Red Light Racing at New Smyrna
Red Light Racing
Skitter Creek SK Modifieds
Season 13 Race 1
New Smyrna
By Tim Corder – January 9, 2025
Red Light Racing’s Skitter Creek SK Modifieds kicked off the first race of Season 13 with an action-packed 150 laps at New Smyrna Speedway. The race was a cornucopia of excitement including classic short track racing, a “Big One” that would make Talladega jealous, pit-strategy, and a green-white-checkered finish.
After a pole-winning 17.383 second qualifying lap Jeff Aho (#21) brought the RaceDayCT.com starting grid to the green-flag under the New Smyrna Speedway lights. Aho would continue to set the pace for much of the first two-thirds of the race, leading 72 of the first 100 laps. Aho’s night took a turn after he pitted during a caution on lap 98. Aho would rejoin the field in 12th, the last car on the lead lap, and he would gain 3 spots to finish the event in 9th.
Ultimately it was Bradley Stefane (#89) that would claim the first trophy of Season 13. After starting in 5th, Stefane would lead an impressive 53 laps of the event. Stefane also recorded the fastest lap of the race, completing lap 105 in just 17.354 seconds. Stefane passed Luke Allen (#6) on lap 101 following a restart and would keep the point for the remainder of the event.
The most memorable part of the night for many spectators, and drivers, likely was the massive lap 34 pile-up that appeared to involve every car in the field to some degree. The chaos was triggered when Aho and Eric Stout (#12) made contact in turn 2 while leading the field after a restart on lap 33. After the contact, the two leading cars turned sideways and blocked much of the backstretch leaving the already tightly packed field with essentially nowhere to go other than into each other. Searching for words to describe the melee announcer Soup Zahn summarized the scene in the best way possible, “It’s an octopus trying to put on its socks.” This kerfuffle, and other contact of much less magnitude, ensured that none of the 25 drivers would leave the event without incident points.
While Aho and Stefane led a combined 125 of the green-white-checker extended 151 laps, five other drivers lead at least one lap. The other leaders were Luke Allen and Eric Stout as well as Chris Haizlip (#93), Kenny Allen (#81), and Bruce Pearson (22).
Due in large part to the field-encompassing lap 34 pile-up, only 11 drivers would finish on the lead lap. Allen Wannamaker (#9) was the last car to finish on the lead lap, and the top ten finishers were Stefane, Rob Higgins , Kenny Allen, Bruce Pearson, Adin All-Vecchione, Fred LeClair, Chris Haizlip, Luke Allen, Aho, and Rex Hoyle.
With 4 bonus points for the win, Stefane left the event with 47 points. Higgins and Allen are tied for second in the points, each have 41 points after Season 13’s inaugural event. The series visits Langley Speedway Thursday, January 16th, with a 7:55 Eastern start. All the series races will be broadcasted live on Virtual Grip Network (VGN).
BRL Late Model Invitational S29R01 | North Wilkesboro Speedway
Welcome to 2025 at Bootleg Racing League! This year kicks off with Season 29 Round 01 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Joe Segalla and Todd Liston lead the field at the start of the first race of the season. Segalla gets a great jump and clears Liston for the lead. Liston has the option to choose lanes and opts for the inside of Segalla off of turn 2 but eventually backs off. Joseph Snyder follows closely in third place.
A battle for the lead causes a major wreck, impacting almost the entire field and momentarily turning the front stretch of North Wilkesboro into a chaotic scene. After the shuffle at the front, Jason Menda and Todd Cousins bring the field to green on Lap 11. Menda cleanly clears for the lead, while Cousins begins battling Bruce Pearson for second, managing to clear him and move to the inside. Pearson, now on the inside, fights with Aiden Young for third but ultimately loses the position to Young.
A caution on Lap 18 leads to a stack-up in Turn 2. Racing resumes on Lap 23 with Menda and Cousins leading the pack. Cousins stays close to Menda on the restart, racing side by side for a lap before Menda clears him for the lead. Young and Scott Negus engage in a battle for third, but another caution comes out on Lap 25.
