Daniel Hill Wins Watkins Glen Thriller

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series rolled into Watkins Glen International for the 24th round of the 2025 season, where 50 laps of high-speed, high-stakes road course action put championship hopes and tempers to the test. When the checkered flag fell, it was Daniel Hill standing tall, collecting his third win of the season after a smooth and mistake-free run in a race where survival was just as important as speed.

From the drop of the green, the Glen proved to be unforgiving. Sean Foltz learned that the hard way, smacking the outside wall early in the race and picking up heavy damage. The trouble didn’t stop there—moments later he looped his car directly in front of Greg Hammond, causing more chaos in the mid-pack. The championship picture also shifted dramatically when points leader Andrew Kotska, enjoying a season with six wins already under his belt, spun out while running strong at the front. That costly moment cracked the door wide open for the rest of the field to pounce.

One of the standout drives of the night came from Courtney Nelson, who started deep in the field and was forced to serve a drive-through penalty early on. Instead of packing it in, Nelson dug deep and consistently clocked some of the fastest laps of the race. Carving through traffic with precision, Nelson powered all the way into the top three by the closing laps, claiming a well-earned podium and leaving fans and competitors alike impressed.

The middle stages of the race were defined by intense, wheel-to-wheel action. Drivers like Tom Ogle, Dwayne McArthur, and James Hislop fought tooth and nail for every inch of track, often separated by less than a car length. Strategy also played a pivotal role, with pit timing proving decisive—Ogle in particular gained valuable ground thanks to a perfectly executed stop that put him in prime position late in the going.

In the end, though, the story was Daniel Hill’s calm, calculated approach. While others battled mistakes, bad luck, or overly ambitious moves, Hill kept his nose clean, hit his marks, and avoided the kind of trouble that claimed so many others. By the final lap, his gap was comfortable, and as the checkered flag waved, Hill crossed the line to secure a statement victory that not only boosts his season stats but could have ripple effects in the championship chase.

Watkins Glen delivered everything fans could ask for—drama, strategy, daring passes, and a few heartbreaks along the way. With the season winding down, the pressure is mounting, and if this race was any indication, the road ahead in the OBRL YesterYear Cup Series is going to be anything but predictable.

Kotska Outlasts the Field in Tire-Shredding Showdown

Andrew Kotska emerged victorious in a grueling 175-lap battle at Iowa Speedway, capturing Round 23 of the OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series with a masterclass in tire management and strategic pacing. The short track’s abrasive surface and mixed grip levels put a premium on patience, and Kotska delivered with a calculated performance that saw him edge out a hard-charging Josh Robinson by just two-tenths of a second at the line. The race was broadcast live on the Virtual Grip Network, with commentators John Heyn and Zach Chapman detailing the treacherous conditions drivers faced all night long.

From the drop of the green flag, it was clear that Iowa wasn’t going to be kind. The newly repaved turns one and two gave plenty of grip on the bottom line, but the rest of the track—including a notoriously bumpy front stretch—demanded absolute precision. Drivers were warned early that turn four would bite anyone too eager on the throttle, and that prediction came true for more than one competitor.

An early yellow forced everyone to rethink their tire strategy. With only a limited number of fresh sets available, drivers like Andrew Medlin and Tom Ogle gambled on taking tires early, while others, including Kotska and Daniel Hill, focused on the long game. As green-flag laps ticked by, tire degradation quickly became the story of the night. Most drivers reported major falloff after just 30 to 40 laps, turning every stint into a balancing act between raw speed and tire longevity. Broadcast insights highlighted how different racing lines—particularly running the bottom versus the top—could wear out either the right front or right rear more aggressively, giving drivers yet another variable to manage in real time.

As the race entered its final stretch, the drama only intensified. Josh Robinson, known for squeezing maximum life out of his tires, began closing the gap to the lead. With no late cautions to reset the field, the leaders were forced to wrestle their cars to the finish on worn-out rubber. Daniel Hill, who had been saving tires all race long, clawed his way into third place with a steady drive, while Tom Ogle, out of fresh sets entirely, managed to bring it home in fifth thanks to clean driving and well-timed pit stops.

