Davis Triumphs in Thrilling Five Flags Showdown as Points Leader Lowe Fades Late

Pensacola, FL — The Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series rolled into Five Flags Speedway on Saturday, December 13, 2025, for the penultimate round of Season 32. While the championship picture was largely settled in favor of points leader James Lowe, the 100-lap feature delivered a night of sharp elbows, strategic gambles, and a dramatic late-race reversal that saw Chris Davis charge to his second win of the season.

The event unfolded under freshly updated iRacing track conditions, with increased rubber buildup and aggressive tire degradation reshaping the racing surface lap by lap. Those changes placed tire management squarely at the center of the story and punished anyone who leaned too hard on their equipment too early.

An inverted grid for the top baker’s dozen put Tom Hilbert on the pole alongside Chris Haizlip, but the early spotlight quickly shifted to Kyle Feimster, the rookie who started third and wasted no time making noise. Feimster powered to the lead and looked every bit like a seasoned veteran, pacing the field for the opening 22 laps and establishing himself as a legitimate contender.

James Lowe, rolling off 10th, began his familiar march forward, but trouble struck around the 20-lap mark. Going three-wide with Brennan Myers, Lowe made contact and spun the No. 99, bringing out the race’s first caution. Though he avoided terminal damage and rejoined the fight, the incident left Lowe with a wounded nose and a long night ahead. Still, the reigning champion clawed his way back toward the front, refusing to fade quietly.

As Feimster and Myers traded blows up front, the most compelling story developed deeper in the pack. Chris Davis, the hard-charging driver of the No. 7 and aptly nicknamed “Mr. Aggressive,” began carving through the field. Starting well back, Davis leaned on the higher groove, newly viable thanks to the updated track model, and advanced relentlessly. By the three-quarter mark, he had gained 14 positions and laid down the fastest lap of the race, a blistering 17.283 seconds, signaling his intent loud and clear.

At halfway, the race crystallized into a tense three-car fight between Myers, Lowe, and Davis. Myers, in the No. 11, was in command through the middle stages and ultimately led 65 laps, but the creeping effects of tire wear were impossible to ignore as the laps ticked away.

The turning point came when Davis muscled past Lowe for second, exposing just how far Lowe’s tires had fallen off. What had looked like another late-race charge instead unraveled into a stunning fade. Lowe slipped backward rapidly in the closing laps, eventually finishing 14th.

With Lowe out of the equation, the battle for the win became a duel between Myers and Davis. Davis applied relentless pressure, driving the car, as the broadcast commentator colorfully put it, “tighter than a scuba suit on a fat man.” Myers, who had been strongest on the middle-to-high line in Turns 3 and 4, struggled to fend off the charge as his tires surrendered their grip.

With 11 laps remaining, Davis finally forced the issue, nosing ahead of Myers to seize the lead. From there, he stretched the gap to two car lengths with six to go and never looked back, crossing the line to secure a hard-fought and well-earned victory.

Davis’ march from deep in the field to victory lane capped one of the standout performances of the season. Myers settled for second, later admitting his tires “completely fell off really hard the last like eight laps or so,” leaving him defenseless at the end. Feimster rounded out the podium in third, an impressive result after leading early, though he acknowledged that his tire-saving approach didn’t translate to late speed under the new build.

Just off the podium, Ryan Senneker delivered one of the drives of the night. Starting in 18th, the VGN broadcast team member stormed forward 14 positions to finish fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium finish. Tre Blohm also impressed with a late charge, starting from pit road and climbing to sixth. Meanwhile, the Hilbert brothers endured a rough finish, with Tom and Steve Hilbert fading to 19th and 18th after running near the front early.

In victory lane, Davis emphasized that patience was the key ingredient, noting he had to show “a lot of restraint” to make the move stick. He also praised the new track model, saying the added realism and rubber buildup had him “loving what iRacing is doing here,” a sentiment echoed by a field that learned, the hard way, just how unforgiving Five Flags can be when tires run out of mercy.

