PGRL S6 W24 Recap
19 March 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 24
Premier Series | Richmond Raceway
On Tuesday, March 19th, the Pretty Good Racing League concluded its pre-chase season with two exhilarating 80-lap races at Richmond Raceway, aptly named the “No Time For Cautions at Richmond Raceway” presented by Wrong Time Watch. The unique twist of the races staying under green regardless of on-track incidents added an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
Race 1 saw Matt Press securing pole position, with Michael Chrobok alongside him on the front row as the green flag waved. Press and Chrobok quickly established themselves at the front of the pack, building a considerable lead over the pursuing field. Meanwhile, Jeff Ward engaged in a fierce battle with Woody Mahan for the third position, while Scott Eckrich made impressive progress through the field from a deep starting position.
As the laps unfolded, Chrobok intensified his pursuit of Press, ultimately executing a daring move to seize the lead. However, Ward and Eckrich were hot on their heels, closing in rapidly. The pit cycle commenced just before the halfway mark, with Chrobok and Ward engaged in a strategic battle for track position. Despite a valiant effort from Ward, Chrobok managed to retain his lead, but with Ward relentlessly closing the gap.
With 18 laps remaining, Ward made a decisive move to overtake Chrobok, ultimately claiming victory in an impressive display of skill and determination.
For race 2, the finishing order from the first race was inverted, placing Kyle Hosely on the pole. However, it was Eckrich who quickly asserted his dominance, swiftly taking control of the race lead in the opening laps. Ward, eager to challenge Eckrich once again, swiftly navigated through the field, ultimately securing second place just before the halfway point.
Despite Ward’s efforts to close the gap, Eckrich maintained a commanding lead throughout the race, running unchallenged and ultimately clinching victory in dominant fashion. Ward attempted to utilize strategic pit stops to bridge the distance, but Eckrich’s superior pace proved insurmountable.
With the conclusion of the pre-chase season, drivers now prepare to enter the championship chase, commencing on April 2nd at Kansas Speedway. Fans can expect more thrilling action as the championship battle heats up, with live coverage exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network at 8:50 PM ET!
ABL S36 R1 Recap
17 March 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Round 1
FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle | Red Bull Ring
The Absolute Beginners League kicked off its highly anticipated Season 36 with a thrilling opening round at the Red Bull Ring, featuring back-to-back 20-minute races in the FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle. Philipp Hammer, representing Impulse Racing, secured pole position for the first race, setting the stage for an action-packed evening of racing.
As the lights went out, Hammer wasted no time asserting his dominance, quickly pulling away with the lead. Behind him, a fierce battle ensued for the remaining podium positions, with Erik Blixt facing relentless pressure in his defense of second place from contenders Michael Haflidason, Marcus Byfeldt, Eero Nõmm, and Wojtek Potoczek.
Haflidason successfully maneuvered past Blixt to claim second position, but Hammer had already established a significant lead, leaving the rest of the field in his wake. Meanwhile, the battle for second intensified, with positions constantly changing as drivers jostled for position.
By the halfway mark, Byfeldt managed to secure second place from Haflidason, gradually closing the gap between himself and Hammer. As the race entered its final lap, Byfeldt launched a fierce challenge for the lead, closing in on Hammer and attempting to snatch victory. However, Hammer maintained his composure and successfully defended his position, crossing the finish line to claim a well-deserved victory after leading every lap of the race.
With the top five finishers inverted for the second race, Eero Nõmm found himself starting from pole position, eager to capitalize on his advantageous position. However, Haflidason wasted no time in seizing the lead, with Nõmm hot on his heels.
The battle for the lead intensified in the opening laps, reaching its climax when contact between Haflidason and Nõmm resulted in both drivers going off-track, collecting Blixt in the chaos. While Haflidason managed to recover and continue, Nõmm’s race came to an untimely end due to the damage sustained in the incident.
With the collision gifting Hammer the lead once again, Byfeldt seized the opportunity to challenge him for the top spot. In a nail-biting finale, Byfeldt made a decisive move on the final lap, overtaking Hammer in the closing corners to clinch victory in a dramatic fashion.
The ABL’s next event promises to deliver further excitement, as the GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup heads to Autódromo José Carlos Pace on Sunday, March 24th. Don’t miss the action, streaming live exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network at 2:50 PM ET!
BRL OUTLAWS S34 R10 Recap
08 March 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 34 | Round 10
Outlaw Modified Series | Lanier National Speedway
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series, presented by the Skitter Creek Motorsports Group, delivered an intense 100-lap feature at the virtual track. Tom Hilbert led the pack from the pole position, with Chris Davis hot on his heels from the start.