When racing resumes on Lap 30, it’s Menda and Cousins up front again. This time, Menda gets a better start and maintains first place, with Cousins in second and Young in third by Lap 31. Another caution waves on Lap 34. Racing resumes on Lap 38 with Menda and Cousins at the front, and Menda clears Cousins into turn 1. Young and Negus once again battle for third.
On Lap 55, Young gets inside Cousins and starts to battle for second, successfully clearing him. Negus then moves in to take third from Cousins. By Lap 61, Young attempts to look inside of Menda, but as they get close to contact, Young wisely backs off to stay in second. A caution is called on Lap 75.
Racing resumes on Lap 80 with Menda and Young leading. Menda manages to clear Young and maintain the lead. Young tries to get a run on the outside of turn 2, crossing over to get inside of Menda, but he has to back off, dropping him to third as Negus takes second. On Lap 86, Negus challenges Menda for the lead, and they race side by side, but they end up wrecking when Menda tries to cross under and slightly tags the back of Negus.
This caution reshuffles the front once again, and now Young and Mike Holloway lead the field to green on Lap 92. Young clears first, and Holloway battles with Donny Moore on the outside, managing to hold onto second. Holloway looks to the inside of Young on Lap 97, racing side by side, and ultimately clears for the lead on Lap 98. Mark Hertzog and Donny Moore battle side by side for third, with Hertzog eventually clearing using the outside line.
Mike Holloway crosses the finish line first, claiming victory in the opening race of Season 29. Aiden Young finishes in second place, followed by Mark Hertzog in third.
There was some exciting action in this one and a great way to kick of 2025 and Season 29 of Bootleg Racing League Late Model action. Be sure to come back next Saturday for Season 29 Round 02 action at Lanier National Speedway at 9:10pm ET on VGN!
Highlights
🏆 Mike Holloway wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 29 Round 01 race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
🚀 Mark Hertzog was the biggest mover, gaining 18 spots, racing from 21st to 3rd!
🏁 The race featured 5 leaders for 4 lead changes. Jason Menda led the most laps (79), followed by Aiden Young (9), Joe Segalla (6), Mike Holloway (5), and Joseph Snyder (1).
BRL OUTLAWS S38 R1 Recap
04 January 2025
Bootleg Racing League | Season 38 | Round 1
Outlaw Modified Series | North Wilkesboro Speedway
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Series kicked off its 38th season on Saturday, January 4th, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. This marked the eighth time the series raced at the iconic 0.63-mile track. Donny Moore claimed his first victory at this venue in eight attempts, adding another win to his illustrious career as a five-time champion. Moore started on the front row, briefly fell back during the race, but displayed resilience by regaining the lead and defending it in the closing laps to secure the victory.
Defending champion Todd Liston finished 2nd after an eventful race. The three-time series champion made contact with Edward Foster mid-race, an incident that appeared to rattle him but didn’t keep him from battling back to contend for the win.
Ruben Altice impressed with a 3rd-place finish after starting 13th in the inverted grid. Altice showcased patience, avoiding much of the race’s chaos and overcoming late-race suspension damage to secure his podium spot.
Other notable performances included Trey Blohm, who finished 4th, and Bruce Pearson, who rounded out the top five. Tim Corder gained 13 positions to finish 7th after starting 20th. Series newcomer Edward Foster endured a tough night, finishing 13th after being involved in a major multi-car incident with Adam Shane and James Lowe.
The 100-lap race was marked by several cautions, as close battles and aggressive moves led to frequent incidents. The top 13 drivers from the previous race were inverted in the starting lineup, adding an extra layer of strategy to the event.
Donny Moore’s hard-fought win sets the tone for another thrilling season in the Outlaw SK Modified Series. The action continues next Saturday, January 11th, with live coverage on the Virtual Grip Network starting at 7:40 PM ET.
BRL Late Model Invitational S28R11 | Five Flags Speedway
It is Championship weekend at the BRL Late Model Series, and as the race begins, Bruce Pearson leads the standings with Kurt Smith just 6 points behind and Todd List only 7 points behind. Anything can happen over the course of 100 laps!
