BRL OUTLAWS S36 R9 Recap
24 August 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 9
Outlaw Modified Series | South Boston Speedway
On Saturday, August 24th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series took to South Boston Speedway for the 9th round of Season 36. Steve Hilbert started the night from the pole, with Adam Schoen to his outside. Points leader Todd Liston faced a challenging night, starting deep in the field in 11th.
As the green flag dropped, chaos erupted almost immediately. Contact between Schoen and Kurt Smith on the opening lap shuffled the front of the pack, giving John Wilson a prime opportunity to strike. When racing resumed on lap 7, Wilson found himself on the outside of the front row. He took full advantage, launching off the restart and wrestling the lead away from Hilbert with a daring move on the outside.
Wilson quickly settled into a rhythm, maintaining the race lead through the first half of the night. Meanwhile, Donny Moore, who started further back, was methodically working his way through the field, biding his time and saving his equipment for a late charge. The second half of the race saw the action intensify as tires began to wear, and drivers became more aggressive in their attempts to gain positions.
The frequent cautions and short green flag runs in the latter stages played into Wilson’s hands, allowing him to protect his lead without putting too much stress on his tires. However, these restarts also provided Moore with the perfect opportunity to climb through the pack and emerge as a serious contender. On a crucial restart at lap 69, Moore made his move, seizing the second spot and setting his sights on Wilson out front.
As the laps wound down, Moore inched closer to Wilson, and with just 6 laps to go, he made his decisive move. Exiting turn 2 with a strong run, Moore carried his momentum into turn 3, diving to the inside and out-braking Wilson to snatch the race lead. But the drama was far from over. On the final lap, Moore got loose in turn 3, momentarily losing grip and pace. Sensing an opportunity, Wilson dove low in a last-ditch effort to reclaim the lead, but he too found himself struggling to keep his car under control.
The two drivers charged out of the final corner, wheels spinning and hearts racing. Moore managed to gather his car up just enough to hold off Wilson by a razor-thin margin, crossing the line 9 hundredths of a second ahead to claim the victory.
The Bootleg Racing League will return in two weeks, on September 7th, for the penultimate round of the season at Oswego Speedway, with the action going live at 7:40 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S36 R8 Recap
17 August 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 8
Outlaw Modified Series | New Smyrna Speedway
On Saturday, August 17th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series took to the high banks of New Smyrna Speedway. This was for round 8 of season 36. The stakes were high as the series entered the final stretch of the season, with Todd Liston holding a narrow points lead over the field. Starting from the pole for the night was Chris Haizlip, with veteran driver Joe Segalla lined up alongside him on the front row. John Heyn, one of the early contenders, started 3rd, while points leader Liston faced a challenging task, starting from 13th deep in the pack.
As the green flag waved, Haizlip got a solid start, but Heyn wasted no time making his presence known. He quickly dove to the inside of Segalla and began applying pressure on Haizlip for the race lead. Segalla, meanwhile, found himself defending his position from a hard-charging Donny Moore, who had already climbed into 3rd place. However, the action was quickly halted by an early caution further back in the field, forcing a reset. On the restart on lap 7, Heyn took full advantage of his inside line position and made a decisive move, dropping under Haizlip and powering into the lead. The move left an opening for Segalla, who seized the opportunity to follow suit and snatch 2nd from Haizlip, relegating the pole-sitter down the order.
As Heyn settled into the lead, Segalla found himself under relentless pressure from Moore, who had quickly gained momentum. Moore, known for his methodical driving, patiently bided his time, sizing up Segalla as the race progressed. Behind the front trio, Liston was quietly working his way through the field, picking off positions one by one. His steady progress went largely unnoticed as the battle at the front intensified, but by the halfway point, Liston had already climbed into the top 10 and was inching closer to the leaders.
The first half of the race remained clean, with Heyn defending his lead from Segalla. Lap after lap, Segalla was glued to Heyn’s bumper, looking for any opportunity to pounce, but Heyn was unwavering in his defense, hitting his marks perfectly and preventing Segalla from getting alongside. Despite the pressure, Heyn seemed to be in control as they crossed the halfway mark, with the top three drivers maintaining a steady rhythm around the high-speed oval.
However, as the race transitioned into the second half, the intensity ramped up significantly. The patience that had characterized the early stages began to wear thin, and drivers throughout the field became more aggressive in their attempts to gain ground. This shift in tone led to a series of short green flag runs, as close-quarters racing and frequent restarts resulted in several incidents, shuffling the order multiple times. Moore eventually made his move on Segalla, getting around him to claim 2nd place and setting his sights on Heyn for the lead.