Lowe Dominates New Smyrna, Secures Fifth Win En Route to Second BRL Championship

New Smyrna Beach, FL — James Lowe, the reigning Season 30 champion, reinforced his status as the driver to beat in the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series, claiming victory in Round 9 at New Smyrna Speedway. Lowe, who led a commanding 65 laps after starting eighth, picked up his fifth win of Season 32, further positioning himself to become only the fourth multi-time BRL late model champion.

The 18-car field utilized the BRL tradition of inverting the top 13 from the previous race to set the grid. This inversion placed Mike Holloway on pole, flanked by “The Caveman”, Tre Blohm. However, the favored inside line proved decisive immediately. Mark Hertzog, starting third, quickly snatched the lead on the first lap, pulling away from the front-row starters. Todd Liston, starting fifth, also capitalized on the preferred inside groove to move into second. Early race analysis noted that the cars were tight entering the corner but loose coming off, forcing drivers to carefully manage throttle on exit to avoid spinning.

Liston spent the early laps relentlessly pressuring Hertzog for the lead, using a late turn-in and early throttle style to try stretching the straightaways. This aggressive approach caused Liston’s car to get loose often, putting strain on the right rear tire.

Tre Blohm eventually displaced Liston for second. While Blohm drove hard on the bottom, Hertzog played the long game, rolling the outside and maintaining momentum.

The race saw its first interruption around Lap 20 when Bruce Pearson and Kurt Smith made contact down the back straight. Under caution, Blohm admitted that his early efforts to run down Hertzog may have already taxed his tires and hinted at the need to settle into the inside line on the restart.

On the restart, points leader James Lowe quickly climbed to second, clearing Liston. Lowe then zeroed in on Hertzog, working the leader’s bumper with relentless precision. Using the same late turn-in, early throttle technique he’d observed earlier, Lowe methodically built runs underneath Hertzog through the corners.

Lowe completed the decisive pass around Lap 35. Once in clean air, he showed superior pace, stretching his lead to nearly 20 car lengths. Observers noted Lowe was driving intelligently, saving tires in case cautions later erased his margin.

The middle stages featured several cautions, including incidents involving John Wilson and Kyle Feimster, and later Allen Wannamaker and Tom Hilbert. These resets allowed tire-conscious competitors like Brennan Myers and Matt Hoose to regroup. Hertzog admitted he had been saving tires early because New Smyrna “tended to eat up the late model tires,” though his conservative approach soon made him the “cork in the bottle” as Liston searched desperately for a way by.

A tense podium fight brewed late. Tre Blohm and Rubin Altice waged a prolonged side-by-side battle, with Altice determined to hold the top line even as traction faded. Meanwhile, Darryl Wineinger delivered one of the night’s standout climbs, surging from P15 into the top five.

On the final restart, Hertzog made an assertive move to hold onto second, dropping from the outside lane to defend against Altice and Liston. But out front, Lowe remained untouchable over the last six laps, cruising to his fifth victory of the season. Hertzog took second after leading 34 laps early, while Altice secured third after finally prying the spot away from Liston, whose tires were spent. Liston finished fourth, with Blohm completing the top five. Wineinger settled for sixth, followed by Myers and Holloway.

Lowe later credited the winning pass to being stronger off Turn 2 than Turn 4 and emphasized the urgency of completing passes quickly to avoid overheating his tires. Hertzog concluded that to beat Lowe, the field would likely need the No. 99 to slip because “he’s the guy to beat right now.”

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.

Honeycutt Controls Nashville, Kundman Retakes Championship Lead in ARCA Series Thriller

Nashville, TN – James Honeycutt was the class of the field Tuesday night at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, leading a dominant 108 laps to win Round 13 of the TBP ARCA Series Season 9. Starting from the pole, Honeycutt used a late-race tire strategy to hold off Alan Kundman, who finished second and — most importantly — reclaimed the championship points lead. The 150-lap event served as the penultimate race of the season, run under traditional league rules that allow two sets of tires and one fast repair. While the format can create chaos, the field raced with surprising discipline.

The championship storyline overshadowed everything else, with Kundman entering the race just four points ahead of Adam Bosse. Bonus points for pole, leading a lap, and leading the most laps made every moment critical. Honeycutt started P1, Kundman P2, and Bosse buried back in P12, putting pressure on Bosse to charge forward early.