John Wilson and Scott Negus will start the race in front at Five Flags Speedway. Wilson and Negus remain side by side as they head into Turn 1. Negus gains some momentum on the outside, but Wilson clears him for first place after a strong inside run in Turns 3 and 4. Aiden Young joins the battle, challenging Negus for second place. Young successfully passes Negus and takes aim at Wilson for first. Todd Liston has recently passed Negus for third and is now positioned right behind the frontrunners.
On Lap 6, Aiden Young takes the lead, and Liston moves in to battle Wilson for second, fiercely trying to claim the Championship. By Lap 17, Todd Liston attempts to overtake Young for first place. Young retaliates and retakes the lead on Lap 25. The first caution of the night occurs on Lap 69.
Racing resumes on Lap 74 with Young and Liston at the front. Young clears Liston, with Negus sitting in third place. Another caution comes out on Lap 77. When racing resumes on Lap 82, Young and Liston are back in control. Young gets a strong launch, while Liston stalls momentarily, allowing Negus to move into second place. James Lowe starts working on Todd Liston for third.
On Lap 87, Championship contenders Liston and Pearson are racing in seventh and eighth positions, respectively. James Lowe manages to pass Negus, moving into second, but Aiden Young has built up a one-second lead with just three laps to go. Pearson looks to pass Liston and successfully clears him for seventh place.
Aiden Young claims the victory at Five Flags Speedway, with James Lowe finishing in second and Scott Negus in third. Bruce Pearson secures the season points lead and is crowned the Season 28 BRL Late Model Invitational Champion!
BRL will be off until 2025, where we will begin Season 29 Round 1 Late Model racing action at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Saturday, January 4t,h at9:10 pm ET.
Highlights
🏆 Aiden Young wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 28 Round 11 race at Five Flags Speedway.
🚀 James Lowe was the biggest mover, gaining 16 spots, racing from 18th to 2nd!
🏁 Bruce Pearson is the Season 28 Late Model Invitational Champion
BRL OUTLAWS S37 R11 Recap
14 December 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 37 | Round 11
Outlaw Modified Series | Five Flags Speedway
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series wrapped up an electrifying season 37 on Saturday, December 14th, at Five Flags Speedway. All eyes were on the championship battle as John Heyn entered the finale holding a slim 4-point lead over defending champion Todd Liston. With everything on the line, the 24-car field lined up under the lights for one last night of 2024 racing.
James Lowe led the charge from the pole, quickly establishing himself as the car to beat while Ruben Altice and Lowell Jewell fought fiercely for 2nd. Liston, starting from 5th, immediately began working his way forward, gaining a slight edge over Heyn, who methodically climbed the order in pursuit of his rival. By lap 20, Liston had settled into 2nd, just behind Lowe, with Heyn hot on his heels in 3rd.
Frequent early cautions provided plenty of restarts, with Heyn strategically positioning himself to avoid risk while staying close enough to maintain his championship hopes. However, on lap 30, disaster struck. Heading into turn 3, Liston checked up to avoid contact with Lowe, and Heyn couldn’t react in time. He collided with Liston, spinning out and becoming entangled in a multi-car pileup. Heyn’s race—and his championship hopes—were effectively dashed, as significant damage relegated him to the rear of the field.
With his closest competitor out of contention, Liston shifted to a conservative strategy. He allowed Kurt Smith to move past and challenge Lowe for the lead, focusing on keeping his car clean and maintaining a podium position. The race saw an extended green flag run to the finish, with Lowe dominating up front and cruising to victory. Behind him, Liston stayed out of trouble, shadowing Smith to secure a 3rd-place finish and, more importantly, his 3rd Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series championship.
The dramatic season finale solidified Todd Liston’s legacy in the series, capping off a season filled with fierce competition and unpredictable moments. The Bootleg Racing League will return after the holidays, kicking off the new season on Saturday, January 4th, 2025. Catch all the action live at 7:40 PM ET on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S37 R10 Recap
07 December 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 37 | Round 10
Outlaw Modified Series | Hickory Motor Speedway
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series stormed into Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday, December 7th, for the penultimate round of season 37. With Todd Liston holding a razor-thin 1-point lead over John Heyn in the championship standings, every lap carried enormous weight as the series neared its conclusion.