As Moore closed in on Heyn, drivers throughout the pack were finding themselves involved in chaotic battles for position. Attrition started to take its toll, with several competitors falling by the wayside after getting caught up in incidents. Liston, meanwhile, continued his relentless march forward, staying out of trouble and quietly moving into the top five. His methodical approach paid off as the laps ticked down, and by the time the race reached the final 20 laps, he had worked his way into 3rd place, solidifying his strong points night.
A late-race caution on lap 93 proved to be a pivotal moment in the race. The yellow flag erased Heyn’s lead and bunched up the field for what would be a high-stakes dash to the finish. On the restart, Moore saw his chance and took full advantage of the situation. As the green flag waved, Heyn struggled to get a clean start, allowing Moore to get a run on the outside. The two drivers made contact as they raced into turn 1, and that sent Heyn into a lazy spin, dropping him to the back of the field as the caution flew once again, setting up a GWC finish.
With Heyn out of contention, Moore found himself in control of the race, lining up on the front row for the final restart. Behind him, Liston had moved up to 2nd place, capitalizing on the chaos ahead of him. As the green flag dropped for the final time, Moore got a perfect launch, breaking away from the pack and leaving Liston to fend off a charging field. Despite Liston’s best efforts, Moore held on in the final laps, crossing the finish line to claim a well-deserved victory.
For Liston, his 2nd-place finish was another important step in solidifying his points lead. With another strong performance, he extended his advantage over his closest rivals, including Moore, who despite winning the race, was unable to close the gap significantly in the points standings. Moore finished 11th after facing trouble earlier in the race.
The Bootleg Racing League will return to action next Saturday, August 24th, for round 9 of the Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series at South Boston Speedway, with the action going live at 7:40 PM ET, only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S36 R7 Recap
10 August 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 7
Outlaw Modified Series | Myrtle Beach Speedway
On Saturday, August 10th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Series went to Myrtle Beach Speedway. This was for the 7th round of Season 36. Chris Haizlip started on the pole alongside Tom Hilbert. Points leader Todd Liston began the night from 9th. His closest rival in the standings, Donny Moore, was to his outside in 10th.
The race began with the field struggling to get single-filed in the opening laps. Further back, Moore quickly moved past Liston. He began methodically working his way up through the pack. Liston capitalized on Moore’s progress by trailing him through the traffic. A clash between Bruce Pearson and Steve Hilbert led to Pearson sliding on the track. But he managed to avoid significant damage. This incident brought out the caution just 10 laps into the race, restacking the field.
When the racing resumed, technical issues unfortunately knocked Haizlip out of contention. This provided Lowell Jewell the opportunity to seize the lead from Tom Hilbert, but another quick caution soon followed. As the saying goes, “cautions breed cautions.” That was the case throughout the first half of the night. This period saw many short green flag runs and early exits for many competitors.
Throughout the restarts, both Liston and Moore continued their climb through the field. On lap 32, Liston jumped up to claim the 2nd spot. Moore struggled to get around John Wilson for the final podium position. After several laps, Moore cleared Wilson. By then, Liston had closed in on Jewell, who was leading the race. He began to challenge for the top spot. A caution on lap 45 spelled disaster for Moore. He was caught up in the ensuing chaos. This resulted in significant damage and caused him to fall several laps down.
As the race entered the second half, Jewell’s rearview mirror was filled with Liston’s car. Kurt Smith and Ricky Hardin were also closing in on the leaders. Sensing the pressure from Smith, Liston made his move. He dove low under Jewell. He took the lead on lap 55 down the backstretch. Behind Liston, chaos erupted between Jewell, Smith, and Hardin. This took out any immediate threats to Liston’s lead. The laps quickly ticked down.
As racing resumed, Jeffrey Hardin moved up to 2nd. He stayed close to Liston, but not close enough to challenge for the win. Liston gradually built a gap in the final laps. He ultimately claimed his 2nd victory of the season. Liston extended his points lead over Moore, who finished the night in 11th place.
The BRL will return next Saturday for round 8 at New Smyrna Speedway on August 17th. The action goes live at 7:40 PM ET. You can watch it only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S36 R6 Recap
03 August 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 6
Outlaw Modified Series | Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
On Saturday, August 3rd, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series participated in round 6 of season 36. They competed at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. John Heyn started the night from the pole position. He gained a significant advantage on a track known for its challenging overtaking opportunities.
