved into second, with Eric Essary in third. With fresh tires, Davis made a move past Neff on lap 88. Neff dropped to fifth after getting loose and running too far outside. Essary moved to second, and Negus advanced to third. Essary fought hard for the lead over many laps but couldn’t get around Davis, who held strong. On lap 137, Essary got loose again, allowing Wannamaker to challenge, but Wannamaker got too high and lost momentum. Essary also got loose again, so Wannamaker took the inside and passed Essary for second.
Caution came out on lap 139. Cars pitted again during this caution. Racing resumed on lap 144 with Davis leading. Davis got loose on lap 146, and Wannamaker took the inside. They raced side by side into turn 3, with Wannamaker taking the lead. Isaacs followed for second. Ken Allen took over third, pushing Davis back to fifth. By lap 156, the first three drivers were pulling away from the rest. On lap 160, Isaacs passed Wannamaker for the lead and took it on lap 161. Ken Allen then rolled inside of Wannamaker to take second, with Wannamaker dropping to third. By lap 200, Isaacs led by 1.5 seconds over Allen in second.
A caution came out on lap 200. During the final round of pits under caution, Isaacs took four tires, dropping from first to eighth. Racing resumed on lap 206 with Allen out front. As laps wound down and the top spots grew more aggressive, Essary moved past Negus on lap 224 for second. Davis then passed Negus for third. With 17 laps remaining, Essary moved inside of Allen and made a bold pass for the lead. With five laps to go, Essary had extended his lead to 1.5 seconds. On lap 248, Davis looked inside of Allen and took second. Essary ultimately won the YYR Tour Mod Series Season 2, Round 10, after a bold move 17 laps earlier. Chris Davis finished second, and Ken Allen secured third. Be sure to tune in for more excitement and nostalgia at the YesterYear Tour Mod Series Season 2, Round 11 race at Oxford Plains Speedway on Tuesday, September 23rd, at 8:30pm ET on VGN!
Highlights
🏆 Eric Essary wins the YYR Tour Modified Series Season 2 Round 10 race at Langley Speedway.
🚀 Ken Allen was the biggest mover, gaining eight spots, racing from 11th to 3rd!
🏁The race had six leaders with six lead changes. Jerry Isaacs led 118 laps, Chris Davis led 58 laps, Ken Allen led 32 laps, Eric Essary led 17 laps, Allen Wannamaker led 14 laps, and Brian Neff led 11 laps.
Kundman Captures Five Flags Glory in Triple Bypass ARCA Showdown
📊 Race Stats at a Glance
- 🏆 Winner: Alan Kundman (109 Laps Led)
- 🥈 2nd Place: Brad Cress
- 🥉 3rd Place: Chad Winstead
- ⏱️ Fastest Lap: Alan Kundman – 16.588 sec (Lap 86)
- 🚦 Pole Position: Adam Bosse
- 🔁 Leaders: 2 | Lead Changes: 2 (Bosse 41 laps, Kundman 109 laps)
- 🚨 Cautions: 5 (20 Laps)
- ⏱️ Race Time: 51 minutes (150 laps)
- ✨ Clean Machines (0 Incidents): Alan Kundman, Brad Cress, Chad Winstead
- 🚀 Hard Charger: Steven McLendon (+15, from 19th to 4th)
Qualifying Recap
The night began with Adam Bosse staking his claim on the pole position. Alongside him, Alan Kundman started second, setting the stage for what would become the race’s defining duel. Behind them, Brad Cress, Mark Hertzog, and Caleb Brown rounded out the top five. With Five Flags’ tight corners and abrasive surface, track position was as valuable as gold.
Race Breakdown
When the green flag waved, Bosse and Kundman battled for the lead early, with Kundman just barely leading the first six laps on the outside of Bosse. Kundman worked his way fully in front of Bosse and settled into the preferred low line on lap 6.
