OBRL CUP SERIES S8 R16 Recap

15 June 2025
OBRL Presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS | Season 8 | Round 16
YesterYear Cup Series | Kentucky Speedway

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series rolled into Kentucky Speedway for round 16 of the season, and what unfolded was one of the most unpredictable and strategy-heavy races of the year — all thanks to the debut of a brand-new tire model that left teams and drivers guessing from green flag to checkers.

From the drop of the green, it was clear this race wouldn’t follow the usual script. Tom Ogle slowed dramatically on the outside lane, bunching up the field and allowing Andrew Kotska to make a quick jump through traffic. But by lap 9, chaos had already erupted. Lloyd Moore lost control off turn four, spinning across the track and collecting Chris Bates in the process. Bates, who came in flirting with the playoff cutoff, saw his night go up in smoke far too early. Despite the drama, few cars opted to pit — likely banking on durability and long-run strategy with the new tires.

Cortney Nelson was the class of the field early. He took command before the first set of green flag stops, stretching his lead with surgical precision. The new tire model gave him an edge — until it didn’t. Around lap 37, Jerry Isaacs was battling for second when he lost the rear end and scraped the wall, prompting an early green flag stop. Just a few laps later, Nelson himself got loose exiting the backstretch. He spun down pit road, made an illegal entry, and had to serve a costly penalty that erased his dominant start.

That opened the door for defending champion Josh Robinson, who had quietly worked his way forward. He took over the lead just as the first round of scheduled pit stops began around lap 50. Behind him, Andrew Kotska tried to play the long game, staying out in hopes of catching a caution to get back on the lead lap — but that gamble backfired. On lap 78, he clipped the outside wall and had to pit, dropping him even farther behind. Not long after, James Hislop — who needed a win to keep his championship hopes alive — spun through the grass and also made an illegal pit entry, earning a lap penalty of his own.

As the race transitioned into its second half, the intensity ramped up. Worn tires and tight packs made every lap a test of patience. Just after lap 110, a lap car spun out, bringing out a much-needed caution. While several mid-pack drivers pitted for fresh tires, the leaders — including Robinson and a rebounding Nelson — stayed out. And that set the stage for a white-knuckle finish.

With ten to go, Robinson was stalking Nelson, who was beginning to struggle for grip on the corner exits. With five laps left, the pass came — clean and clinical. Robinson moved to the inside, got the run, and cleared Nelson down the backstretch. Nelson, desperate to respond, pushed hard — maybe too hard — and spun once more, sealing the victory for Robinson.

When the checkered flag waved, it was Josh Robinson standing tall with another win, reminding the field why he wears the crown. Nelson, despite the spin, still managed a strong showing, but his race was defined by what might have been. Jerry Isaacs and Tom Ogle rounded out the top five after navigating the tire wear and pit strategy puzzle better than most.

In the end, Kentucky reminded everyone just how challenging sim racing can be when new variables get thrown into the mix. The tire model kept things fresh, strategy mattered more than ever, and tire management separated the contenders from the pretenders.

With just a few rounds left before the playoffs, this one will be remembered as a turning point in the season — and a signature win for Robinson.

BRL OUTLAWS S39 R11 Recap

14 June 2025
Bootleg Racing League | Season 39 | Round 11
Outlaw Modified Series | New Smyrna Speedway

The lights were bright over New Smyrna Speedway for the Season 39 finale of the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series, and while the championship was already locked up by James Lowe, the season’s final chapter still had plenty of drama left to write.

Coming into the night, all eyes were on Brennan Myers. He’d been fast in practice and when the green flag dropped, he wasted no time asserting himself at the front of the field. Myers grabbed the lead early and began to stretch his legs, putting together consistent laps while the rest of the field sorted themselves out behind him.

But this wasn’t going to be a Sunday cruise. James Lehman, who had shown solid pace started working his way forward and quickly emerged as Myers’ biggest threat. For nearly 40 laps, the two ran nose-to-tail, exchanging the lead in a couple of slick crossover moves and keeping fans — and spotters — on edge.

Further back, Alan Wannamaker ran a methodical race, staying out of trouble and managing his tires. Ruben Altice, known for his consistency, kept himself in the top five, waiting for the fireworks up front to create opportunity.

And those fireworks finally came. With just a couple laps remaining, Lehman made one last push, diving hard into turn 3 on the final lap. He drove in deep, maybe too deep, making contact with James Lowe and both drivers spun out of turn 4 as the white flag waved. Myers, who had been holding his line, slipped through untouched and crossed the line to take his first win of the season in dramatic fashion.