The opening laps were chaotic, with drivers aggressively jostling to form a single-file line around the track. Taking full advantage of the early shuffle was Stephen Spies. He won the earlier two rounds at Slinger Speedway and Kern Raceway. Within the first 10 laps, Spies had impressively climbed from 13th to 7th, setting his sights on Donny Moore. Meanwhile, Kurt Smith managed to pass Joe Segalla for 2nd place. He won after a prolonged side-by-side battle. Kurt then began reeling in Heyn, who had built a large early lead.
By lap 15, Smith had closed the gap to Heyn and started applying pressure, attempting to force a mistake. Further back, Spies continued his charge, overtaking Moore and targeting John Wilson and Steve Hilbert. Despite Smith’s persistent efforts, Heyn maintained his lead by hitting his marks and not providing any openings.
Entering the second half of the race, Spies caught and battled hard with Segalla. He eventually secured the 3rd spot with 41 laps to go. This marked him as a serious contender for the win. Spies proved to be the fastest car on the track, rapidly closing in on the leaders. A crucial caution on lap 77 eliminated Heyn and Smith’s gap over Spies. It positioned him directly behind Heyn for the restart.
As the green flag waved again on lap 82, Spies quickly moved into 2nd place. He stayed glued to Heyn’s rear bumper. Lap after lap, Spies pressured Heyn, looking for any opportunity to overtake. On the final lap, as they took the white flag, Spies made a decisive move. He dived under Heyn and stuck the pass. The two drivers banged against each other multiple times around the last lap, with neither willing to concede. Coming out of the final corner side by side, Heyn made a desperate move. He collided hard with Spies, but it was too late. Spies crossed the finish line just 0.02 seconds ahead of Heyn, securing his third consecutive win in the series.
The BRL will return on Saturday, August 10th, at Myrtle Beach Speedway for the next round. The action will go live at 7:40 PM ET. You can watch it only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S36 R5 Recap
27 July 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 5
Outlaw Modified Series | Kern Raceway
On Saturday, July 27th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series ran the 5th round of Season 36 at Kern Raceway. Going into the night, Todd Liston held a slim 1-point lead in the standings over Bruce Pearson. John Wilson started on the pole, leading a smaller-than-usual field of 13 drivers, which led to long green flag runs.
Wilson had a strong start, breaking away from Tom Hilbert, who quickly found himself defending the 2nd spot against Liston. After several laps of side-by-side battling, Liston managed to secure the position and set his sights on Wilson. Meanwhile, Stephen Spies, last week’s winner from Slinger Speedway, was making rapid progress through the field. Within the first 10 laps, Spies had moved into the top 3 and began reeling in Liston and Wilson.
Fifteen laps into the run, Liston caught up to Wilson’s rear bumper, but before he could attempt a pass for the lead, a caution from a spin further back in the field restacked the grid for a restart on lap 25. When racing resumed, Spies took advantage of the restart to challenge Liston, engaging in several intense laps of door-to-door racing. Liston successfully defended his spot for the time being and soon after made a decisive move under Wilson, swiftly taking the lead. Spies also capitalized on the opportunity to move up to 2nd place.
As the laps ticked by, Liston and Spies broke away from the rest of the field, with Spies staying tight on Liston’s bumper. They continued to battle for the lead, and once again, Liston used the outside line to defend his position, with Spies temporarily conceding the fight. On lap 65, Spies made another attempt and this time managed to gain the upper hand, clearing Liston a few laps later.
Liston patiently waited behind Spies, letting his tires cool down before making a last-moment attempt to reclaim the win. However, Spies held on, crossing the finish line just 0.07 seconds ahead of Liston, becoming the first repeat winner of the season. Despite losing the race win, Liston had a strong points night as the series heads to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Catch the next round of the BRL on Saturday, August 3rd, with the action going live at 7:40 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S36 R4 Recap
20 July 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 4
Outlaw Modified Series | Slinger Speedway
On Saturday, July 20th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series ran 100 blistering laps around Slinger Speedway for the 4th round of Season 36. Joe Segalla started the night on the pole, flanked by Donny Moore on the front row. As the green flag dropped, Segalla maintained the race lead, but Moore stayed close behind, keeping the pressure up. The field quickly became a hornet’s nest, with drivers shuffling aggressively to make up positions, resulting in an early caution.
