BRL LATE MODELS S27 R1 Recap
22 June 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 27 | Round 1
Late Model Series | Southern National Speedway
On Saturday night, June 22nd, the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series kicked off its new season at Southern National Speedway. Todd Liston from Indy Autosport started on the pole, with Adam Schoen alongside him. As the green flag dropped, Liston quickly established a lead while Tom Hilbert battled both Schoen and Stephen Spies for the second spot. Spies eventually seized an opportunity to pass under Hilbert, causing a chain reaction that saw much of the field file into a single line and leaving Hilbert to drop quickly through the ranks.
John Wilson, running quietly in fourth, followed Schoen patiently while Spies began to reel Liston in at the front. The field, aware of the long race ahead, prioritized tire conservation over aggressive maneuvers, opting for strategic single-file racing. As they crossed the halfway mark, Wilson managed to pass Schoen for third, and the front runners began closing the gap on Liston, who was still in the lead.
Liston encountered trouble while lapping Jeffrey Kemper, whose resistance to going a lap down disrupted Liston’s pace. This allowed Spies and the others to close in quickly, putting Liston under significant pressure. With laps ticking down, Spies kept up the pressure, trying to force a mistake from Liston. In the final 20 laps, John Wilson, known as the Canadian Goose, decided to make his move. He dived low under Spies, who was focused on challenging Liston, and secured the second spot just before a late-race caution slowed the action.
When racing resumed on lap 93, Wilson, starting from the outside line in second, quickly overtook Liston for the lead going into turn three. With only four laps remaining, contact in the middle of the field brought out another caution, setting up a Green-White-Checkered (GWC) finish. In the final two laps, Wilson, representing Team CDR, proved unstoppable, coming around to claim the first checkered flag of the new season. Todd Liston finished second, and Kurt Smith rounded out the podium in third.
The Bootleg Racing League continues next Saturday, June 29th, at Thompson Speedway. Catch all the exciting action live at 9:10 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S36 R1 Recap
22 June 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 36 | Round 1
Outlaw Modified Series | Southern National Speedway
On Saturday night, June 22nd, the Bootleg Racing League kicked off the new season of the Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series with a thrilling 100-lap race at Southern National Speedway. Bruce Pearson of Loose Luggs started on the pole, but it would prove to be a chaotic night with loose track conditions causing trouble for many drivers and leading to multiple caution periods.
With the long straightaways, drivers found themselves running nose to tail, making passes difficult. Throughout the first half of the race, Pearson managed to maintain the lead through each restart, despite only short green flag runs. The battle for second place was fiercely contested between Lowell Jewell, Todd Liston, and John Wilson each time racing resumed.
Meanwhile, VGN’s own Ricky Hardin was making a quiet but determined move up through the dense traffic. Starting from the back, Hardin had worked his way into the top five by the halfway point, emerging as a serious contender for the race win. In the later stages of the race, Wilson made a strong push, overtaking Liston for second place and beginning to apply pressure on Pearson for the lead. Shortly after, Hardin seized an opportunity to get low under Liston, moving up to third with 20 laps to go.
With just 9 laps remaining, unfortunate contact between Hardin and Wilson caused Wilson to get loose and drop back to fourth behind Liston. Wilson made a quick recovery and stayed within reach of the leaders while Hardin began challenging Pearson for the lead. As the white flag waved, Hardin and Pearson made contact going into the first corner, taking both drivers out of contention and leaving an opening for Liston.
Liston shot through the gap, taking the race lead and claiming the first checkered flag of the season. Following closely behind, Donny Moore capitalized on the chaos, moving up from sixth to finish in second place, with Wilson rounding out the podium in an exciting final lap.
Next Saturday, June 29th, the Bootleg Racing League will be at Thompson Speedway. The action will go live at 7:40 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S35 R11 Recap
14 June 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 35 | Round 11
Outlaw Modified Series | Five Flags Speedway
On Friday, June 14th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series held their season finale at Five Flags Speedway with the Do Good to End Alzheimer’s 100, a charity event dedicated to raising funds for The Alzheimer’s Association. Matt Hoose entered the night with a substantial 12-point lead over Todd Liston in the championship standings.