The final laps were heart-stopping. Kotska, hanging on with everything he had, confessed in his post-race interview that his right front tire was down to just 1% when he crossed the finish line. It was the perfect mix of aggression and control, and it earned him one of the most satisfying wins of the season. “I had to keep adjusting my pace based on the gaps behind me,” he said. “If they were close, I pushed. If not, I backed off. I had nothing left when it ended.”

With the win, Kotska adds a major highlight to his season, conquering one of the toughest tire tracks on the schedule. The series now turns its attention to the flowing road course at Watkins Glen, where the challenge shifts from managing wear to mastering rhythm, curbing, and braking zones. If Iowa was about endurance and discipline, next week promises a different kind of chaos—one that the OBRL grid seems more than ready for.

Hill Hauls Trash and Trophies at the Brickyard

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series made its annual pilgrimage to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway for 85 laps around the 2.5-mile Brickyard, and when the dust settled, it was Daniel “Trash Man” Hill who hauled home the hardware with a resilient, hard-fought victory.

Courtney Nelson in the #78 grabbed the pole, with Hill alongside in the #7, while last week’s Dover winner Greg McDaniel and several others were shuffled to the back due to penalties from their rough-and-tumble outings the week prior.

The race got off to a rocky start for some, as Lonnie Corey suffered a disconnect just minutes into the run. Strategy quickly became the talk of the day, with some teams eyeing a two-stop approach and others gambling on stretching fuel for a potential one-stopper if the cautions played in their favor. The first half of the race saw drivers fighting not just each other, but the notoriously finicky first and second turns of Indy. Multiple cars got loose, some due to the track’s low grip and others thanks to iRacing updates and packet loss gremlins.

The midway caution shuffled the deck when pit strategy came into play—some opting for two tires, others for four, and a few going for fuel only. That yellow also spelled heartbreak for pole-sitter Nelson, who had dominated the early laps but was collected in a chain-reaction incident during a check-up, ending his chances for a Brickyard win.

That opened the door for Daniel Hill to mount his charge. After an earlier setback, reportedly caused by a “net code” glitch that dropped him back in the pack, Hill put on a masterclass in recovery driving. Lap after lap, he sliced through the field, taking down heavy hitters and setting the fastest lap of the race with just seven laps remaining. When it mattered most, the Trash Man wasn’t just taking out the garbage—he was taking home the checkered flag.

Hill crossed the yard of bricks first, followed by Andrew Medlin in second and Greg McDaniel in third, marking back-to-back podium finishes for the Dover winner. Roger Hurley came home fourth, earning valuable points as the playoff picture begins to tighten.

With just a handful of races left in the season, Hill’s Indy triumph not only adds another trophy to his collection but also cements him as a championship threat heading into the final handful of rounds.

McDaniel Muscles to First Win as Dover Delivers Chaos

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series rolled into the “Monster Mile” for Round 21 of Season 8, and Dover Motor Speedway lived up to its nickname with a race packed full of strategy, drama, and a wild late-race shootout that ended with Greg McDaniel scoring his first win of the season.

Josh Robinson, the defending series champion, started on pole and looked untouchable through much of the race, setting a blistering pace while managing his tires to perfection. Robinson led the majority of laps, while the field behind him split strategies. Several drivers, including Jerry Isaacs, opted for green-flag pit stops, stringing out the field as the race went caution-free through much of its early and middle stages.

In a rare twist for Dover, a couple of spins failed to trigger caution flags. Mark Fisch looped his car on lap 28, and James Hislop made heavy contact with the inside wall a few laps later, but the yellow never flew. The unusual green-flag conditions had crews on edge as strategies began to diverge, with Victor Lane gambling on old tires in hopes of a timely caution. That break finally came late in the race, bunching up the field and breathing life back into contenders like Luke Lane, who had earlier been a lap down but took advantage of the “lucky dog” to get back on the lead lap.