At the green, cold track temperatures helped Kundman surge around the outside to lead Lap 1 — earning a vital bonus point — before Honeycutt quickly reclaimed the top spot. Honeycutt settled into a strong rhythm, describing his preferred style as “arcing it and then flooring it on exit,” which fit Nashville perfectly. Bosse, meanwhile, climbed methodically through the field, reaching fifth by Lap 32. That long opening run ended when Marc Jarrell looped his car, bringing out the first caution.

As the race wore on, pit strategy grew more important. Caleb Brown was among those who pitted near halfway, noting that tire wear wasn’t terrible and his stop was primarily for fuel, though he did take fresh rubber. Honeycutt had led 64 laps when Kundman slipped past around Lap 65. With Honeycutt fading slightly, commentators wondered if he had burned up his equipment dominating the early run.

Then the championship picture exploded. Around Lap 96, Curtis Mitchell got loose and slammed the inside wall, triggering a multi-car incident. Bosse initially threaded the chaos perfectly, restarting second behind Matt Harmon. But moments later, Bosse made hard contact with Harmon taking the lead briefly, then hit the outside wall hard getting significant damage to his right front before disconnecting from the session. The DNF was disastrous — with his lowest drop race being just 26 points, Bosse was locked into a brutal score. Kundman, meanwhile, escaped the carnage and stood poised to regain the points lead.

Honeycutt inherited the lead after Bosse’s exit and soon faced pressure from Chad Winstead and Kundman. A late caution on Lap 117 set up a tense closing run. Honeycutt revealed afterward that he had taken only two tires on his final stop, a move that made the car “turn into the corner so much better.” Winstead struggled to fire off on the last restart, giving Kundman a clear shot at Honeycutt. Winstead later noted that Kundman had four tires while he had just two, making the No. 3 significantly faster.

Kundman closed a 12-car-length gap to just four in the final 10 laps, even slapping the wall as he pushed to catch the leader. But Honeycutt drove flawlessly, holding on to take the win by a slim margin. Kundman, who finished second, said he wished he’d been more aggressive earlier and had hoped for a long green run to take advantage of his tire-saving style. Winstead completed the podium in third.

The race dramatically reshaped the championship outlook: Kundman now leads heading into the season finale at Rockingham. In a race filled with strategy swings, late-race chaos, and title implications, the lesson was clear: speed matters, but survival matters more. Bosse’s championship hopes were shaken not by pace, but by the unpredictable chaos — proof that sometimes, the championship is decided simply by staying out of the wrecks.

Allen Rises from the Back: Thanksgiving Thunder Delivers a Stunning Strategy Upset at Phoenix

Avondale, AZ — The 2025 Thanksgiving Thunder at Phoenix Raceway brought together the best of Red Light Racing’s Monday and Thursday divisions, but few expected the season’s most dramatic twist to come from deep in the field. Ken Allen, who didn’t even take part in qualifying and rolled off from the tail end of the 30-car grid, executed one of the most daring off-sequence strategies in recent memory to charge all the way to the win in the 125-lap shootout. On a night defined by a punishing green-flag stretch, chaotic late-race cautions, and clashing agendas between two series sharing one racetrack, Allen’s climb of 30 positions became the story of the event.

Qualifying set the tone early, rewarding consistency over outright aggression. Zach Mitchell captured the pole with a 27.268 lap time, while Eric Stout lined up alongside him on the front row. When the green flag dropped, the mixed-series field displayed crisp execution, fanning out across the dogleg and making use of Phoenix’s sweeping apron. Mitchell quickly established control, pacing the field through the early laps. But the opening drama struck around Lap 14, when Stout and Sean Single tangled entering Turn 3. Stout pounded the outside wall and limped to an early exit, while Single soldiered on with what appeared to be a badly bent front end that cost him more than a second per lap.