The race began with Scott Negus on the pole, flanked by Mike Holloway. Hoose, starting from 13th, had his work cut out for him as the green flag dropped. Jason Menda quickly moved up to second place and began to apply pressure on Negus. However, an early caution involving Bruce Pearson, Lowell Jewell, and Donny Moore briefly interrupted the action. Hoose was notably affected by the incident, finding himself trapped a lap down in 15th as racing resumed on lap 8 with Negus still in control.
Menda wasted no time taking the lead once the race was back underway, opening the door for Holloway to move up to second. Meanwhile, Liston, running in fourth, saw an opportunity to challenge Hoose for the championship. As the front three drivers pulled away, the battle behind them intensified. Forty laps into the race, Negus managed to get under Holloway and take the second spot. By this time, the leaders had built a two-second gap over Hardin, who had overtaken Liston for fourth place.
As the race progressed, Liston slipped another position to Stephen Spies, while Hoose clawed his way up to 14th, maintaining a slim chance at the championship despite a challenging night. Up front, Menda held the lead but faced relentless pressure from Negus, who consistently looked for openings to overtake. With ten laps remaining, Negus made slight contact with Menda’s rear bumper but demonstrated the sportsmanship characteristic of BRL drivers by backing off and allowing Menda to recover.
Menda managed to fend off Negus’s advances to take the checkered flag, with Negus and Holloway rounding out the podium. Liston fell back to ninth by the end of the race, while Hoose’s climb to 13th place was enough to secure the season championship.
The Bootleg Racing League’s new season kicks off next Saturday, June 22nd, with live action starting at 7:35 PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network.
BRL OUTLAWS S35 R10 Recap
07 June 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 35 | Round 10
Outlaw Modified Series | North Wilkesboro Speedway
On Friday, June 7th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Series put on a thrilling show with a 100-lap race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Chris Haizlip secured the pole position, but it was John Wilson who surged ahead into the lead by the first corner. The drama escalated quickly as contact between Jeffery Hardin and Haizlip at the start of the second lap resulted in a significant incident, which also ensnared Todd Liston, who was second in the championship points standings.
As racing resumed, Wilson found himself under pressure from Jason Menda. The outside line proved to be dominant early on, allowing Menda to overtake Wilson after several laps of side-by-side racing. By lap 25, the field had settled into a single-file formation, spreading out around the track with Menda in the lead. Quietly making his way up through the pack was Kurt Smith, who was determinedly working to pass Hardin for third place. Smith’s perseverance paid off on lap 37 when he utilized the outside line to secure the final podium spot, setting his sights on Wilson.
Approaching the halfway mark, spectators took notice of Matt Hoose, who had been uncharacteristically lingering at the back of the field. As the front runners battled and wore out their equipment, Hoose preserved his tires, positioning himself strategically for the second half of the race. Smith managed to overtake Wilson for second place and began closing in on Menda for the lead. However, in a cruel twist of fate, technical issues forced Menda out of the race on lap 57, handing the lead to Smith.
Smith’s time at the front was short-lived, as he lost control and spun into the inside wall, dropping back to sixth place without a caution to save him. Wilson regained the lead with Hardin close behind, while Hoose, now running in the top five, began his charge forward. Tire temperatures became a critical factor, with drivers struggling for grip. On lap 70, Hardin made a move underneath Wilson to take the lead.
Mark Hertzog, who had a quiet race, began to push hard in the final stages, putting pressure on Wilson for second place. Hoose, capitalizing on the situation, swiftly passed both Wilson and Hertzog to move into second place. This battling allowed Hardin to build a one-second lead. However, Hoose was relentless, reeling Hardin in lap after lap. Just as a dramatic final lap battle seemed imminent, Donny Moore and Hertzog collided on the front stretch, bringing out a caution and setting up a green-white-checkered (GWC) finish.
