OBRL CUP SERIES S8 R12 Recap

11 May 2025
OBRL Presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS | Season 8 | Round 12
YesterYear Cup Series | Kansas Speedway

Sunday night, May 11th, the Old Bastards Racing League’s YesterYear Racing Cup Series rolled into Kansas Speedway for Round 12 of Season 8, and the night delivered a strategic and hard-fought showdown under the lights.

Josh Robinson, the defending champion, started from the pole but played things cautiously in the opening laps, slipping back while Robert Guarisco charged to the front using the high line—a move that inspired many to test the outer groove. Bryan Lindsey and Andrew Kotska kept the pressure on early, but by lap 18, Robinson turned up the wick and surged back to the lead.

The night was defined by tire strategy, track position, and relentless side-by-side racing. A lap 27 caution triggered pit stops for the full field, and while Robinson held the lead on the restart, Dwayne McArthur wasted no time diving low to take it away. McArthur became the man to beat, defending his position against wave after wave of challengers—Kotska, Lloyd Moore, and eventually Robinson, who worked back to the front after briefly slipping to fourth.

A second caution at lap 62 shuffled things again, and a late-race yellow with 48 laps to go opened the door for fresh tires. In a bold gamble, Jerry Isaacs stayed out to inherit the lead, but it was short-lived. Robinson took two tires and came out ahead of McArthur—but the call didn’t hold up. McArthur regained the lead just a few laps later and never looked back, laying down flying laps with Robinson and Kotska in pursuit.

As the run wore on, Kotska faded, with Clay Walker and Christian Loschen moving up. Loschen latched onto Robinson’s bumper, but no one had the tire life to match McArthur, who claimed his second win in a row and third of the season in dominant fashion.

The OBRL heads to North Wilkesboro Speedway for an All-Star race next weekend, but Virtual Grip Network will return to cover the points-paying action on Sunday, May 25th, from Charlotte Motor Speedway, live at 8:00PM ET.

BRL OUTLAWS S39 R7 Recap

10 May 2025
Bootleg Racing League | Season 39 | Round 7
Outlaw Modified Series | The Bullring at Las Vegas

Saturday night, May 10th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series stormed into The Bullring at Las Vegas for Round 7 of Season 39, where James Lowe came in holding a commanding 19-point lead in the standings and riding a red-hot winning streak. But the night would finally bring a change at the front.

Kurt Smith started on pole but quickly faded with handling issues, opening the door for Jason Menda, who surged from 4th to the lead in the opening laps. Tre Blohm also made a strong early charge, while the usual suspects—James Lowe and defending champ Aiden Young—bided their time mid-pack.

Lowe cut through traffic aggressively and was up to Menda’s rear bumper by lap 19. What followed was a tense battle for the lead, with Menda fending off relentless pressure. But on lap 26, the fight turned physical—Lowe clipped Menda’s left rear, sending him spinning into the infield without triggering a caution. Lowe fell to 6th; Menda to the back.

Chris Davis inherited the lead but had Aiden Young breathing down his neck. Sensing an opportunity, Young made his move on lap 33, taking over the top spot and immediately pulling away. Meanwhile, Lowe recovered and clawed his way back to second, setting up a final charge.

But Young had checked out, and despite Lowe’s late push, the defending champion took the checkered flag, snapping Lowe’s winning streak in the process. With Young running part-time, Lowe’s lead in the points only grew—now 29 points clear of Tre Blohm as the series heads into its final stretch.

The Bootleg Racing League returns next Saturday, May 17th, from Southern National Speedway, with coverage going live at 7:40PM ET, only on the Virtual Grip Network!

MVRL ARCA SERIES S1 R6 Recap

05 May 2025
Maximum Velocity Racing League | Season 1 | Round 6
ARCA Series | Kern Raceway

Monday, May 5th saw the Maximum Velocity Racing League’s ARCA Series take on Kern Raceway for Round 6 of Season 1, and with a massive 41-car field, the short track was anything but forgiving. The night was marred by constant cautions and short green-flag runs, with strategy and patience proving just as important as raw speed.