When racing resumed on lap 13, Moore got a better start than Segalla and took the race lead around the outside after several intense laps running side by side. Segalla attempted a crossover move on Moore but got loose and quickly lost another position to Stephen Spies, who had climbed up from 5th. The race continued with a series of short green flag runs, during which Spies worked over Moore, looking to take the race lead. Despite getting to the inside several times, Spies couldn’t complete the pass on Moore early in the night.
As the race entered the second half, Moore still held the lead with Spies close behind. On lap 55, coming out of turn 2, hard contact between Spies and Moore caused Moore to lose his composure, giving Spies a solid foothold on the inside. A few laps later, Spies completed the move, taking control of the race lead, with Moore slotting into 2nd. From there, Spies demonstrated his dominant pace, pulling away from Moore and ultimately claiming the checkered flag.
Meanwhile, Todd Liston had a rough night, finishing back in 12th, but he still managed to hold onto the points lead by a single point over Bruce Pearson going into the next round. The Bootleg Racing League will be back next Saturday, July 27th, at Kern County Raceway for the 5th round of the season. Catch all the action live at 7:40 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL LATE MODELS S27 R3 Recap
13 July 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 27 | Round 3
Late Model Series | Hickory Motor Speedway
On Saturday, July 13th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series ran 100 laps at Hickory Motor Speedway. John Wilson started the night from the pole and dominated the early stages, taking advantage of the tight track where passing proved difficult, resulting in shorter green flag runs. Chris Haizlip and Adam Schoen engaged in a fierce battle for second place, trading positions with each restart, while Tom Hilbert watched patiently from fourth.
Twenty laps into the race, Schoen secured the second spot from Haizlip, and the top three began to build a gap ahead of Joe Segalla in fourth during the first longer green flag run of the night. Schoen gradually closed in on Wilson, aiming to challenge for the lead while the tires were still fresh enough to facilitate a relatively quick pass. Despite Schoen’s efforts, Wilson managed to defend his lead as the race approached the halfway point.
A caution disrupted the action, putting Wilson back under pressure as racing resumed on lap 56. Todd Liston quietly maneuvered into position to make a move for second off the restart, quickly tucking in behind Wilson. Liston’s move left the door open for Stephen Spies, who charged through to take the final podium spot. The front runners continued to chase each other, running single file as the laps quickly counted down.
On lap 69, Spies made his move, diving under Liston and swiftly taking the second spot before setting his sights on Wilson out front. With 23 laps to go, Spies stuck his nose down low, diving under Wilson and quickly taking control of the race lead, bringing Liston with him and knocking Wilson back to third. Liston kept the pressure on Spies in the final laps, but Spies successfully held onto the lead through a green-white-checkered (GWC) finish to claim the race win.
The Bootleg Racing League will be back next Saturday, July 20th, at Slinger Speedway for the next round. Catch all the action live at 9:10 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S36 R3 Recap
13 July 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 3
Outlaw Modified Series | Hickory Motor Speedway
On Saturday, July 13th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series ran 100 laps at Hickory Motor Speedway. John Wilson started from the pole, and the first half of the race was marked by chaotic short green flag runs between frequent restarts. Despite the interruptions, Wilson managed to get strong launches each time, maintaining his lead at the front.
Meanwhile, Bruce Pearson and Stephen Spies were steadily making their way forward through the field. As the race moved into the second half, Wilson found himself under increasing pressure from both Pearson and Spies, who were locked in a battle for the second spot right behind him. Todd Liston also began to push more aggressively, climbing through the field and positioning himself as a contender in the latter stages.
A pivotal restart on lap 68 provided Pearson with an opportunity he fully exploited. He got a good jump off the restart, staying alongside Wilson and pinching him down in the corners lap after lap. Wilson eventually had to concede the lead, and Pearson took over the front on lap 72, with Wilson slotting in just ahead of Spies.
A late-race caution bunched the field up again, setting up for a restart with only three laps to go. Pearson and Spies were on the front row, with Pearson still in control. He got another excellent launch, breaking away from the pack as Spies and Wilson battled for second. Contact between Spies and Wilson triggered a large pile-up on the backstretch, collecting much of the field and shaking up the order behind Pearson.
As the drivers lined up for a green-white-checkered (GWC) finish, Todd Liston and Adam Schoen rounded out the podium. Liston made a strong attempt for the lead in the final laps but couldn’t wrest the victory away from Bruce Pearson. Pearson held on to win, with Liston finishing second and Schoen completing the podium.