At the restart, Hoose attempted to work the outside line but got loose in the first corner, losing momentum and allowing Hardin to take the checkered flag by one-tenth of a second. Despite the near-miss, Hoose holds a strong 12-point lead in the standings over Todd Liston heading into the final round.
The Bootleg Racing League will conclude their season next Friday, June 14th, at Five Flags Speedway. Fans can catch all the action live at 8:55 PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network.
ABL S36 W12 Recap
02 June 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Week 12
GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup | Road Atlanta
On Sunday, June 2nd, the Absolute Beginners League concluded their Andy Morgan Cup season in the FIA F4 Series at Road Atlanta with an exciting pair of 20-minute races. Marcus Byfeldt secured the pole position for the first race, with David Burns alongside him. At the start, Ales Kanak made a swift move from third place, overtaking Burns in the first corner to settle into second behind Byfeldt. Byfeldt quickly established a commanding pace, building a comfortable lead over the field while Burns kept close to Kanak’s bumper, looking to reclaim second place.
Neil Bamber, running in fourth, kept a watchful eye on the battle ahead, ready to capitalize on any mistakes. Kanak managed to fend off Burns for the first half of the race. However, as they crossed the halfway mark, Burns found an opportunity, getting a strong run and slipping his car to the inside of Kanak to reclaim second place. By this point, Byfeldt had extended his lead to over five seconds, making it nearly impossible for Burns to catch up. Despite Bamber’s efforts to challenge Kanak for third, he couldn’t find a way through before Byfeldt took the first checkered flag of the night.
The top five finishers were inverted for the second race, putting series rookie Roman Beran on pole, with Bamber starting alongside him. Byfeldt began from fifth but had a sluggish start, losing a position to Milan Halmas and dropping to sixth. As Byfeldt worked to find a way past Halmas, Bamber capitalized on a mistake from Beran to take the lead. A subsequent error from Halmas allowed Byfeldt to regain fifth place and begin challenging Beran for fourth.
Realizing the clock was ticking, Byfeldt made aggressive moves, knowing he had significant ground to cover if he wanted a shot at the win. Bamber maintained a lead of over two seconds with Burns now in second place, pressuring Bamber while Byfeldt fought his way up the field. Byfeldt managed to overtake Kanak into third but still trailed Bamber by 2.6 seconds.
In the second half of the race, Byfeldt closed the gap to the leaders but found Burns to be a formidable opponent, defending his position vigorously. Byfeldt’s relentless pressure forced Burns to drive more defensively, alleviating some of the pressure on Bamber. With about five minutes remaining, Burns made a crucial mistake, allowing Byfeldt to move into second place and quickly reel in Bamber.
In a dramatic turn of events, Byfeldt made an outside pass attempt on Bamber but ran out of room, skimming through the grass to avoid contact. Soon after, Bamber made a mistake of his own, going wide out of a corner and losing momentum on the front stretch, making it easy for Byfeldt to overtake and claim the lead. Bamber recovered quickly enough to hold onto second place ahead of Burns as Byfeldt led the final lap to take the checkered flag and secure the season championship.
BRL OUTLAWS S35 R9 Recap
31 May 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 35 | Round 9
Outlaw Modified Series | South Boston Speedway
On Friday, May 31st, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series descended upon South Boston Speedway for the thrilling 9th round of the season. Steve Hilbert had the honor of starting the night on the pole, with Jeffrey Hardin flanking him in second position. As the green flag dropped, Hardin quickly began probing for opportunities to pass Hilbert, while Donny Moore and Lowell Jewell engaged in a fierce battle for the third spot in the early laps.
Five laps into the race, Hardin spotted an opening to the inside and made a decisive move. Despite Hilbert’s efforts to leverage the high side’s momentum to fend off Hardin, the persistent challenger succeeded in completing the pass on lap 9. This maneuver left the door open for Moore to also advance, moving into the second spot. The field then settled into a single-file formation, with drivers keenly focused on chasing Hardin around the track.