James Lehman set the pace in qualifying with a fast lap of 18.351, but it was Justin Michael who jumped to the lead on the opening lap using the outside line—just before the first of many yellows flew. From there, the race became a stop-start affair as incidents throughout the field repeatedly broke the rhythm.

Raul Alvis used the restarts to his advantage early, moving into 2nd by lap 16 and applying pressure on Michael. He nearly took the lead on lap 31, but Michael defended well. A stage break at lap 45 shuffled the front with most of the leaders pitting, handing the top spot to Heath Smith.

The complexion of the race changed on lap 52 when Michael was turned on the backstretch by Alvis while working his way back through the field. Alvis stayed aggressive, climbing into the top 5, while Lehman took a more measured approach—climbing steadily, staying clean, and keeping the leaders in sight.

As the race progressed into its second half, Lehman got the better of Alvis in a tense side-by-side duel. That battle left Alvis exposed to Aiden Young, setting off another moment of chaos. Alvis attempted a crossover move on Young but came down across Zach Chapman, who was already there, losing momentum in the process. Though he recovered, tensions between Alvis and Chapman continued to build.

The two found each other again after a restart on lap 80, and the feud reached a boiling point as they traded contact repeatedly. Eventually, Alvis’s aggressive style caught up with him—after muscling past Chapman for 3rd, he got loose and was tagged by Chapman, ending his night prematurely.

Up front, Lehman faced heavy pressure from Young as the laps wound down but held his ground with calm and control to claim the win in a chaotic night at Kern. It’s Lehman’s 2nd win of the season and a major boost in the standings.

The Maximum Velocity Racing League ARCA Series returns next Sunday, May 12th, heading to Chicagoland Speedway for Round 7, with live coverage beginning at 9:25PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!

OBRL CUP SERIES S8 R11 Recap

04 May 2025
OBRL Presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS | Season 8 | Round 11
YesterYear Cup Series | Texas Motor Speedway

Sunday, May 4th brought the OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series, presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS, to the high banks of Texas Motor Speedway for Round 11 of Season 8, and the race delivered a wild night full of twists, cautions, and an epic late-race charge.

TJ Rogers earned the pole with a lap of 30.050 seconds, joined on the front row by Dan Hill. From the drop of the green, the racing was tight and aggressive, with loose track conditions putting drivers on edge throughout the field. The large pack never strung out much due to frequent cautions, keeping intensity levels high and testing every driver’s focus.

Rogers initially led the way but was under heavy pressure from Dwayne McArthur in the opening laps. The early part of the race stayed tightly contested, but things took a turn on lap 25 when contact between Hill and Andrew Kotska brought out a caution. The entire field came down pit road, but Rogers had pit trouble, dropping him deep into the running order and handing the lead to McArthur.

On the restart, McArthur found himself in a fierce fight with Chris Bates, who took the lead on lap 36. Bates’s time at the front was brief, however, as McArthur reclaimed the top spot on lap 44, this time dragging Tom Ogle, Greg McDaniel, and Robert Guarisco with him. From there, McArthur continued to lead, with Ogle in hot pursuit but unable to mount a serious challenge.

The race flipped again under caution on lap 81, when McArthur surprised everyone by coming down pit road alone for fresh tires. It dropped him to the rear, but it proved to be a pivotal moment. As the race restarted, McArthur began an incredible charge back through the field. With 30 laps to go, he passed Clay Walker for 2nd, then quickly reeled in and overtook Ogle for the lead.

In clean air once again, McArthur never looked back. Late attempts to challenge him fizzled as tire wear became the deciding factor. McArthur had just enough rubber left to hold off all challengers, scoring his second win of the season with a masterclass in tire strategy and perseverance.

Despite dropping out early due to technical issues, Josh Robinson maintains the points lead, sitting 21 points ahead of Tom Ogle heading into next week’s race.