Donny Moore led the 22-car field to the green flag, with Stephen Spies quickly slotting into 2nd and applying early pressure for the lead. Allen Wannamaker, still mathematically in the championship hunt, started strong in 3rd, just ahead of his ToyMaker Racing teammate Chris Haizlip. Meanwhile, Liston found himself deep in the field, battling through intense traffic as the top four began to break away from the pack.
By lap 37, Spies capitalized on Moore’s defensive driving, taking over the lead. Moore attempted a crossover move but couldn’t complete it, settling into 2nd ahead of Wannamaker as the laps ticked toward the halfway point. Heyn, running in 5th, struggled to keep pace with the leaders and came under fire from Scott Negus, who eventually overtook him and began carving his way up the field, reaching 4th by passing Haizlip.
As the race wound down, it seemed the action had plateaued until chaos erupted on lap 94. A massive pileup exiting turn four brought out the caution and set the stage for a dramatic green-white-checkered finish. Spies, who had dominated much of the night, now faced the daunting task of defending his lead one final time.
At the drop of the final green flag, Spies launched perfectly to hold the top spot. Behind him, Moore fought hard to maintain 2nd but was overtaken by a determined Wannamaker coming to the white flag. Spies maintained his composure to claim his second win of the season, crossing the line ahead of Wannamaker, who delivered a strong 2nd-place finish to tighten the championship battle.
Heyn’s 5th-place finish was enough to reclaim the points lead, now holding a slim margin over Liston, who endured a frustrating night, finishing 10th. Wannamaker’s runner-up finish also kept his championship hopes alive, just 8 points adrift of Heyn heading into the final round.
The season finale is set for Saturday, December 14th, with all the action going live at 7:40 PM ET on the Virtual Grip Network. Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to season 37!
VGN Partners With OBRL
The Virtual Grip Network is pleased to announce its partnership with The OBRL presented by VctryLnSprts for 2025! VGN will be broadcasting all 36 of OBRL’s YesterYear Racing Cup Series events, beginning February 16th. Broadcasts will go live at 8pm ET on Sundays.
Lowell Jewell, owner and producer at VGN, is excited about the new partnership. “We are very much looking forward to broadcasting these events and getting to know another large group of dedicated sim racers. I’ve spoken to and raced with Victor and am excited to work along side him on this project.”
Victor Lane, OBRL’s new owner, says he’s “excited to bring broadcasting back to the series. VGN is an experienced team that puts on a professional broadcast and understands NASCAR racing well.”
BRL Late Model Invitational S28R10 | Hickory Motor Speedway
Stephen Spies and Tre Blohm set the field in motion for Season 28, Round 10 at Hickory Motor Speedway. Spies quickly took off while Blohm cleared the field to secure second place. A battle for third developed between Mark Hertzog and Jeffery Hardin, with Hertzog gaining an advantage on the outside. He then began to challenge Blohm for second but eventually settled into single file along with the top five drivers.
The outside line proved effective for drivers looking to make passes, resulting in some exciting mid-pack racing as competitors advanced. Up front, Hertzog managed to pass Blohm on Lap 22 to take second place. A caution flew on Lap 35, leading to a restart with Spies and Hertzog at the front. Spies launched ahead once again, and Hertzog used the outside momentum to keep 2nd.
Hardin began rolling on the outside, aiming to contest Blohm for third, but a caution on Lap 43 paused the action momentarily. Racing resumed on Lap 48 with Spies and Hertzog leading the field. Spies maintained his lead while Hertzog settled into second place, with Hardin close behind in third.
Another caution occurred on Lap 60. Spies and Hertzog once again restarted the race on Lap 66, with Spies continuing his impressive restarts. Hertzog faced pressure from Hardin but managed to hold onto second place after a strong move on the outside down the backstretch. After a few more cautions, with just ten laps to go, Spies remained in front, followed by Hardin in second and Lowell Jewell in third. They finished the race in that order, with Spies leading from start to finish to secure his victory at Hickory.
Be sure to join us for more exciting racing action as we conclude Season 28 with a race at Five Flags Speedway next Saturday, December 14th, at 7:40 PM ET.