The front trio, composed of Hardin, Moore, and Matt Hoose, maintained a tight race, avoiding any major incidents during the first half of the night. It was evident that neither Moore nor Hoose intended to let Hardin slip away. However, on lap 56, contact between Hoose and Moore caused Hoose to spin low, dropping him to the rear of the field without triggering a caution. This allowed Jewell to capitalize and claim the third spot. Shortly after, Moore attempted a pass under Hardin for the lead but was unsuccessful, which resulted in Moore falling back to fifth as he scrambled to regain his rhythm. Mark Hertzog seized the opportunity, leaping into second place and setting his sights on Hardin.
As the race progressed, it appeared Hertzog might not have enough time to catch Hardin. Meanwhile, Hoose, determined to recover from his earlier misfortune, was making an impressive charge back through the field, breaking into the top 10 with 20 laps to go. Moore, still positioned in fifth, was aggressively vying with Jason Menda for the fourth spot. A late-race caution with 12 laps remaining, caused by contact between Moore and Menda, brought the field back together. Crucially, this incident catapulted Hoose into the top five, as he skillfully avoided the chaos ahead.
With just eight laps remaining, the green flag briefly waved again, only for another caution to emerge almost immediately when Moore and Hardin collided in the first corner, sending Hardin spinning. Hoose deftly navigated through the turmoil, moving up to third and turning his earlier setback into a remarkable comeback.
The race concluded under a Green-White-Checkered (GWC) finish, with Moore crossing the line first to take the checkered flag, followed by Hertzog in second, and Hoose, rounding out the podium in third. This exciting and unpredictable race was a testament to the resilience and skill of the drivers.
The Bootleg Racing League will return next weekend on Friday, June 7th, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The action promises to be just as intense, with live coverage starting at 8:55 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network. Be sure to tune in for another electrifying round of racing!
ABL S36 W11 Recap
26 May 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Week 11
FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle | Mount Panorama Circuit
On Sunday, May 26th, the Absolute Beginners League’s Formula Neagle FIA F4 Series hosted its season finale at the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit, featuring two thrilling back-to-back 20-minute races. The event was a spectacular end to the season, filled with intense battles, strategic maneuvers, and dramatic incidents that kept the fans on the edge of their seats.
Marcus Byfeldt started the first race from the pole position, with Michael Haflidason alongside him on the front row. As the green flag waved, Byfeldt, Haflidason, and David Burns quickly broke away from the rest of the field, showcasing their superior pace. The trio remained closely bunched together during the opening laps, with a nearly two-second gap back to Neil Bamber, who was running alone in fourth place.
The battle at the front was intense. Haflidason, in his efforts to defend against Byfeldt, lost control of his car and suffered severe damage after a hard hit into the wall. This incident allowed Bamber to move up to third place, trailing the leading pair of Byfeldt and Burns. The two front-runners continued their duel, trading the lead multiple times throughout the race. Burns stayed strategically tucked behind Byfeldt, conserving his car and waiting for the perfect moment to make a decisive move.
That moment came on the final lap. Burns executed a perfectly timed overtake in the last corners, seizing the win from Byfeldt in a dramatic finish. Ludwig Sauer secured the pole position for the second race due to the top-five inversion rule, setting the stage for another exciting contest.
The second race saw a noticeable increase in aggression from the drivers. Sauer managed to hold onto the lead for the first six minutes before eventually being overtaken by the hard-charging Byfeldt. Haflidason made an impressive recovery, working his way through the field to secure the third spot, just behind Burns. Sauer’s struggles continued as he lost control of his car approaching the halfway mark, allowing Haflidason to take second place and Burns to move into third.
Burns, capitalizing on a strong run down the back straight, managed to overtake Haflidason for second place. The intense battle between Haflidason and Burns for the second position allowed Fabian Jungbluth to stay in close contention, running in fourth. As the race neared its conclusion, Haflidason lost control again, similar to his incident in the first race, crashing into the wall and collecting Jungbluth in the process. This mishap promoted Bamber to the third position.