The Bootleg Racing League will return next Saturday, July 20th, at Slinger Speedway for the next round. Catch all the action live at 7:40 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL LATE MODELS S27 R2 Recap
29 June 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 27 | Round 2
Late Model Series | Thompson Speedway
On Saturday, June 29th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series hosted the second round of season 27 at Thompson Speedway. Jeffrey Hardin from Loose Luggs started the night on pole, and a strong start helped him initially hold off Mike Holloway, who quickly closed in to keep the pressure on in the opening stages. The early laps featured several short green flag runs interrupted by quick cautions, making it somewhat easier for Hardin to maintain his lead.
Jeffrey Kemper showed significant speed, racing aggressively while conserving his tires, making him a legitimate threat for the win. Seventeen laps into the race, Kemper capitalized on a mistake from Holloway to claim second place, allowing Lowell Jewell to move up to third. Hardin held onto the lead, but Kemper soon closed in, looking for opportunities high and low to challenge him. Despite Kemper’s efforts, Hardin managed to fend him off, while John Heyn climbed into third to start pressuring Kemper.
Holloway, recovering from his earlier troubles, quietly moved back up toward the front, reclaiming third from Heyn. Kemper made a rare mistake on lap 38, going wide out of turn 4, allowing Holloway to move back up to second, with Heyn following into third. Kemper quickly recovered, holding onto fourth and staying within reach of Heyn.
As the race entered its second half, Hardin still led with Holloway close behind. Heyn battled Kemper for third but eventually tucked into fourth ahead of Jewell. Hardin and Holloway built a sizable gap over Kemper as Heyn’s renewed battle with Kemper slowed both drivers, putting the leaders over two seconds ahead with 40 laps to go. A caution soon after brought the field back together.
As the race approached its conclusion, Holloway and Kemper battled for second while Hardin began to pull away again. Just as it seemed Hardin would cruise to victory, a late-race caution set up a green-white-checkered (GWC) finish. Hardin got a great jump on the restart, pulling ahead of Kemper and Rubin Altice, who were now battling for second. Donny Moore pushed hard, rubbing doors with Altice in an attempt to take third.
In a shocking upset, coming out of the final corner, Moore, Altice, and Adam Schoen went three-wide and made contact, sending all three drivers into the grass. Todd Liston, who had been watching the battle from sixth place, slipped through the chaos to claim the final podium spot behind Hardin and Kemper.
The Bootleg Racing League will return after the Independence Day holiday for the next round at Hickory Motor Speedway on July 13th. Catch all the action live at 9:10 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S36 R2 Recap
29 June 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 2
Outlaw Modified Series | Thompson Speedway
On Saturday, June 29th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series hosted its second round of season 36 at Thompson Speedway. Kurt Smith secured the pole position and immediately faced heavy pressure from Lowell Jewell, Joe Segalla, and Stephen Spies as soon as the green flag dropped. Segalla managed to stay glued to Smith’s rear bumper in the opening laps but struggled to maintain pace when the battle for second intensified. Spies persistently attempted to pass Segalla on the inside, slowing them both and giving Jewell opportunities to vie for the third spot.
The race began with a lengthy green flag run until lap 29, when contact between Allen Wannamaker and Tom Hilbert caused Wannamaker to spin in turn 1, bringing out the caution flag. When racing resumed, Smith maintained his lead while Spies resumed his attempts to get around Segalla for second. Meanwhile, John Wilson quietly worked his way up through the dense traffic, breaking into the top five and soon thereafter overtaking both Spies and Segalla for third place behind Jewell.
As the race progressed into the second half, Jewell increased his pressure on Smith, attempting to force an error. The laps ticked down quickly, with Smith and Jewell pulling away from Wilson in third. Much of the field was running single file around the track, making passing challenging, but Smith continued to dominate at the front. Near the end, contact between Smith and lap traffic nearly caused Smith to spin, but he managed to keep control. Unfortunately, further contact between Smith and Jewell resulted in severe damage to Jewell’s car, sending him to pit road and promoting Wilson to second for the restart.
Smith opted for the outside lane for the final restart, a strategy he had employed all night. He got a great jump off the line, breaking away from Wilson. Wilson fought hard to maintain a podium position but contact with Todd Liston sent him off into the grass on the front stretch. Smith, having led every lap, came around to claim his first win of the new season. Liston capitalized on the incident to finish second, with Donny Moore rounding out the podium.
The Bootleg Racing League will return after the Independence Day holiday, with the next round at Hickory Motor Speedway on July 13th. Catch all the action live at 7:40 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