Kundman controlled the pace until the caution on lap 73 shook things up. The lead lap cars all pitted to take fresh rubber and Mark Hertzog took over the point beating everyone out of the pits with a two tire stop. Hertzog’s gamble on two tires paid off for 41 laps, but fresh rubber eventually proved unbeatable as Kundman powered back to the lead on lap 118. Hertzog finished the event in seventh.
Behind Kundman, Brad Cress kept steady pressure all night, locking himself into second place and proving consistency pays just as much as raw speed.
The fight for the final podium spot was fierce. Chad Winstead, starting 7th, steadily worked his way forward, avoiding trouble and capitalizing on restarts to bring home 3rd. Meanwhile, Steven McLendon stole the show with a spectacular run from 19th to 4th, earning Hard Charger honors. Al Corey rounded out the top five with a quietly strong drive.
Pole-sitter Adam Bosse had the speed but not the luck, slipping back to 6th by the checkered.
The event was slowed by a total of five cautions totaling 20 laps behind the pace car. Only three drivers earned Clean Machine nods by completing the race without any incident points: Alan Kundman, Brad Cress, and Chad Winstead.
Championship Update
With his dominant win, Alan Kundman rockets to the top of the standings, now leading the championship with 91 points. Tyler Merritt slips to second, while Brad Cress holds 3rd, just one point back of Merritt. Chad Winstead and Steven McLendon complete the top five, both showing consistency that could make them long-term threats.
Further back, Adam Bosse drops to 6th but remains well within striking distance, while Mark Hertzog and Caleb Brown climb into the top ten. Justin Baxter and Dylan Freeman sit tied for 10th, proving every point matters this early in the season. Three races in, it’s clear that consistency, not just outright speed, will define this season’s title fight.
Red Light Racing: Buckley Breaks Through for First Win of the Season at Langley
📊 Race Stats at a Glance
🏆 Winner: Joshua Buckley (31 Laps Led)
🥈 2nd Place: Rob Higgins
🥉 3rd Place: Chad Alcares
⏱️ Fastest Lap: Fred LeClair – 14.745 sec (Lap 97)
🚦 Pole Position: Chad Alcares – 14.936 sec
🔁 Leaders: 3 | Lead Changes: 2 LeClair 69 laps led, Buckley 31 laps led, E. Stout 14 laps led
🚨 Cautions: 11 (44 Laps)
⏱️ Race Time: 44 minutes (114 laps)
✨ Clean Machines (0 Incidents): Joshua Buckley, Eric Stout
🚀 Hard Charger: Joshua Buckley (Started 10th, Finished 1st, +9 spots)
Qualifying Recap
Chad Alcares grabbed the pole on the RaceDayCT.com starting grid with a 14.936 qualifying lap, edging Eric Stout by just 0.025 seconds. The front two rows (Jeff Aho, Fred LeClair, Kenny Allen, and Rob Higgins) were all within a tenth of Alcares’ pace. Less than half a second covered the 16 drivers who attempted qualifying, setting up a tense night.
Race Breakdown
From the drop of the green, it became a test of patience with 11 cautions slowing the pace. Alcares and Stout held early control before Fred LeClair took over the point on lap 15 and went on to lead a race-high 69 laps.
Just past halfway, Joshua Buckley methodically worked from 10th to the front. He nosed ahead when a caution flew with 16 to go, then showed poise through the series-maximum three green–white–checkered attempts to secure his first victory of the season. The win also earned him Hard Charger honors (+9 spots) and a Clean Machine nod, joined only by Eric Stout with 0 incident points on the night.
Rob Higgins delivered one of his best drives of the year to finish second, while Alcares converted pole into a solid third. Stout led 14 laps and finished 4th, banking valuable championship points. Kenny Allen rounded out the top five, keeping his season-long consistency intact despite getting swept up in a few skirmishes.
The night wasn’t as kind to others: Jeff Aho slipped from 3rd on the grid to 9th, and Bill Benedict fell seven spots to 14th.