By this point, Byfeldt had extended his lead to over five seconds, demonstrating his dominance. He crossed the finish line to claim his seventh checkered flag of the season, securing the season 36 points championship with a commanding performance.
The Absolute Beginners League will return next Sunday, June 2nd, for the final round of the Andy Morgan Cup GT3 Series at Road Atlanta. The action will go live at 1:55 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network. This upcoming race promises to deliver more thrilling moments as the drivers battle it out on one of North America’s premier road racing circuits. Be sure to tune in for what promises to be an exciting conclusion to another fantastic season of racing.
AOLL INDY 250
25 May 2024
AOLL Racing League | Palmetto Racing
Special Event | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
On Saturday, May 25th, the AOLL Racing League hosted the highly anticipated INDY 250 presented by Palmetto Racing. This half-length event, mirroring the real-world INDY 500, brought together drivers from multiple leagues, creating a unique and competitive atmosphere. The combination of various driving styles and the Dallara IR-18—a car unfamiliar to many participants—contributed to a night filled with short green flag runs and intense battles, keeping the field closely packed and providing an exciting spectacle for fans.
John Poole III secured the pole with a blistering lap time of 39.956 seconds during qualifying, earning the top starting position and the privilege of leading the field to the green flag. Lining up beside him on the front row was Blake Trawick, poised to challenge for the lead from the outset. As the race began, Poole maintained his lead, with Trawick and Marcellus Breuning closely following in second and third, respectively. The opening laps saw Poole demonstrating his pace and control, but the race was far from settled.
The initial 20 laps featured several cautions, causing frequent restarts and shuffling the running order. These cautions led many drivers, including the leaders, to take strategic pit stops. As a result, Dave Wright found himself in the lead, pursued by Johnie Downey. Downey soon capitalized on his position, overtaking Wright and attempting to break away from the pack. However, Ed Sprenger was not far behind, moving up to challenge Downey for the lead. By lap 27, Sprenger had successfully maneuvered around Downey, taking control of the race.
While Sprenger led the field, the initial front-runners—Poole, Breuning, and Trawick—began their climb back through the dense traffic. The frequent cautions kept the field bunched together, allowing these drivers to methodically work their way forward. Poole’s determination paid off as he reclaimed the lead by the halfway mark, demonstrating his resilience and skill. Meanwhile, other notable drivers, such as Joe Dinsmore and Derrek Shilling, were quietly making their way toward the front, employing patient and strategic driving to avoid the chaos.
As the race approached its second half, Steve Boyer emerged as a strong contender, taking over the second spot and positioning himself as a significant threat to Poole’s lead. The pit strategy continued to play a crucial role, with DeShawn Gorham briefly taking the lead with 30 laps to go. However, Poole’s relentless pace saw him retake the lead, as the aggression in the field heightened with the laps winding down.
With 20 laps remaining, the intensity reached a peak. Boyer, capitalizing on a strong run out of turn 2, overtook Poole down the backstretch to seize the lead. The final stages of the race were marked by a late caution, which brought the field back together for an 8-lap sprint to the finish. Boyer faced immense pressure from Gorham, while Trawick, who had been quietly advancing through the field, moved into second place and began closing the gap on Boyer with blistering lap times.
As the race neared its conclusion, the tension was palpable. Trawick’s charge in the final laps brought him within striking distance of Boyer, setting up a dramatic finish. Despite Trawick’s relentless pursuit, Boyer managed to maintain his composure and held on to his lead, crossing the finish line just two-tenths of a second ahead of Trawick. The narrow margin of victory underscored the fierce competition and skill displayed by the drivers throughout the event.
The INDY 250 showcased not only the drivers’ talent and strategic acumen but also the unpredictable nature of racing, where anything can happen, and every decision counts.