Altice seized the moment to slide into second, and Wannamaker completed the podium in third, making the most of a steady, mistake-free drive. Lowe, already crowned champion after clinching the title a week earlier at Five Flags, had a disappointing end to his season, but was still hoisting the Season 39 trophy at night’s end.

So, while the championship may have been a done deal, the final race gave us everything fans have come to expect from the BRL — tight racing, aggressive strategy, and a last-lap twist worthy of a highlight reel.

Congrats to Brandon Myers on a clutch victory, and to James Lowe on a dominant season. Season 40 awaits.

MVRL ARCA SERIES S1 R11 Recap

09 June 2025
Maximum Velocity Racing League | Season 1 | Round 11
ARCA Series | Martinsville Speedway

The penultimate round of Season 1 in the Maximum Velocity Racing League’s ARCA Series brought the field to the paperclip — Martinsville Speedway — and the short track drama did not disappoint. In a night dominated by cautions, contact, and comebacks, James Lehman delivered a wire-to-wire masterclass, leading every green-flag lap and making a huge statement with just one race left in the season.

The chaos started early. On lap 1, a massive pileup in Turn 3 took out several contenders — including Cal Majkowski and Chris Braley, both of whom found the wall and struggled to recover. Juen-Jen Wang jumped up five positions during the shuffle and looked like a serious dark horse in the early going.

When the dust settled and racing resumed, Lehman and Greg Maul broke away from the pack. The two-car train pulled clear as the rest of the field scrapped for stage points and survival. Maul was glued to Lehman’s bumper for most of the race, but never quite found the momentum to make a pass stick.

Back in the pack, the championship picture started to shift. Aiden Young, one of Lehman’s main title rivals, was caught up in the opening crash and fell two laps down. But Young refused to give up. Staying out during the stage break and taking the wave-around, he began methodically clawing his way back into the top 10 — fighting hard for the Lucky Dog and holding off faster cars just to stay in contention.

With about 30 laps to go, tire wear became a major factor. Drivers started to slide, and that’s when Wang’s night unraveled — a late-race spin sent him hard into the outside wall. That caution shook up the top 10 and gave Michael Milfelt the break he needed to slide up into the top tier. From there, it was a tense final run to the finish.

But through all of it, Lehman never cracked. He held the lead on every restart, kept Maul at bay, and crossed the line for his second win of the season, delivering a dominant and decisive drive at one of the trickiest tracks on the schedule. Maul had to settle for second, while Jack “Killer” Watts finished third after a quiet but efficient race.

Young’s comeback to finish 10th could be pivotal in the championship, especially with drop weeks in play — and with rivals like Justin Michael struggling all night, the title race is now officially Lehman’s to lose.

Next Monday night, it’s the season finale at Michigan International Speedway, and with its long straights and wide corners, it’ll be a very different kind of challenge. The title fight remains wide open, and after what we saw at Martinsville, there’s no telling how this one will end.

Catch all the action live next week only on the Virtual Grip Network!

OBRL CUP SERIES S8 R15 Recap

08 June 2025
OBRL Presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS | Season 8 | Round 15
YesterYear Cup Series | Michigan International Speedway

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series made its stop at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway for Race 15 of the season, delivering a barnburner of a race with 110 laps of high-speed, four-wide action. Cool temperatures gave drivers extra grip, and they made the most of it—pushing tires and each other to the absolute limit in a true test of strategy, patience, and raw pace.

The race got underway cleanly with Daniel Hill grabbing the early lead, fending off a strong charge from Jerry Isaacs in the opening laps. As the field settled in, long green flag runs put the spotlight on tire management and pit strategy. A late-race caution turned the race on its head, packing the field and igniting a flurry of position changes. Drivers like Wayne Hufford and Dwayne McArthur capitalized with short-pit strategies that vaulted them up the leaderboard.

Andrew Medlin, a regular top-10 threat, looked strong early but was bitten by a costly penalty that knocked him a lap down. Meanwhile, technical issues took other contenders out of the hunt entirely, underscoring the unpredictable nature of sim racing at this level.

When the dust settled, it was Dwayne McArthur who stood tall once again—executing a flawless final run to the checkered flag to pick up his fifth win of the season. Hill crossed the line in second, while defending champion Josh Robinson recovered from a rough pit sequence to round out the podium in third. Isaacs stayed in the hunt all night and delivered another consistent top-five finish as one of the best-performing drivers this season without a win.

