Andrew Medlin Clinches Playoff Spot with Win at Daytona

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series capped off its regular season with a nail-biting 100-lap showdown at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. With playoff berths on the line and a full 43-car grid roaring under the Florida sun, the stage was set for chaos, drama, and a finish that would go down as one of the season’s most unforgettable moments.

Before the green flag, commentators Zach Chapman (a.k.a. Shaggy) and Josh Buckley reminded viewers of Daytona’s reputation as a “wild card” track—where anything can and usually does happen in the blink of an eye. For playoff hopefuls like Allen Wannamaker, Roger Hurley, and Luke Lane, Daytona represented their last shot at making the cut. Meanwhile, defending champion Josh Robinson, already sitting comfortably with four wins, could focus on fine-tuning his strategy. On pole was Andrew Medlin, who entered the race in a must-win situation, hoping to keep his playoff dreams alive against impossible odds.

The race wasted no time proving unpredictable. The first caution flew after a check-up near the back of the pack caused an accordion effect that collected drivers including Andrew Kotska and Jerry Isaacs. The incident, though frustrating for those caught in it, gave trailing drivers a chance to top off fuel without losing much track position. A second caution followed not long after when Guarisco in the #28 got loose, while Dakota Pischke pounded the outside wall. It was also the first glimpse of the dreaded three-wide racing, something the drivers knew could end badly at any moment. Under yellow, most of the field fueled up, with many surprisingly opting for four tires—a move the booth openly questioned so early in the event. For playoff bubble drivers Victor Lane and Luke Lane, though, the timing was perfect, saving their races from disaster.

Once the field settled into its rhythm, the race transformed into classic Daytona pack racing. The draft became everything, with drivers carefully choosing lines and managing engine temperatures as they tucked in behind one another. The “third car” in line repeatedly proved critical in keeping momentum alive, while the outside lane struggled all night to sustain energy. Pit road execution separated the contenders from the pretenders—Ben Sheppard learned the hard way when a solo pit stop left him stranded a lap down, while Allen Wannamaker squeezed out a bonus point by staying out just one lap longer before pitting. Scott Negus, who needed a win to make the playoffs, turned heads with one of the most aggressive and cleanest solo pit entries of the season, keeping his name in the mix.

As the laps ticked away, the urgency ramped up. With 12 to go, a lead pack of 12 cars pulled a five-second gap on the rest of the field, effectively locking the trailing pack out of contention unless a late caution arrived. Negus, Wannamaker, and other bubble drivers became increasingly aggressive, darting in and out of lines to find momentum. The outside lane, however, kept stalling, leading to frustrating “accordion” effects and burned-up runs.

The finish proved every bit as dramatic as promised. Andrew Medlin, who needed nothing short of a victory to sneak into the playoffs, found himself in 2nd at the white flag. Ken Allen loomed large in close behind, waiting to pounce, while Tom Ogle—running out front—played a surprising role. In the final moments, Ogle admitted to working in tandem with Medlin and Jerry Isaacs, determined to help Medlin secure his first OBRL Cup win. As Allen tried to time his run, Medlin threw blocks in every lane he could, clinging desperately to the top spot. Coming off the final corner, Ogle gave Medlin one last push, propelling him across the line first by a razor-thin margin of just 0.007 seconds over Allen.

For Medlin, the win was the stuff of dreams: his first-ever OBRL Cup victory, and it came at the most famous track in America with a playoff berth hanging in the balance. The top five included Medlin, Allen, Ogle, Jerry Isaacs, and Sean Foltz, with Wayne Hufford, Clay Walker, Greg McDaniel, James Hisop, and Dwayne McArthur rounding out the top 10.

Emotions ran high post-race. Medlin thanked his wife, family, his teammates with Team Miata, and Storm Motorsports, admitting that his gamble to not be leading at the white flag “worked out perfectly” thanks to Ogle’s help. Allen, frustrated but classy in second, believed he had the winning run saved up but was blocked at just the wrong moments. Ogle himself laughed off his third-place finish, openly saying, “my goose was cooked anyhow—I just wanted to get Andrew a win.”

For the OBRL, the Daytona regular season finale delivered everything fans could want: drama, strategy, tension, and a photo finish that swung the playoff field on its head. With the post season set to begin at Darlington Raceway, the stakes only climb higher from here.

Robinson Survives the Chaos to Win at Richmond

The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series rolled into Richmond Raceway for Round 25 of the 2025 season, and fans were treated to a chaotic, tire-chewing showdown that tested every driver’s patience and skill. Defending champion Josh Robinson, already known for his cool-headed consistency, managed to outlast the carnage and claim another victory in what proved to be one of the most unpredictable races of the season.

Heading into the night, strategy was the hot topic. Tire wear—not fuel mileage—would dictate the race. Richmond’s abrasive surface meant drivers would need to manage their rubber carefully, and anyone pushing too hard too soon risked becoming a moving roadblock in the closing laps. On top of that, several drivers in the playoff bubble, like Chris Bates, were under pressure to gamble with “win or go home” strategies. Robinson started on pole with Jerry Isaacs alongside, and behind them were contenders Andrew Kotska, Dan Hill, and Dwayne MacArthur, all eyeing another race win.

The green flag dropped, and immediately the emphasis was on conservation. Drivers described the car as feeling like “driving on eggshells” on corner exit, forcing them to feather the throttle and tiptoe their way around the track. That patience didn’t last long, though, as the first caution flew only 3 laps into the race and the tone of the night was set: pit strategy and damage control were going to decide who survived.

Cortney Nelson’s night seemed doomed early after heavy left-front damage from a spin, but he became one of the stories of the race by clawing his way back onto the lead lap and salvaging a sixth-place finish. Meanwhile, the attrition rate grew higher as the laps wore on. Victor Lane, solid in the points picture, slammed into the wall mid-race and picked up a disqualification for exceeding his incident limit—a bitter pill that could shake up his playoff chances. Later, Jason Fellenbaum tried to throw a desperate block on Robinson and Kotska in the closing stages, sparking a multi-car wreck that left the broadcast crew predicting plenty of post-race committee reviews.

As if that wasn’t enough, Jerry Isaacs spun late, and Luke Lane followed him to the garage after racking up too many incident points. Cars limped, slid, and skated through the final stretch as drivers fought not just their competitors but also their worn-out tires. Through it all, Josh Robinson held steady, launching cleanly on every restart and managing his tires better than anyone else. Daniel Hill gave chase but admitted afterward that turn two was “an adventure every lap” and he needed Robinson to slip up to have any chance at the win.

At the checkered flag, Robinson crossed first, followed by Hill in second and Shawn Foltz in third after an inspired charge from the back. Greg McDaniel and Dwayne McArthur rounded out the top five, while Nelson’s comeback drive netted him sixth. For Robinson, the win was a mix of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck. He admitted, in a few sketchy situations, he just “aimed the car and hoped for the best,” but his restarts and long-run pace proved unbeatable. With the playoffs looming and Daytona up next, Robinson made it clear he’s always racing for the win—but wouldn’t mind pushing a teammate across the line if the opportunity arises.

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.