PGRL S6 W32 Recap
21 May 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 32
Premier Series | Atlanta Motor Speedway
On Tuesday, May 21st, the Pretty Good Racing League concluded its season with back-to-back 65-lap races at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Can Chrobok Close? 130 presented by GamingGuyL. Michael Chrobok entered the night leading the points standings, closely pursued by Mike Rasimas.
In the first race, Chrobok secured the pole position, with Rasimas starting beside him. Rasimas took the lead early, utilizing the preferred outside lane, while Chrobok slipped back to third as Woody Mahan also passed him. Brian Yaczik and Matt Press pressured Chrobok further, but he fought back, reclaiming second place from Mahan. On lap 14, Rasimas hit the wall in turns 1 and 2, dropping through the field and allowing Chrobok to take the lead. Rasimas pitted early, attempting an undercut strategy. This forced other drivers to follow suit. Rasimas’s gamble paid off as he regained the lead after the pit stops, extending his advantage to 2 seconds over Chrobok. Rasimas pitted again with 20 laps remaining, executing a flawless stop that widened his lead. Mahan made a late charge but couldn’t catch Rasimas, who claimed the first race victory.
For the second race, the finishing order was inverted, placing Marc Cohn on the pole. Chrobok adopted a more aggressive approach, quickly moving through the field. Yaczik and Press overtook Cohn and vied for the lead early on. Yaczik initially led but lost the position to Press after brushing the wall. Chrobok moved up to third, with Rasimas steadily climbing the ranks. Chrobok pressured Press, slowing both drivers and allowing Rasimas to close in. Chrobok pitted early again, hoping to outmaneuver Rasimas. Most of the field followed suit, except for Matt Taylor, who adopted a fuel-saving strategy aiming for a single stop. Taylor pitted at the halfway mark, leaving Chrobok and Rasimas to battle for the lead.
Chrobok pitted again on lap 43, trying to undercut Rasimas once more. After the pit cycle, Taylor emerged with a 15-second lead over Press. Chrobok and Rasimas, battling for second, rapidly closed the gap on Taylor. Despite their efforts, Taylor’s bold strategy succeeded, and he won the race with a 1.6-second margin over Rasimas.
As the dust settled and points were tallied, Michael Chrobok was crowned the PGRL Season 6 champion, concluding an exhilarating season with a spectacular finish.
ABL S36 W10 Recap
19 May 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Week 10
GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup | Nürburgring
On Sunday, May 19th, the Absolute Beginners League hosted a 40-minute race at Nürburgring in the GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup. Marcus Byfeldt secured pole position in qualifying and quickly demonstrated his pace, breaking away from the rest of the field as soon as the green flag dropped. Behind him, David Burns settled into a solid second place, unable to close the gap to Byfeldt but comfortably ahead of the drivers behind him.
Vincent Brehm found himself under pressure from JT Koppinen and Wojtek Potoczek as he tried to defend his third position. About ten minutes into the run, the majority of the field had spread out around the course, with the battle for third being the primary point of contention. The first half of the race went by with minimal incidents, and the few passes that occurred were mainly due to driver errors rather than aggressive overtakes.
As the race entered the second half, Byfeldt had established a strong three-second lead over Burns. Brehm was still in third but with a small buffer between himself and Koppinen. Burns opted for an early pit stop, attempting to undercut Byfeldt, who stayed out for an additional lap. Brehm, Koppinen, and Potoczek followed Burns into the pits, but a mistake from Brehm cost him dearly. Potoczek capitalized on this error, leapfrogging both Koppinen and Brehm to move into third place as they rejoined the track. Brehm’s mistake dropped him to sixth, behind Ludwig Sauer.
Byfeldt’s strong pace allowed him to pit the following lap and maintain his lead over Burns, rejoining the track with a four-second advantage. From there, Byfeldt ran the remaining laps unchallenged, taking the checkered flag with ease.
The Absolute Beginners League will return next Sunday, May 26th, at Mount Panorama Circuit for the FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle. Catch all the action live at 1:55 PM ET on the Virtual Grip Network!