Notable Performances:

• Dwayne MacArthur: Once again in a class of his own, combining tire discipline, track position, and smart pit work for a dominant win.
• Daniel Hill: Strong from the start and nearly pulled off the upset in the final laps.
• Josh Robinson: Battled back from pit road issues to score a critical podium and keep his championship hopes alive.
• Jerry Isaacs: Quietly efficient and fast, maintaining pressure on the leaders throughout the second half of the race.

This week’s race was a showcase of what the OBRL does best—tight, respectful racing with a deep field of skilled veterans. With only a few rounds remaining, the pressure continues to mount as the season barrels toward its conclusion.

BRL OUTLAWS S39 R10 Recap

07 June 2025
Bootleg Racing League | Season 39 | Round 10
Outlaw Modified Series | South Boston Speedway

Saturday night, June 7th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modifieds stormed into South Boston Speedway for the penultimate round of Season 39, and fans were treated to an absolute short track slugfest.

The Hilbert brothers brought the fire early — Tom Hilbert launched from the front row and took command of the race right away, while Steve Hilbert found himself stuck mid-pack, wrestling his way through traffic and adding some sibling rivalry spice to the early laps.

But the first major twist came just past lap 15, when a multi-car pileup shook up the field. The crash took out Todd Cousins and “The Canadian Goose” John Wilson, thinning the pack and setting the tone for what would become a night of attrition and survival.

On the restart, it was Chris Davis who seized control. He jumped to the lead and began setting the pace out front while under pressure from James Lowe, who had been steadily climbing his way through the field.

Lowe’s charge was one of the stories of the night — starting deep in the field, he picked off cars one by one, eventually closing the gap to Davis with about 20 laps to go. Meanwhile, Adam Schoen put on a clinic in recovery driving, starting 18th and slicing his way through the chaos into third, grabbing the hard charger honors of the night.

Behind them, the battle for third was fierce, with Schoen, Brennan Myers, and Todd Liston trading paint in a tense scrap. Myers, who had skipped practice, still managed to show up and throw down — turning heads with his raw pace and adaptability.

Despite the pressure, Davis held firm. Lap after lap, he kept Lowe at bay, managing traffic expertly and fending off every challenge to secure a hard-earned victory under the lights at South Boston.

Top 5 finishers:

1. Chris Davis – Controlled the race after the early caution and never looked back.
2. James Lowe – Late charge through the field, just ran out of laps.
3. Adam Schoen – Gained 15 spots, brilliant comeback.
4. Brennan Myers – No practice, no problem — brought home a solid finish.
5. Todd Liston – Quietly consistent, held his ground in the top 5 fight.

With only one race left in the season, all eyes now turn to the championship finale. Can Davis carry the momentum? Will Lowe strike back? And who else will rise in the final showdown?

Catch all the action next Saturday night, June 14th, live at 7:45PM ET — only on the Virtual Grip Network!

MVRL ARCA SERIES S1 R10 Recap

02 June 2025
Maximum Velocity Racing League | Season 1 | Round 10
ARCA Series | Talladega Superspeedway

Monday night, June 2nd, the Maximum Velocity ARCA Series rolled into Talladega Superspeedway — and as expected, the race turned into an absolute drafting chess match filled with wild moments, big wrecks, and a fuel strategy masterclass that caught everyone off guard.

Brandon Groover led the field to green after taking the pole in qualifying, with heavy hitters James Lehman and Justin Michael lined up just behind, setting the stage for a night of high-speed pack racing and split-second decision-making.

From the drop of the green, it was vintage Talladega — three-wide action, constant lead changes, and the draft coming into play every lap. The first stage break was set for lap 21, but a late caution just before the scheduled yellow meant the stage break merged into the caution period. Still, strategy started forming early — especially with fuel mileage on everyone’s minds.

As the field reset, Justin Michael made a charge to the front and led a solid stretch before getting shuffled out late. Zachary Chapman took over the top spot heading into the final 10 laps, with Aiden Young right on his bumper. But chaos would strike again — a massive wreck with about five laps to go took out several contenders, including Christopher Howell, and left Tyler Starcher inheriting the lead.

That caution set up a high-stakes shootout, and just when it looked like Stucker might hold on, Michael Milfelt made a daring move in the final moments. But the twist didn’t end there — Kyle Kieselbach, who had quietly played the fuel game to perfection, stayed tucked in the pack, avoided the wrecks, and emerged from the smoke to steal the win at the line.

In classic Talladega fashion, the final laps were pure chaos — proving once again that survival, strategy, and timing matter just as much as speed. Several lesser-known names had breakout runs, and the championship picture tightened up heading into the next round.

The ARCA Series returns Monday, June 9th, with more high-stakes action — only on the Virtual Grip Network!