As the long green-flag run continued, the race evolved into a war of attrition, with tire wear and clean air dictating every decision. Mitchell set the pace through the first third of the race before Andrew Lewis muscled his way to the lead around Lap 42. Maxime Theriault then added his name to the rotation by taking the front shortly after Lap 60. While the leaders traded positions up front, the middle of the pack became a swirl of divergent strategies as drivers wrestled with the razor-thin balance between running hard and saving enough tire for the eventual pit cycle. The unique “Honor Your Father-in-Law Lap” at Lap 63 briefly shuffled the focus when Chris Hammet earned a $10 bonus for holding the sixth position, a running joke in the booth as he enjoyed what was called the “most comfortable seat in the house” thanks to a generous buffer around him.

It was during this long, grueling stretch that Allen made the race-winning call. After missing qualifying entirely at the start, he ducked onto pit road around Lap 64—well before anyone else—and gave up two laps in the process. It was a gamble that only works when the yellow flag appears at exactly the right time, and with more than 60 laps of uninterrupted racing underway, it felt like a desperate swing. Yet as the leaders delayed their stops and the laps wound down, the race tightened just enough to bring Allen’s strategy back into view. Mitchell executed the cleanest pit stop among the contenders and briefly retook the advantage over Lewis and Theriault, with the three running nose-to-tail in a tense half-second cluster.

After more than a hundred straight laps of uninterrupted green racing, the first caution finally arrived with roughly 15 laps remaining when Louis Flowers and Allen Wannamaker made contact. The caution upended everything. Mitchell, Theriault, and Trent Potter were swept up in the scramble that followed, leaving their once-dominant machines battered and suddenly vulnerable. The new order elevated four drivers who had stayed out on older tires—Bill Benedict, Fred LeClair, Brian Neff, and Allen—catapulting Allen from 27th to fourth in one stroke. The next restart immediately triggered more chaos when Neff suffered catastrophic suspension damage in a multi-car stack-up, forcing another yellow.

With the field shuffled and tensions high, the race marched toward its inevitable Green-White-Checker phase, with up to three attempts available under Red Light Racing rules. On the restart with five laps remaining, Benedict led the field to green, but Allen—suddenly in prime position—pounced instantly. He swept past Benedict with four laps to go, just moments before another caution flew when Benedict and Allen briefly came together, sending LeClair spinning and setting up a two-lap shootout.

In the final dash, Allen planted his car firmly on the preferred inside line and never gave Benedict a chance to reclaim the lead. The battle behind him erupted into a frantic three-wide fight for second as drivers fanned out across the dogleg trying to get one final run. Allen, calm and composed, powered out of the final corner and crossed the line ahead of Benedict to complete one of the single greatest positional gains in the league’s history. Jeff Aho slipped through the late-race chaos to grab the final podium spot after climbing ten positions of his own.

For Allen—whose race nearly unraveled before it even began—the victory was a perfect marriage of bold strategy, tire discipline, and the well-timed caution he desperately needed. It was the type of win that turns an off-sequence gamble into legend, proving once again that even on a mile-long stage surrounded by speed, sometimes the sharpest tool a driver can bring is patience and a perfectly timed roll of the dice.

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.

Schoen Holds Off Lowe in Southern National Thriller, Scores First Win of the Season

Lucama, NC — Adam Schoen delivered the performance of his season Saturday night, fending off a furious late-race charge from points leader and defending champion James Lowe to win Round 7 of the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series. The 100-lap showdown at Southern National Motorsports Park produced one of the most dramatic finishes of Season 32, capped by a tense Green-White-Checker sprint that tested every ounce of Schoen’s defensive instincts.

The night began with big implications for the championship picture. Lowe entered the event with a strong points lead after winning the first four races and never finishing outside the top three all season. Chris Davis, sitting second in the standings, was forced to start 17th after missing the previous round, putting him on the back foot immediately. Meanwhile, Rubin Altice, fresh off a victory at Lanier, had climbed to third in points and looked poised to continue his momentum.

A baker’s dozen inversion from last week’s results placed former police chief Steve Hilbert on the pole with Schoen to his outside, while Lowe—despite posting the fastest practice lap—had to roll off from 10th. The shuffled field set the stage for an unpredictable opening stint. On Lap 1, Schoen slipped to third as Todd Liston surged forward, first snatching Schoen’s spot and then diving under Hilbert to take the early lead.