The final 15 laps transformed the race from a strategic chess match into a bare-knuckle brawl. A 13-lap sprint set the stage for chaos, and a green-white-checkered finish brought the crowd to their feet. Greg McDaniel made a daring power move on the outside lane to take the lead and held off Daniel Hill and Dwayne McArthur in the closing moments to secure his first victory of the year and a guaranteed playoff berth.

While McDaniel celebrated, he took a moment to acknowledge contact earlier in the race with Robinson, expressing regret despite commentators calling it a racing incident. For fans, though, the focus was firmly on the closing laps, as the mix of late cautions, differing tire strategies, and bold moves created one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.

With McDaniel now locked into the playoffs and just a few races left before the postseason, the tension in the OBRL paddock is at a fever pitch heading into next week’s round.

Kotska Turns Sonoma into a Wine Country Cruise

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series continued its road course swing with Round 20 at Sonoma Raceway, and it was once again Andrew Kotska putting on a clinic. Coming off a dominant win on the streets of Chicago, Kotska proved he’s the man to beat on technical tracks by securing his fifth win of the season in commanding fashion. The veteran driver led the all of the 50-lap event, navigating Sonoma’s blind corners, elevation changes, and treacherous off-camber turns with surgical precision. He was untouchable on pace, even turning a lap during the race faster than his own qualifying time, and crossed the line a stunning 18 seconds ahead of his closest competition.

Daniel Hill brought home second, unable to match Kotska’s speed but steady enough to stay clear of trouble. Behind them, Jerry Isaacs used pit strategy to leapfrog defending champion Josh Robinson for the final podium spot. Isaacs short-pitted one lap earlier than Robinson and laid down a perfect outlap, giving him the edge as pit cycles completed. Robinson, always a threat, had a clean run himself but couldn’t reclaim the position and settled for fourth, with Courtney Nelson rounding out the top five after a charge through the field. Nelson, who started from the rear due to a penalty, gained nearly ten positions in the opening laps and pulled off one of the saves of the season after a near-spin from curb contact midway through the race.

Several other drivers found trouble as the tricky road course claimed victims throughout the field. Tom Ogle had a fast car but struggled with consistency, suffering two odd slowdowns and eventually spinning into the wall, collecting Roger Hurley in the process. Dwayne MacArthur also endured a rough outing, catching a curb in the Esses and slamming the wall hard enough to blow smoke from his engine, effectively ending his night.

Despite the demanding nature of the circuit, five drivers managed to finish the race with zero incident points: Kotska, Hill, Isaacs, Allan Wannamaker, and Tom Emasie—no small feat at a track where the slightest misstep can end your race. Their clean driving stood out in a field full of off-tracks, spins, and wall contact.

With the series heading to the high-banked concrete oval of Dover International Speedway next week—the infamous “Monster Mile”—drivers will trade road course finesse for short track aggression. Kotska, with back-to-back wins and momentum in hand, will look to continue his run, but Dover’s unforgiving nature promises to shake things up as the season winds toward its final stretch.

Kotska Cruises at the Concrete Jungle

Chicago, IL – Week 19, July 6, 2025
The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series rolled into the virtual streets of Chicago for Round 19 of the season, and what followed was one of the most technically demanding, physically punishing, and mentally exhausting races of the year. With no runoff, no full-course cautions, and no margin for error, the Chicago Street Course turned the field into survivalists — and when the dust settled, Andrew Kotska stood tall, returning from a brief hiatus to dominate the race and claim his fourth win of the season.

From the drop of the green flag, it was clear that racing the track, not the competition, would define this event. The Chicago layout, with its tight turns and relentless concrete barriers, punished every misstep. As one commentator aptly put it, “If you lock the brakes, you’re probably in the wall” — a reality that came true repeatedly over the 90-minute feature.

There were no full-course cautions, meaning every mistake came with full consequence. Those who clipped a wall or spun had to limp around the entire circuit or make a quick pit stop under green, knowing they’d fall multiple positions without the field ever bunching back up.

Among those who felt the sting of the street course early was Daniel Hill, nicknamed “the Trash Man,” who found himself sweeping his own race away after a spin on lap 9 and another costly incident later on. The damage eventually forced him off the track before the checkered flag.