Highlights
🏆 Stephen Spies wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 28 Round 10 race at Hickory Motor Speedway.
🚀 Todd Cousins was the biggest mover, gaining 15 spots, racing from 21st to 6th!
🏁 There was only one leader, with Stephen Spies leading all 100 laps.
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers, with an interesting late-race tire twist that caused some drama and intense racing action.
BRL Late Model Invitational S28R09 | Kern Raceway
Chris Haizlip and Jason Menda led the field to the green flag for Season 28, Round 09 at Kern Raceway. Haizlip jumped out front, while Menda took the outside line. Haizlip drifted up the track, allowing Todd Liston to sneak in for a 3-wide move to take the lead, with Menda moving into 2nd place. Meanwhile, John Wilson squeezed under Haizlip, claiming 3rd position.
On Lap 17, Menda got to the inside of Liston and took the lead. A few rapid cautions slowed the race for a bit, but racing resumed around Lap 48 with Menda and Liston at the front. Menda started early and cleared for the lead, while Liston secured 2nd and Wilson held onto 3rd.
By Lap 52, Liston fought Menda for the lead, racing side by side down the backstretch. Despite Liston’s efforts to get inside Menda in Turn 1, he didn’t have enough momentum. The battle continued, but contact occurred between Liston and Menda, causing Liston to fall to 21st place as the caution flag came out.
Racing resumed on Lap 74 with Menda and Kurt Smith in the lead. Menda shot ahead, allowing Wilson to get inside of Smith as they battled for 2nd. The caution on Lap 94 set up a Green-White-Checker finish.
When racing resumed on Lap 100, Menda and Smith were at the front once again. Menda got a strong start, easily maintaining the lead and ultimately winning the race, while Smith finished in 2nd place and Adam Schoen took 3rd.
Be sure to come back for Round 10 action December 7th at 9:10pm ET at Hickory Motor Speedway. Until then enjoy Thanksgiving everyone!
Highlights
🏆 Jason Menda wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 28 Round 09 race at Kern Raceway.
🚀 Scott Negus was the biggest mover, gaining 16 spots, racing from 20th to 4th!
🏁 There were 4 leaders with 4 lead changes in this race. Jason Menda led the most at 84, followed by Todd list (15), Kurt Smith (1), and Chris Haizlip (1).
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers, with an interesting late-race tire twist that caused some drama and intense racing action.
BRL OUTLAWS S37 R9 Recap
23 November 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 37 | Round 9
Outlaw Modified Series | Kern Raceway
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series brought the action to Kern Raceway on Saturday, November 23rd, for round 9 of season 37. With John Heyn clinging to a narrow 2-point lead over Bruce Pearson in the championship standings, the stakes were high as the series inched closer to its finale.
Lowell Jewell led the field to the green flag, flanked by Jason Menda. The race started chaotically, with multiple incidents in the opening laps shaking up the field and taking a toll on championship contenders, including Heyn, who was caught in an incident just nine laps into the race. Following the flurry of cautions, the race finally settled into a rhythm after a restart on lap 31, setting the stage for a long green flag run.
Mark Hertzog took command of the race following the restart, but lurking in the pack was Aiden Young, steadily working his way forward with impressive pace. After a tense, side-by-side battle, Young overtook Hertzog on lap 46 to seize the race lead. As the second half unfolded, Young displayed exceptional patience and control, methodically extending his lead as the laps ticked down.
Behind him, Hertzog held firm in the second spot while defending champion Todd Liston was on the move. Keeping his car clean amid the early chaos, Liston worked his way past Ricky Hardin in the closing laps to secure a podium finish in third place.
Aiden Young crossed the finish line with a commanding lead to claim his first victory of the season, while Liston’s consistent performance earned him a critical advantage in the championship battle. Heyn’s difficult night ended with a 10th-place finish, allowing Liston to take over the points lead heading into the final two rounds of the season.
The BRL will return after the holiday break on Saturday, December 7th, at Hickory Motor Speedway, with live coverage starting at 7:40 PM ET on the Virtual Grip Network!
Virtual Grip Network 