Liston controlled the early race, but trouble found him midway through the event. Running strong at the front, he plowed through a cloud of smoke caused by contact between Mark Hertzog and Ryan Senneker, collecting right-side damage that derailed his night. His wounded #87 quickly faded, allowing Schoen to pounce and take over the lead with authority. From that point forward, Schoen commanded the field, pacing the final 53 laps.

While Schoen controlled the clean air, Lowe was busy clawing through the pack behind him. He found himself repeatedly battling Rubin Altice and Kurt Smith, who both fought hard to keep their preferred low line. Passing proved difficult all night; drivers had to force opponents up the banking if they wanted any hope of getting by. Lowe made steady forward progress but even he wasn’t immune to mistakes, misjudging a gap at one point in what commentators labeled a rare error for the normally ice-cold #99.

The final laps devolved into chaos when Darryl Wineinger, enjoying a career-best run in fourth place, spun after contact with rookie Kyle Feimster, triggering the lone mandatory Green-White-Checker attempt. The restart set up a dramatic showdown—Schoen on the point, Lowe tucked tightly into second, both drivers hungry for the win.

When the green dropped, Lowe dove low looking for the opening, but Schoen slammed the door shut with precision, hugging the inside line with laser focus. He gave Lowe no daylight whatsoever, running what broadcasters called a “bikini-wax smooth” defensive line that prevented any opportunity for the champion to slip underneath. The two made slight contact as they wrestled through the final corner, but Schoen held strong and crossed the finish line first, sealing his breakthrough victory. Lowe settled for second, though he padded his championship lead in the process.

Behind them, the late-race chaos benefitted “Double Deuce” Bruce Pearson. Pearson avoided multiple spinning cars and opportunistically vaulted himself into third place, calling the finish a mix of luck and timing after nearly having to park the car to avoid the mess ahead. The Hilbert brothers—Tom in fourth and Steve in fifth—closed out one of their best combined outings in the season. Chris Davis recovered to finish 10th, a respectable salvage given his deep starting spot.

After the race, Schoen described the pressure-packed final moments with a laugh: “I think I had one eye straight and one eye in my rearview mirror. I just went low to cut him off. I had to do everything I could to keep him behind me—he’s fast.” Lowe echoed the sentiment, complimenting Schoen’s execution: “He had an awfully nice guy behind him. I gained points, so that’s always good. We’ll move on.”

The series now shifts to South Boston Speedway for Round 8, where the inversion will place John Wilson, the “Canadian Goose,” on the pole. With just a handful of races remaining and tension rising in the playoff chase, the stage is set for another dramatic chapter in Season 32 of the BRL Late Model Invitational Series.

Ogle Dominates Hickory, Caps Championship Season with Fifth Win in Zach Brewer Classic

Newton, NC – Tom Ogle, the newly crowned Yesteryear Tour Modified Series champion, ended his season in dominant fashion Saturday night, claiming victory in the Zach Brewer Classic at Hickory Motor Speedway. The 250-lap finale marked Ogle’s fifth win of the year, capping off a commanding season as he prepares to be awarded the coveted Old Red Boot championship trophy.

The race carried special meaning as it honored North Carolina Modified standout Zach Brewer, who passed away in 2024. In a touching tribute, Allen Wannamaker piloted Brewer’s familiar No. 79 Hillbilly Racing machine, giving the field extra motivation to put on a strong show in his memory.

The drivers faced a rough, character-filled Hickory surface—a bumpy, under 3/8-mile oval that has long tested the skill and patience of racers. The high-powered Modifieds danced across the worn asphalt, with even minor missteps threatening to upset the cars. From the drop of the green, it was clear that the track’s abrasive surface would be a major factor throughout the night.

Polesitter Scott Negus led the field to green with Ogle alongside and James Lowe starting third. But before a rhythm could form, an early caution on Lap 4 saw Brian Bianchi get loose in a three-wide battle and spin, serving as an early reminder that staying out of trouble would be key.