Meanwhile, other drivers took a more cautious approach. Christian Loschen and Daryl Wineinger emerged as consistent podium threats, each navigating the narrow city circuit with grit and discipline. Their duel for second place was among the most exciting elements of the race’s second half, with Weininger eventually settling into third.

Several contenders succeeded in making it to the end without pitting, and their ability to do so while navigating the trickiest corners in sim racing — particularly Turn 1, the fountain complex, and the tight carousel — was a true test of patience and focus. Over-driving any of these sections often led to instant disaster. As fatigue set in, cars became more erratic, the rear ends lively, and tire falloff increasingly punishing.

At the front of it all was Andrew Kotska, who returned to the series with a purpose. His performance at Chicago was nothing short of surgical. After taking the lead early, he methodically built and maintained a gap, avoiding incidents and keeping his marks clean through each of the 12 turns lap after lap. While others scraped the walls or gambled with grip, Kotska managed the new tire model brilliantly, keeping the rear tires underneath him and executing a near-perfect race en route to the win.

“He just didn’t put a wheel wrong all night,” said one of the commentators. “You have to be precise and calm out there, and Kotska made it look easy.”

Behind him, Christian Loschen came home in second after a quiet but consistent run, followed by Daryl Wineinger in third. Tom Ogle and Jerry Isaacs rounded out the top five after solid efforts on one of the series’ most punishing tracks.

With Chicago in the rearview, the series heads to another road course — the sweeping hills of Sonoma Raceway. While not as punishing as Chicago, the track is expected to serve as a wild card round, potentially shaking up the standings with elevation changes, tire wear challenges, and limited passing zones.

The big question: Can anyone stop Kotska’s momentum? Or will Sonoma deliver another unexpected twist in this late-season stretch?

Hislop Claims First Season Victory in Wild Atlanta Finish

Atlanta, GA – June 29, 2025
In a season defined by unpredictability, drama, and razor-thin margins, Round 18 of the OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series at the virtual Atlanta Motor Speedway delivered what may have been the most intense finish yet. In a green-white-checkered dash to the line, James Hislop stormed from 27th on the grid to capture his first victory of the season and lock himself into the playoffs.

After Cortney Nelson’s green-white-checkered triumph at Pocono one week earlier, the series shifted to Atlanta—a track that has previously produced epic moments, including Daniel Hill’s memorable three-wide victory earlier this season. But this time, things were different.

A recent iRacing aero update dramatically changed the feel of the cars, making them more difficult to control and sensitive to the air around them. The reduced grip and volatile handling forced drivers to rethink how they approached the draft, restarts, and corner entries.

As commentator Zach “Shaggy” Chapman noted during the broadcast, “These guys aren’t just racing the track—they’re wrestling their cars every lap.”

The opening laps were all about adaptation. Patience was key as drivers tried to stay within half a second of the car in front—close enough to draft, but far enough to avoid unsettling the car in dirty air.

Luke Lane impressed early, charging from the rear of the field and gaining nine spots within the first 15 minutes. But it wouldn’t last—his night took a dramatic turn when a slide through the grass and hard contact forced him to retire just past the quarter mark of the race.

Meanwhile, pit road became a critical battleground. Tom Ogle was hit with a speeding penalty, then eventually parked the car. Daniel Hill also suffered a costly pit miscue but fought back valiantly into podium position by race end.

Cautions came early and often, with one major incident collecting multiple drivers after a spin off Turn 4. Veteran Dwayne McArthur prophetically predicted more carnage, and the field didn’t disappoint. Contact between mid-pack drivers and volatile corner exits led to several crashes that jumbled up the standings and tested the patience of contenders.

Strategic plays around Lucky Dog opportunities paid off for drivers like Michael Dow, who managed to claw their way back onto the lead lap thanks to timely cautions. In contrast, others gambled on staying out and were caught off-cycle when yellow flags flew.

With many top contenders eliminated or shuffled back by strategy, the stage was set for a new name to rise. A handful of winless drivers occupied the top 10 late in the going, and the conversation turned to who would seize the moment.