The series heads to Kansas Speedway next for Round 12, with coverage going live Sunday, May 11th at 8:00PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!

BRL OUTLAWS S39 R6 Recap

03 May 2025
Bootleg Racing League | Season 39 | Round 6
Outlaw Modified Series | Myrtle Beach Speedway

On Saturday, May 3rd, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series rolled into Myrtle Beach Speedway for Round 6 of Season 39, marking the halfway point of the season. James Lowe entered the night with a commanding 10-point lead in the standings over Todd Liston, thanks to an impressive string of victories. But with Myrtle Beach’s abrasive surface and multiple viable lines, the night promised to be anything but easy.

Tom Hilbert and Bruce Pearson led the field to green, while Lowe faced a tall task from 12th on the grid, buried in mid-pack. Hilbert tried to settle into the lead early, but only six laps into the race, Pearson worked his way underneath to take over the top spot. From there, the opening laps were intense — the wide track and viable high and low lanes created fierce side-by-side racing, but passing remained incredibly difficult, forcing drivers to be aggressive and strategic.

The first caution flew on lap 17 after contact between John Wilson and Steve Hilbert ignited a chain reaction that collected several front runners, including Chris Davis, Jason Menda, and Tre Blohm — all potential threats for the win taken out early in the melee.

The restart brought new opportunity. Lowe was able to capitalize, picking off a few positions as the field got back up to speed with Pearson still controlling the race. Lowe’s forward momentum was temporarily stalled when he found himself stuck behind Wilson and Kurt Smith, who were locked in a fierce, drawn-out battle for 2nd. Their side-by-side fight gave Pearson a comfortable cushion up front — and more importantly, time to conserve tires on the notoriously abrasive surface.

Eventually, Smith relented, falling back behind Wilson. Lowe pounced immediately, diving low on Smith to grab 3rd, then wasting no time chasing down Wilson to take 2nd on lap 50.

With Lowe now in clean air, Pearson tried to turn up the pace to stay ahead, but it was too late. Lowe was already closing in. Then came the turning point of the race — as Lowe reached Pearson’s rear bumper, contact was made, sending Pearson spinning and dropping him to the tail of the field. The caution flew, and with Pearson out of contention, Lowe inherited the lead.

From that moment on, Lowe was unstoppable. Through the second half of the race, he pulled away steadily, putting on a clinic as he cruised to his fifth consecutive victory, extending his already dominant points lead.

Lowe now holds a 17-point advantage over Tre Blohm, with the rest of the field scrambling to find an answer to his current streak of form. The series heads next to The Bullring at Las Vegas on Saturday, May 10th, where the intensity is sure to ratchet up even further. Catch all the short track action live at 7:40PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!

MVRL ARCA SERIES S1 R5 Recap

29 April 2025
Maximum Velocity Racing League | Season 1 | Round 5
ARCA Series | USA International Speedway

On Monday, April 28th, the Maximum Velocity Racing League’s ARCA Series roared into USA International Speedway for Round 5 of Season 1, bringing with it a massive 40-car field to the tight confines of the ¾-mile oval. The night kicked off with Justin Michael on the pole after laying down a fast qualifying lap of 20.672 seconds, with Heath Smith starting alongside him on the front row.

James Lehman, who rolled off in 3rd, wasted no time taking advantage of the preferred inside line. By the time the opening laps were complete, he had slipped under Smith to grab 2nd and set his sights on Michael for the race lead.

The first half of the race was a stop-and-go affair, plagued by a series of cautions that repeatedly reset the field. While it made it difficult for drivers to find rhythm early on, it also opened up a variety of pit strategy opportunities, as many came down pit road multiple times for fresh tires and fuel, shaking up any long-run plans they may have had.

But just past halfway, the complexion of the race changed. The field finally settled in for a long green-flag stretch, allowing drivers to get into a rhythm and show their true pace. At the front, Michael and Lehman engaged in an intense battle for the lead, with Lehman throwing everything he had at Michael lap after lap. Michael stood firm, defending the top spot despite relentless pressure.