When racing resumed, Ogle quickly took control and established a steady lead, showing why he’s been the man to beat all season. As the laps wore on, the race became a battle of tire management and pit strategy. Around Lap 50, the first major caution brought nearly the entire lead pack to pit road for right-side tires and fuel. Negus clocked a lightning-fast 11.4-second stop to briefly retake the advantage, though some wondered if he had taken on enough fuel for the long haul. Lowe, meanwhile, lost a couple of spots on pit road in a costly but common example of how razor-thin margins can define the outcome at Hickory.

Through the middle stages, Ogle methodically worked his way back to the front, his car thriving on longer runs. Some drivers gambled by staying out on old tires, including Lowe and Bruce Pearson, but the strategy didn’t pay off. They fell back quickly, opening the door for Ogle and Bianchi to reclaim control of the race.

The complexion of the event changed dramatically on Lap 87 when Rex Hoyle and Torrance Childs made contact, spinning Childs directly in front of Ogle. The champion clipped the spinning car but managed to keep his composure, sustaining only light damage that was repaired on pit road. That pit cycle proved pivotal—Ogle won the race off pit road, while Bianchi jumped from ninth to second, setting up the duel that would define the remainder of the night.

Over the final 100 laps, Bianchi kept the pressure on Ogle, but the Ohio driver remained unshaken. The top two traded lap times within tenths of a second while Jerry Isaacs lurked just behind in third, unable to find a way past Bianchi despite having what appeared to be a quicker car in clean air. “It was so hard to pass,” Isaacs said afterward. “You could try to dive in, but you’d just get loose on entry or exit. I wasn’t going to end the season by wrecking someone.”

Bianchi admitted that the track’s ever-loosening condition made life difficult, saying he brushed the outside wall “about 50 times” trying to hang with Ogle. “It just kept getting freer every lap,” he said. “We only took rights, and by the end, it was all about survival.”

Despite the pressure from behind, Ogle kept his composure, managing the gap to perfection. He took the white flag with a comfortable margin and crossed the line to secure his fifth win of the year—his most impressive yet—bringing home both the race victory and the championship hardware. Behind Ogle, Bianchi earned a hard-fought runner-up finish, followed by Isaacs, Lowe, and Negus rounding out the top five.

Allen Wannamaker’s emotional run in Brewer’s No. 79 ended early after contact, but his tribute resonated deeply with the field and fans alike. Ogle, meanwhile, reflected on his remarkable season with gratitude. “Getting track position early made all the difference,” he said. “Once I was out front, I could pace myself and take care of the tires. Huge thanks to my teammates and to Allen and Torrance for putting on this awesome series.”

As the checkered flag waved over Hickory, the message was clear—Tom Ogle’s season was one for the ages. Five wins, a championship, and a dominant finale at one of short-track racing’s toughest bullrings cemented his place as the driver to beat in the Yesteryear Racing.

Altice Holds Off Lowe to Win Chaos-Filled BRL Late Model “Equator” Race at Lanier

Braselton, Georgia — The Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series hit its season midpoint with a wild and unpredictable showdown at Lanier National Speedway, where chaos, cautions, and tire wear ruled the night. When the dust settled, the ever-calm Rubin Altice delivered a masterclass in composure, leading every lap from the pole and fending off a late charge from points leader James Lowe to capture his first victory of Season 32.

The race marked the “equator” of the eleven-race season — round six, the dividing line between the front and back halves of the championship. Lowe entered the event as the clear favorite after winning four of the first five rounds, holding a narrow lead over Chris Davis in the standings. That lead only widened when Davis failed to make the grid, leaving Lowe free to strengthen his title position with another strong finish.

The field was set by the league’s traditional inversion of the top 13 finishers from the previous race — a format designed to mix things up and force the fast drivers to earn their way forward. The shuffle placed Altice on pole, while Lowe rolled off ninth. Adam Schoen started alongside Lowe, and Todd Liston lined up mid-pack, all with eyes on moving forward in the 100-lap feature. With no tire changes allowed, drivers knew their success would depend on managing grip over a long green-flag run.

When the green flag dropped, Altice immediately took command from the inside lane and never looked back. Behind him, the opening laps were anything but smooth. Allen Wannamaker nearly looped his car off Turn 2 on cold tires, gathering it up just in time to avoid a bigger incident but falling to the rear. Lowe, meanwhile, began carving his way through traffic with surgical patience, jumping from ninth to fifth in the early going without using up his tires.