A final restart brought the field to a green-white-checkered finish, ratcheting up the tension. James Hislop, who had quietly worked his way forward all night, took the outside lane and timed the run perfectly. In a chaotic final lap, Hislop emerged on the front stretch with a clear advantage while Hurley edged out Hill for 2nd by a thousandth of a second.

Post-Race Reactions:

• 🏁 James Hislop (1st):
  “That was white knuckle, man. I’m just relieved. We’ve got some road courses coming up and those aren’t really my thing, so to lock this in now—it means everything.”
• Daniel Hill (3rd):
  “That was crazy. Probably one of the hardest races I’ve driven this season. I had to fight back from that pit road issue, but somehow, we got back up here. A lot of luck and a lot of grit.”
• Roger Hurley (2nd):
  Hurley’s mic failed post-race, but his effort spoke volumes. A performance that will surely carry momentum into next week.

With only a few rounds remaining in Season 8, the tour now turns toward the Chicago Street Course—a road race that could shake up the playoff picture even further. For Hislop, this was a win that could not have come at a better time. For Hill and others, it’s another reminder that in the OBRL, no lead is safe, and no race is predictable.

Nelson Clinches Late Victory in OBRL’s Strategic Showdown at Pocono

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series rolled into Pocono Raceway for Round 17 of Season 8, where the legendary “Tricky Triangle” lived up to its name. With a mix of high-speed straightaways and three uniquely challenging corners, drivers were tested on every lap—mentally and mechanically. When the dust settled after 80 laps of drama and daring strategy, it was Cortney Nelson who emerged victorious in a thrilling green-white-checkered finish.

The top 10 grid featured a blend of proven contenders and consistent performers. Daniel Hill, showing strong early pace, qualified near the front. Wayne Huffford, fastest in final practice, looked poised to make waves but couldn’t quite replicate the lap in qualifying. Luke Lane was hit with a setback before the green flag ever waved, forced to start from the rear due to an early-lap penalty that nullified his time.

When the race went green, it didn’t take long for Daniel Hill to assert control. Lap after lap, he carved clean lines through Turn 1 and arced his car beautifully through Pocono’s challenging Tunnel Turn. It was clear early on: Hill was the car to beat.

For much of the event, the plan looked bulletproof. That all changed in the final third of the race.

With the green flag runs piling up, tire wear began to rear its head—several drivers were forced to pit early, and those on older tires began to drop back quickly. Then came a wave of late cautions that turned strategy into chaos. Among those caught up in the mess was Luke Lane, who had fought all the way from the rear into contention, only to be collected in a multi-car crash with fewer than 10 laps to go.

Hill opted to come down pit road under the caution, but in a surprising move, Nelson stayed out taking the race lead. Hill rejoined the track in 7th bringing fresher tires and eager to reclaim the lead. Repeated restarts made everything more difficult for Hill bunching up the field around him and erasing precious laps he needed to mount a challenge for Nelson.

With the race under caution again with two to go, officials lined the field up for a green-white-checkered restart. Cortney Nelson, who had quietly worked his way forward with clean, consistent laps, suddenly found himself in a great position out front with Hill and McArthur busy battling each other for 2nd place.

Daniel Hill got the spot from McArthur but couldn’t get the run he needed to close in on Nelson. Nelson executed a flawless final two laps to capture the win—another highlight in what’s been a quietly consistent campaign.

Pocono Raceway once again proved why it’s one of the most challenging and exciting venues on the sim racing calendar. Strategy, discipline, and adaptability were the keys to success. Cortney Nelson’s win wasn’t just about having a fast car—it was about being in the right place at the right time and executing under pressure.

With just a few rounds left in the OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series Season 8, the points battle is tightening and momentum is everything. If Pocono was any indication, fans are in for an electrifying finish to the season.

MVRL ARCA SERIES S1 R12 Recap

Michael Seals Championship in Wild Michigan Finale

The final round of the MVRL ARCA Series Season 1 brought drivers to the high-speed oval of Michigan International Speedway, but the drama kicked off well before the green flag dropped. Points leader James Lehman was absent — for good reason — as he and his wife were at the hospital awaiting the birth of their child. With no provisional points and no drop races available, Lehman’s championship lead was suddenly up for grabs, and the title hunt exploded wide open.