Davis wasted no time in asserting his dominance, swiftly maneuvering past Hilbert to claim the lead by lap 4. However, the race took a dramatic turn just 10 laps in when an incident in turn 4 caused chaos, ensnaring many frontrunners and reshuffling the field.
Despite the disruption, Davis emerged unscathed and resumed his position at the front of the pack as racing resumed on lap 16. With Donny Moore and Bruce Pearson in hot pursuit, Davis faced mounting pressure from behind.
As the laps dwindled, Moore made a bold move to challenge Davis for the lead, but contact between the two allowed Jason Menda to capitalize, surging into contention. Davis, determined to maintain his position, faced relentless pressure from the pack behind him, with frustrations running high.
The battle for supremacy intensified as Moore once again closed in on Davis, eager to snatch the lead. However, a contentious maneuver by Davis resulted in a collision, scattering the field and further fueling the tension on track.
Despite the tumultuous final laps, Davis held his ground, crossing the finish line under caution after a series of late-race incidents. Todd Liston emerged as the unofficial season champion, holding a commanding lead in the standings heading into the final round at Five Flags Speedway.
The stage is set for an exhilarating season finale on March 15th, promising more adrenaline-fueled action and fierce competition, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S34 R9 Recap
01 March 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 34 | Round 9
Outlaw Modified Series | The Bullring at Las Vegas
On Friday, March 1st, the Bootleg Racing League Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series lit up the virtual tracks with a thrilling 100-lap feature presented by the Skitter Creek Motorsports Group. Mark Hertzog led the charge from the pole position, setting the stage for an action-packed showdown at The Bullring.
As the green flag dropped, drivers grappled with the tight confines of the circuit, resulting in frequent cautions and rapid-fire restarts. Amidst the chaos, Aiden Young and Todd Liston showcased their prowess, steadily carving their way to the front of the pack in the early stages. Meanwhile, Hertzog held firm at the front, fending off challenges to maintain his lead.
However, the battle for supremacy intensified as the race progressed, with Donny Moore applying relentless pressure on Hertzog. On lap 35, Moore executed a precise maneuver, nudging Hertzog aside to snatch the lead for himself. Yet, the tides quickly turned as Young seized an opportunity to surge past Moore and claim the lead just before another caution interrupted proceedings.
Entering the second half of the race, Liston emerged as a formidable contender, battling Hertzog for the runner-up position in a fierce exchange of positions. With the podium spots fiercely contested, Ricky Hardin made a late surge to snatch third place from Hertzog with just 10 laps remaining.
Undeterred by the challenges behind him, Young maintained his composure and stretched out his lead, navigating the treacherous track with precision. As the checkered flag beckoned, Young crossed the finish line in triumphant fashion, securing a well-deserved victory.
Behind him, Liston delivered a stellar performance to clinch second place, solidifying his position atop the championship standings with a 19-point lead over Matt Hoose.
The Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series continues to deliver exhilarating racing action, promising more thrills and spills in the battles ahead. With only 2 rounds remaining, the series heads out to Lanier National Speedway next week on March 8th with the action going live at 8:55PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
PGRL S6 W20 Recap
20 February 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 20
Premier Series | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway played host to the exhilarating Brickyard 175 Spectacular, presented by The Joy of Driving, featuring back-to-back 35-lap races courtesy of the Pretty Good Racing League (PGRL). In the first race, Mike Rasimas led the charge from the pole position, facing fierce competition from Jeff Ward alongside. Ward wasted no time asserting his dominance, seizing control of the field on lap 4 and setting the pace for the early stages. Meanwhile, Scott Eckrich showcased his prowess, surging into contention for the final podium spot from his fifth-place starting position.
However, drama unfolded on lap 11 as Michael Chrobok encountered trouble, making heavy contact with the outside wall in turn 1, relegating him to the back of the pack. Ward’s strategic pit stop on lap 15 caught his rivals off guard, but fuel constraints would later hamper his chances as Rasimas and Eckrich executed flawless pit strategies. With Ward forced to make a second pit stop for fuel, Eckrich capitalized on his rival’s misfortune, maintaining a commanding lead over Rasimas to secure victory in the first race.
The excitement continued to build as the PGRL unleashed the second race of the Brickyard 175 Spectacular. Michael Chrobok, determined to bounce back from his earlier setback, led the field around the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Despite an early charge from the competition, Chrobok showcased his resilience, fending off relentless pressure to maintain the lead. As the laps dwindled, Jeff Ward emerged as his primary challenger, relentlessly pursuing the race leader in a thrilling duel for supremacy.