OBRL CUP SERIES S8 R14 Recap

01 June 2025
OBRL Presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS | Season 8 | Round 14
YesterYear Cup Series | Nashville Superspeedway

Sunday night, June 1st, the OBRL, presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS, rolled into Nashville Superspeedway for Round 14 of Season 8 in the YesterYear Racing Cup Series — and what followed was a masterclass in long-run strategy.

Dan Hill earned the pole with a blistering 29.477, with Lloyd Moore alongside. From the drop of the green, the early laps were all about Hill and Tom Ogle, as the two swapped the lead back and forth over the first 30 laps in a thrilling battle up front. Eventually, Hill edged out the advantage, but the duel gave time for the rest of the field to close in.

Josh Robinson, starting from 5th, dropped back early to save his tires — and that patience paid off. As Hill and Ogle wore theirs out, Robinson began carving his way back toward the front. Cortney Nelson, running a strong third, was also inching closer to the lead, but by lap 50, Robinson had caught him — just as Nelson reached Ogle’s bumper, making it a four-car battle for the top spot.

Behind them, Jerry Isaacs threw a curveball by pitting early on lap 51, opting for an aggressive alternate strategy. Meanwhile, Nelson muscled into second, and Robinson followed him through — both closing fast on the fading Hill.

By lap 60, Robinson made his move — charging past Hill and immediately opening up a gap, setting the fastest laps on the track. That signaled the beginning of green-flag pit stops. Robinson stayed out until lap 70, stretching his tires and fuel before giving up the lead to Nelson, who ran one lap longer.

The second stint mirrored the first — Robinson again managing his equipment better than anyone else and eventually reclaiming the lead, this time from Ogle, pulling away with ease.

With no cautions to reset the field, lap traffic added another layer of challenge, but Robinson maintained control. As the final pit window opened, he once again stayed out longer than the rest — finally pitting with 43 laps to go. The gap he’d built was so significant that he rejoined in provisional 2nd, directly behind Ogle.

From there, it didn’t take long. With 23 laps remaining, Robinson dove under Ogle and beat him to the line to retake the race lead. Ogle tried to fight back on the outside but couldn’t hold off the charge.

Robinson cruised to the checkered flag after a flawless performance built on strategy, patience, and pace — claiming a dominant win on a caution-free night in Nashville.

The OBRL is back next Sunday, June 8th, at Michigan International Speedway for Round 15, with coverage live at 8PM Eastern, only on the Virtual Grip Network!

BRL OUTLAWS S39 R9 Recap

31 May 2025
Bootleg Racing League | Season 39 | Round 9
Outlaw Modified Series | Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

Saturday night, May 31st, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series rolled into Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway for Round 9 of Season 39, and all eyes were on James Lowe, who entered the night with a commanding 33-point lead in the standings. With just three races remaining, all Lowe needed to do was take the grid — and he did, starting back in 10th.

Bruce Pearson led the field to green with Steve Hilbert alongside. Pearson controlled the early going, but Todd Liston came storming up from third, taking second place on lap 1 and applying immediate pressure. Hilbert didn’t make it easy, staying glued to Liston’s bumper and preventing him from taking a clean shot at the lead.

But on lap 14, Liston made his move — diving low under Pearson in turn 3 to claim the top spot. Pearson quickly regrouped and shut the door on Hilbert to hold second. Meanwhile, Lowe was quietly picking his way through the field, bringing Chris Davis along in his tire tracks.

By the halfway point, Lowe had worked his way into second, with Davis right behind in third. But Liston had built a 1.5-second lead, and it looked like he might run away with it — until a caution flew on lap 65, erasing the gap and setting up a showdown.

On the restart with 31 laps to go, Lowe didn’t wait around. He executed a perfect crossover move on Liston down the backstretch to take the lead, while Davis followed suit, sliding into second just a few laps later. Davis stayed glued to Lowe’s bumper the rest of the way, but Lowe never put a wheel wrong.

With a calm, calculated drive, James Lowe collected yet another win on the season and all but locked up the Season 39 championship — a title that now feels like a mere formality.

Next Saturday, June 7th, the Outlaw SK Modifieds head to South Boston Speedway. Tune in live at 7:45PM Eastern, only on the Virtual Grip Network!

MVRL ARCA SERIES S1 R9 Recap

26 May 2025
Maximum Velocity Racing League | Season 1 | Round 9
ARCA Series | New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Monday night, May 26th, the Maximum Velocity Racing League rolled into New Hampshire Motor Speedway to celebrate Memorial Day with a wild one — Race 9 of Season 1 in the MVRL ARCA Series.