Qualifying Chaos and a Quick Shake-Up

The night began with a frantic qualifying session, setting the tone for a wild finale. Jack “Killer” Watts grabbed the early advantage, leading the opening lap, but William “Red Alert” Kirk quickly took control before the field could even settle in.

It didn’t take long for the action to escalate. A multi-car spin off turn two brought out the first caution, scattering the field and shaking up the running order. Justin Michael surged forward, while Charlie Widner rocketed from 18th to 7th, setting himself up as a dark horse in the title picture.

At the stage break, the entire field headed to pit road — but the strategies couldn’t have been more varied. Christopher Howell and Zack Saunders pitted early, while Justin Michael surprised everyone by making a quick stop on lap 10 and then pitting again later, clearly prioritizing fuel over a full tire change. It was a bold move, and with the long green flag runs Michigan is known for, it could’ve gone either way.

Meanwhile, others pushed their equipment to the limit. The Groover brothers were aggressive early, using every bit of tire to gain positions — but risking longevity in the process.

Mid-Race Mayhem: Aggression Boils Over

Justin Michael eventually cycled into the lead, but it didn’t last long. Charles Widner, trying to make something happen, side-drafted Howell aggressively, sending him spinning and bringing out another caution. Most of the field pitted again, this time topping off on fuel, while others tried to hold track position.

As the race resumed, Gary Offutt briefly grabbed the lead before Michael returned to the front. The action intensified in the final 30 laps as Scott Patton, Brad Slagel, and Michael Milfelt all began to claw their way into the fight.

Slagel’s night took a hit when he lost the rear off turn two and spun into the outside wall, while Widner kept pressing hard, closing the gap on the leaders as tire wear began to show. A series of small mistakes and off-track excursions from Howell, Saunders, and Milfelt gradually removed them from contention — all of which played perfectly into Michael’s patient strategy.

Tire Strategy: Risk, Reward, and Recovery

Tire management proved to be absolutely critical. With a limited number of sets and a long fuel window, many drivers opted to take fuel only, hoping for a late-race caution to bolt on a fresh set for a final push. Michael’s unconventional strategy — pitting early and focusing on track position — could have ended in disaster. He even spun off the apron early in the race, miraculously avoiding both the grass and the wall, and was able to rejoin without damage.

The track itself played a role in saving several drivers. Michigan’s wide racing surface and paved apron gave spinning cars room to recover without terminal damage, a luxury that wouldn’t have existed at a place like Pocono or Darlington.

As the field thinned and the rubber wore thin, drivers with a little extra tire left in the bank began to close. But the clean air Michael had worked so hard to maintain proved crucial, and with Widner and Patton pushing behind him, he held firm up front.

Final-Lap Fireworks and a Championship Clinched

The closing laps were filled with tension. Scott Patton gave Michael everything he had, pulling alongside in turns one and two and taking a look under him on the backstretch. But Michael held the line, managed the draft, and stayed cool under pressure.

Behind them, Widner was making one last push, trying to overtake Slagel for third and potentially steal the title if things broke his way. He would ultimately come up just short. Patton faded on the final lap, and Michael crossed the line in first — claiming both the race victory and the championship.

Widner finished fourth, locking up second in the standings, while Milfelt, who had entered the night with a mathematical shot at the title, was eliminated from contention after an off-track incident. Kirk, Watts, and Offutt all had solid drives but were out of the title picture by the final stint.

Final Thoughts

With the unexpected twist of James Lehman missing the finale, the championship was anything but decided heading into Michigan — and it showed. Tire wear, fuel gambles, caution timing, and even a bit of good old-fashioned luck played massive roles in shaping the outcome.

Justin Michael’s early spin could’ve ended his night. Instead, it became the turning point in his miraculous recovery and eventual title-clinching win. And with a new champion crowned and a new baby in the Lehman household, the MVRL ARCA Series closed out its inaugural season in dramatic, unforgettable fashion.