With strategic pit stops and intense on-track battles shaping the race, Chrobok’s masterful handling of the pressure ultimately paid off as he crossed the finish line to claim victory in the second race, reaffirming his dominance in the PGRL standings. With only four weeks remaining before the championship chase begins, where the top 16 drivers will vie for glory, the stakes have never been higher in the PGRL.
Next up, the action shifts to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Tuesday, February 27th, promising more heart-pounding moments and adrenaline-fueled battles as the PGRL continues to deliver top-tier racing action. Stay tuned for more excitement, drama, and wheel-to-wheel competition, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
PGRL S1 R6 Recap
22 Mar 2022
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 1 | Round 6
Premier Series | Circuit of the Americas
Scott Eckrich with Graafix LC Motorsports claimed his third win of the season tonight in the MemePark Grand Prix at COTA presented by the LPM Group with the Pretty Good Racing League at Circuit of the Americas ahead of Mike Rasimas and Jeff Ward. “Road courses in general seem to suit me pretty well but especially technical road courses”, Eckrich commented after his dominating win tonight, “With this new car as finicky as it is it really, really puts it extremely in the driver’s hands… to say it’s a nightmare to control this thing is an understatement.”
Fred Thompson started the night off on the pole for the first road course of the season. “It’s exciting, that’s for darn sure”, Thompson told us before the race. The drivers knew that pit strategies would be critical for the race and Thompson planned to keep it simple, “When the [crew chief] says come in, I’m coming in.” Norm Pelletier started to Thompson’s outside on the front row as the green flag came out over the drivers. Pelletier had a strong launch taking the lead off the start.
Pelletier got out of shape spinning coming out of a corner and quickly fell back in the field as many drivers were struggling to complete the first lap without incident. Dupre was the leader going into the second lap with Thomas George putting pressure on him. Scott Eckrich was running in 6th when he almost had his night ended early ass Django Matthews spun around in front of Eckrich forcing Eckrich off track wide around a corner to avoid. Eckrich was able to recover quickly and continue without losing much pace as he found his way up to 3rd place with Jeff Ward following close behind.
Mike Rasimas found himself in the lead as more drivers had problems getting around the course with frequent spins and slide offs throughout the field that kept the running order shuffling as the field went into the 5th lap of the evening. Jeff Ward and Scott Eckrich each got around Drew Carroll in 2nd place putting him back in 4th while Mike Rasimas continued to lead the field. Ward and Eckrich quickly closed the gap to Rasimas as they battled each other over 2nd with Eckrich coming away with the position over Ward going into the 10th lap.
Scott Eckrich took the lead from Mike Rasimas on lap 10 and started to pull away showing a strong pace. All of the top 10 drivers made their pit stops with 18 laps remaining in the 35-lap event essentially splitting the race in half with fuel. Scott Eckrich held the lead followed by Mike Rasimas and Jeff Ward as the field completed their pit cycles with 16 laps left. Eckrich was out pacing every driver on track lap after lap with the top 3 drivers completely separated from the rest of the field by over 25 seconds.
Going into the final 10 laps of the race, Scott Eckrich had built up an over 20 second lead over Mike Rasimas in 2nd place. Jeff Ward had run into some trouble a few laps prior and was running in 3rd place 30 seconds behind Eckrich. Thomas George, Drew Carroll, and Woody Mahan battled hard over 4th place over 50 seconds behind the leader. The top 11 drivers were still on the lead lap with Fred Thompson being the last lead lap car and only 19 cars were still running on track out of the 24-car field.
Scott Eckrich absolutely dominated the field crossing the finish line 31 seconds ahead of Mike Rasimas in 2nd place and 57 seconds ahead of Jeff Ward in 3rd. Eckrich started in 13th tonight and, after taking the lead on lap 10, held it for the remainder of the 35-lap event. Only the top 10 drivers were still on the lead lap with Isaiah Dupre being the last lead lap car tonight. Travis McQuistion finished last in 24th place giving him the pole position next week at Richmond Raceway as the field inverts.
Mike Rasimas leads in the point standings with 231 points with Scott Eckrich now behind by only 2 points. Michael Strohl moves back to 3rd place with 191 points. Brian Yaczik holds onto 4th at 190 points and Thomas George sits close behind with 185 points to round out the top 5 drivers. Next week, the Pretty Good Racing League moves over to Richmond Raceway for 200 laps of action in the Muscular Dystrophy Awareness 200 on March 29th broadcast live at 8:50PM EDT only on the Virtual Grip Network! We’ve heard it’s going to be “pretty good”.
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