James Lehman fired off from the pole with a lap of 30.033 seconds, joined on the front row by Heath Smith. Behind them, the top six — including Justin Michael, Scott Patten, Aiden Young, and Zack Saunders — would end up trading paint and positions all night long.

As has been the story of the season, cautions were plentiful as drivers battled loose-handling race cars, especially on corner exit. Lehman led early but on lap 17, Michael dove deep to the inside in turn 1, drifted up into Lehman, and the two made heavy contact. Both recovered, but the pace was gone — and Smith took full advantage, snatching the lead.

Lehman managed to stay near the podium while Michael faded to seventh. As the cautions continued to shuffle the deck, Young got sent hard into the inside wall on lap 24, ending his night early. Meanwhile, Smith kept command out front with Saunders, Michael, Patten, and Howell all clawing toward the front.

Under caution on lap 38, Lehman made a bold decision — he hit pit road for fresh tires and repairs, dropping all the way back to 25th. But it was the right call. As racing resumed, Lehman carved through traffic, passing cars two and three at a time.

Up front, Smith came under fire from Patten and Saunders. With 26 laps to go, Patten went low for the lead. Smith slipped up out of turn 4 and scraped the wall — and both Patten and Saunders flew by.

Then the race turned chaotic.

With just over 10 to go, Charlie Widner grabbed the lead briefly before things exploded into a four-wide fight through turns 3 and 4 — Saunders, Patten, Widner, and a surging Lehman all going for it. Lehman wisely backed out, but Saunders came out of the dust with the lead.

With 6 to go, the final restart set the stage for a classic duel. Lehman launched an immediate attack, and the two leaders began trading slide jobs lap after lap. Coming to the white flag, Lehman had the lead. But off turn 2, Saunders crossed him over.

They went door-to-door through 3 and 4, Saunders got loose on corner exit, and the two drag-raced to the line. It was Saunders by just 0.008 seconds in a photo finish.

The MVRL ARCA Series returns next Monday, June 2nd from the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway. Don’t miss a lap — coverage goes live at 9:30PM Eastern only on the Virtual Grip Network!

OBRL CUP SERIES S8 R13 Recap

25 May 2025
OBRL Presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS | Season 8 | Round 13
YesterYear Cup Series | Charlotte Motor Speedway

Sunday night, May 25th, the Old Bastards Racing League, presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS, brought the thunder to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a special Memorial Day Weekend showdown—Round 13 of Season 8 in the YesterYear Racing Cup Series.

Cortney Nelson earned the pole with a fast lap of 29.758 seconds, and lined up alongside defending series champion Josh Robinson. From the drop of the green, the race was a showcase of high-speed, multi-groove action. Charlotte offered plenty of room for side-by-side racing, and the drivers took full advantage.

Nelson led the first 12 laps before Robinson surged around the top, using the momentum off the high side to claim the lead. But that lead was short-lived—Lloyd Moore quickly moved in and took over the top spot, stretching out a small but significant gap over the field. Dwayne McArthur and Tom Ogle stayed in hot pursuit while the first caution flew on lap 26 after contact between Nelson and Bryan Lindsey.

On the ensuing pit stop, Scott Negus rolled the dice with a two-tire call and took over the race lead. But that strategy didn’t hold—Negus faded fast, and Moore reclaimed the top spot just a few laps later. A second quick caution allowed Negus to pit for the other two tires, but from that point on, it was all about long-run speed.

As expected from the OBRL, the race went green for the final 123 laps. Moore held the point for a while, but this time around, McArthur wasn’t letting him breathe. By lap 64, Ogle made his move—taking the lead from Moore with a strong inside run through turns 3 and 4. Moore tried to fight back, but McArthur was already slicing up the outside, shuffling Moore back to third.

On lap 69, McArthur passed Ogle and took command of the race just before green flag pit stops began to loom. Around lap 85, drivers started cycling through pit road, and once the shuffle settled by lap 105, McArthur led again—but Robinson was coming.

Lap after lap, Robinson chipped away at the gap. And when McArthur and Ogle resumed their duel for the lead, Robinson was right there to pounce. He took the lead on lap 126 and began to pull away with just over 30 laps to go. But McArthur wasn’t done.

In the final five laps, McArthur reeled in Robinson, staying glued to his bumper and searching for a way through. Then, in the final corner of the final lap, McArthur arced his entry into turn three, shot off the exit of four, and edged ahead at the stripe—taking the win by just 0.056 seconds in one of the closest finishes of the season.

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series returns next Sunday, June 1st, from Nashville Superspeedway with the green flag scheduled for 8:00PM Eastern, live only on the Virtual Grip Network.