The action intensified mid-race as Liston, Brennan Myers, and Bruce Pearson traded paint in a hard-fought battle for top-five positions. Lowe took advantage of the chaos to slip by when gaps opened, while Kurt Smith quietly picked his way forward from deep in the field, saving his tires for a late charge. Darryl Wineinger also made steady progress, running just outside the top five and keeping his car clean through the rough middle stages.

The first caution of the night flew after contact between Schoen and Myers triggered a chain reaction that collected John Wilson. Myers sustained right-front damage but managed to stay on the lead lap. The restart that followed reshuffled the order and ignited another round of drama. Altice held firm out front, while Wilson and Wineinger tangled in a hard-fought battle behind them that sent Wilson spinning, bringing out the second yellow.

That set the stage for a tense closing run. Lowe cleared traffic after the restart and began tracking down Altice, cutting into the lead with each lap as the field settled into a sprint to the finish. With ten laps to go, Lowe was glued to Altice’s rear bumper, searching for any opening. Altice, however, never wavered. Running a near-perfect line along the inside curb, he defended every corner with veteran precision.

Lowe tried the high side off Turn 2 in the final laps, but Lanier’s tight confines left him no room to complete the move. Altice held his ground, holding off Lowe by less than half a car length at the checkered flag to score his first win of the season. He later admitted the closing laps “felt like forever,” adding that he wasn’t sure he could’ve held Lowe off for another five.

Kurt Smith completed the podium after a patient and consistent drive from 13th, avoiding trouble and making his move late to secure third. John Wilson rebounded to finish fourth after his earlier spin, and Wineinger rounded out the top five with another solid run.

The win was a statement for Rubin Altice, who proved that calm execution can still trump chaos in the Bootleg Racing League. For James Lowe, the runner-up finish extended his championship advantage as the Late Model Invitational Series crossed its midpoint and headed into the backstretch run.

Isaacs Dominates Late at Atlanta as Ogle Locks Up Championship

Atlanta, GA— The OBRL Yester Year Tour Modified Series delivered one of its most grueling strategic tests of the season at Atlanta, and Jerry Isaacs rose to the occasion. After a relentless, full-distance 100-lap green flag battle, Isaacs executed a perfectly clean pit stop cycle and commanded the bottom lane over the closing laps to score his first win of the season — while Tom Ogle backed up his championship campaign with a deliberate, championship-minded second place finish that effectively sealed his path to the coveted “old red boot”.

The night began with major stakes. Double points were in play and Ogle entered the event with a 30-point cushion over primary rival Brian Johnson. Johnson came out swinging, taking the pole and controlling the entire first half of the race. Track conditions made tire conservation borderline desperate — this historic Atlanta layout chews up front tires and punishes excess wheel input — forcing most of the field to lock into long-run survival mode on a night where no cautions slowed the tempo.

When the green flag pit cycle began around halfway, everything flipped. The lead group attempted to hit pit road together, but several drivers — including Johnson, who had led every lap up to that moment — were penalized for pit road violations. Johnson’s black flag buried him multiple laps down, and with it went any realistic shot at the championship. Isaacs, Ogle, and Todd Liston executed flawless stops, merging cleanly into the lead draft with clear track ahead.

The race then tightened into one final chess match: Isaacs and Ogle worked the inside groove with discipline, while Liston and Scott Negus repeatedly tried to build momentum topside. Negus made multiple attempts to slingshot the high lane into contention, even leading brief attacks late, but the bottom lane simply carried too much speed down the straights. Ogle refused to move off the preferred line, knowing P2 under these conditions would lock down his season. He committed himself to ensuring Isaacs stayed in front, staying tucked behind him and never giving Negus the side draft runway needed to make a sustained charge.

Isaacs never cracked under pressure. Running flawlessly along the white line and never offering the outside lane an opening, he held the bottom all the way to the checkers to grab a statement win in one of the most mentally demanding races of the season. Ogle crossed right behind him in second — and with Johnson finishing two laps down in P13 — Ogle now heads to Hickory as a mere formality before taking home the championship title and legendary “Old Red Boot” trophy.