Behind them, Scott Patten quietly made his way up into 3rd and began showing strong pace. Though he couldn’t quite keep up with the top two, he smartly held a few car lengths back — a decision that would later prove pivotal.

As the run continued, lap traffic became a critical factor. With 40 cars on track, it was like navigating rush hour for the leaders. Michael and Lehman were forced to slice through slower cars while still fighting each other for the top spot. On lap 95, the intensity peaked — the two went side-by-side through traffic, refusing to give an inch.

Just a few laps later, the moment of the race arrived. Michael was forced low to avoid a slower car, just as Lehman dove back underneath him trying to reclaim the lead. The two made contact, and both were sent hard into the inside wall with 23 laps to go, bringing out a race-altering caution. Michael took the worst of it and was forced to retire early, while Lehman limped back out, trying to recover what he could.

With the front two suddenly out of the picture, Scott Patten, who had wisely stayed out of the hornet’s nest up front, inherited the race lead. On the restart, Patten showed no signs of nerves and led the remaining laps uncontested to score a smart, well-timed victory at USA International.

Next up, the MVRL ARCA Series heads west for Round 6 at Kern Raceway on Monday, May 5th — another short track sure to bring fireworks. Tune in at 9:30 PM ET, live and exclusive on the Virtual Grip Network!

OBRL CUP SERIES S8 R10 Recap

27 April 2025
OBRL Presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS | Season 8 | Round 10
YesterYear Cup Series | Talladega Superspeedway

On Sunday, April 27th, the OBRL presented by VCTRYLNSPRTS, brought the action to Talladega Superspeedway for Round 8 of Season 10 in the YesterYear Racing Cup Series. A strong 43-car field lined up for the night, and it was Dan Hill who claimed the pole with a qualifying time of 53.532 seconds, joined on the front row by Mark Fisch, already a proven threat at the superspeedways after his earlier win at Daytona.

When the green flag dropped, the tone was set early. Despite the size of the field, the drivers showed a lot of patience, working together to keep the draft intact rather than forcing risky moves. Through the opening stages, the massive pack stretched out, condensed, and stretched again, each driver balancing aggression with survival.

As the race approached the first cycle of green flag pit stops around lap 38, most of the field was lined up nose-to-tail in a long, single-file train. The majority of drivers came down pit road together, but a few — including Hill — chose to run an extra lap, hoping to gain ground with the alternate strategy. After the pit stops cycled through, the field was temporarily fractured into smaller groups, each scrambling to link back up and chase down Christian Loschen, who emerged at the front.

Just as the groups were beginning to reform into a larger pack, the night’s only caution waved when Jerry Isaacs and Andrew Medlin came together in a precarious four-wide situation, collecting Bryan Lynch and sending him hard into the outside wall. Fortunately, most of the field was able to steer clear, avoiding a larger pileup.

On the ensuing restart, it was Sean Foltz leading the charge. As the second half of the race unfolded, familiar names started to creep their way toward the front of the lead pack, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. The final round of pit stops began around lap 75, with a large group diving to pit road cleanly. Once again, pit strategy briefly scattered the field into smaller pods around the track.

Out front, Tom Ogle and Dan Hill linked up and tried to break away, but without a larger draft behind them, they couldn’t match the pace of the larger lead pack. Before long, the lead group reeled them back in, and the intensity ratcheted up as the laps ticked down.

Inside 10 laps to go, it looked like Kelvin Masur, with a strong push from Andrew Kotska, was poised to wrestle the lead away from Foltz along the inside lane. As the white flag waved, Masur surged ahead down the backstretch, and it seemed like the win might be his. But coming out of turn four and through the trioval, Kotska made his move — darting to the outside with a head of steam and nosing ahead right at the line, stealing the victory by just 0.105 seconds!

With the thrilling Talladega race in the books, the OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series now heads to Texas Motor Speedway next Sunday, May 4th, with the action going live at 8:00 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!