Championship Update
Eric Stout remains in command with 634 points, holding a 72-point cushion over Ethan Troutman. Aho stays third at 546, while Benedict remains fourth 25 points back of Aho. Chad Alcares climbs to fifth, just one point behind Benedict.
The big mover is Joshua Buckley, whose win vaulted him to 8th overall.
Looking Ahead
Next week the league dusts off the big-boy Tour Mods for the high banks of Bristol. While it would take a miracle for anyone to unseat Eric Stout at this point, “The Last Coliseum” always delivers a show.
Catch it September 18 live on Virtual Grip Network at 7:55 PM ET.
BRL Late Model Invitational S31R09 | Kern Raceway
Season 31 Round 09 launched with a green flag at Kern Raceway, with John Wilson and Ryan Senneker leading the field at the start. Senneker goes high and yields track position, allowing Mark Hertzog to take the lead. Bruce Pearson battles Wilson for second and secures the position. This enables Kurt Smith to also challenge Wilson, moving into third. Pearson pressures Hertzog to challenge for the lead on Lap 10, while James Lowe passes Smith for third. Pearson tries to get under Hertzog but loses momentum, allowing Lowe to overtake Pearson for second. Lowe gets inside Hertzog on Lap 14; they race down the backstretch and into the corners, but Lowe crosses the line ahead to take the lead, with a caution on Lap 15. Hertzog was in front at that moment of caution to reclaim the lead.
Racing resumes on Lap 20 with Hertzog and Lowe at the front. Hertzog clears for the lead on the restart, with Lowe settling behind on the inside, then immediately crossing back under Hertzog to vie for the lead. Lowe has a half-car length advantage in turn four when a caution occurs on Lap 22. Racing resumes on Lap 27 with Lowe and Hertzog leading. Lowe gets a strong restart and pulls ahead, while Brennan Myers makes a move to block Hertzog for second, but Hertzog gets a good run and holds second. Caution on Lap 32.
Racing resumes on Lap 35, with Lowe and Hertzog at the front. Lowe starts strong, and Hertzog falls back slightly. Myers tries to pass Hertzog on the inside for second, but Hertzog maintains good momentum and reclaims second. Caution on Lap 38. Racing resumes on Lap 42 with Lowe and Hertzog still at the front. Lowe gets another good restart, and Hertzog battles Myers for second. They race side by side, with Myers gaining a slight lead and making contact, which forces Hertzog into the marbles, bringing out a caution on Lap 46.
Racing resumes on Lap 49 with Lowe and Myers at the front. Lowe gets a great start, allowing Ken Allen to challenge Myers. Allen dives deep into the corner and makes contact with Myers, taking second. Myers fights back on Lap 53 to reclaim second from Allen. Meanwhile, Todd Liston moves in to battle Allen for third and takes the position. On Lap 55, Lowe holds a second lead over Myers. Lapped traffic causes a three-wide situation involving Myers and Liston, and Liston capitalizes by moving to second. Allen then challenges Myers for third; Allen makes the pass but drifts too high, allowing Myers to retake the position.
With 10 laps remaining, Lowe has a commanding three-second lead over second-place Liston. A caution occurs on Lap 91 due to a hardware issue for Liston, moving Myers to second and John Wilson to third. Racing resumes on Lap 96 with Lowe and Myers at the front. They restart strongly and begin to separate from the pack. Wilson is under pressure from Allen and Smith for third. James Lowe crosses the finish line as the winner of Season 31 Round 09, with Brennan Myers in second and John Wilson third. BRL will be off for Labor Day Weekend, so everyone have a safe and fun weekend!
Highlights
🏆 James Lowe wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 31 Round 09 race at Kern Raceway.
🚀 James Lowe and Matt Hoose were the biggest movers, gaining 10 spots each!
🏁 The race featured two leaders with three lead changes. James Lowe led 81 laps followed by Mark Hertzog with 19 laps.
Virtual Grip Network 