BRL LATE MODELS S28 R8 Recap
16 November 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 28 | Round 8
Late Model Series | Indianapolis Raceway Park
The Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series delivered high drama on Saturday, November 16th, as the 8th round of the season unfolded at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Mike Holloway entered the night with a slim 1-point lead over Todd Liston in the championship battle, but by the end of the chaotic evening, the standings would see a significant shakeup.
Allen Wannamaker started on the pole alongside Ruben Altice, using the clean air to break away early. Meanwhile, Liston adopted a cautious approach, saving his equipment toward the back of the field in anticipation of late-race cautions. Altice, however, bided his time, gradually closing the gap to Wannamaker as the leader’s aggressive pace began to take its toll on his tires. Holloway played the long game, carefully climbing through the field to keep himself in contention.
The race ran green through the first half until contact between Steve Hilbert and Joseph Snyder brought out a caution just before the halfway point. This reset the field and set the stage for a series of chaotic restarts. While Altice capitalized on one such restart to wrestle the lead away from Wannamaker on lap 58, the battle behind him intensified. Wannamaker found himself under fire from Kurt Smith and Jason Menda, and after a daring move, Menda took over second, bringing Adam Schoen with him.
Tensions boiled over when contact between Schoen and Wannamaker sent Wannamaker into Holloway, who slammed into the wall, ending the points leader’s night. As Holloway’s car was towed away, Liston was still in the thick of the action, charging through the chaos in an effort to seize the points advantage. However, Liston’s night unraveled late when a collision with Menda dashed his hopes, leaving him out of contention.
The final restart saw Altice maintain control, holding off Schoen to claim his first win of the season in dominant fashion. Despite his late-race misfortune, Liston’s earlier efforts paid off, allowing him to take over the championship lead, now 4 points ahead of a tie for second between Holloway and Smith.
The BRL Late Model Invitational Series heads to Kern Raceway next Saturday, November 23rd, with live coverage beginning at 9:10 PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S37 R8 Recap
16 November 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 37 | Round 8
Outlaw Modified Series | Indianapolis Raceway Park
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series roared into Lucas Oil Raceway on Saturday, November 16th, for the 8th round of the season. With only three races left, defending champion Todd Liston entered the night holding a slim 2-point lead over Bruce Pearson in the championship standings. Jeffery Hardin started on the pole alongside Donny Moore, setting the stage for an eventful evening.
The race opened with drivers struggling to handle loose conditions. Early troubles struck Liston on lap 24 when he was involved in an incident with Matt Hoose, sustaining significant damage to his left front and putting his championship hopes on the back foot. The caution-heavy first half of the race allowed Hardin to fend off persistent pressure from Moore for the lead, while further back, Lowell Jewell launched a spirited charge through the field, battling John Wilson for third. After an intense multi-lap duel, Wilson secured the position, enabling Adam Schoen to slip past Jewell, who fell to fifth.
Approaching the halfway mark, Wilson closed in on Moore, successfully executing a pass on lap 43 to claim second. Moore attempted an immediate crossover but misjudged the move, forcing Schoen to check up and triggering chaos that prematurely ended Jewell’s promising run. The ensuing reshuffle elevated John Heyn into fourth, and he wasted no time capitalizing. On the restart, Heyn surged past both Moore and Wilson to take second.
With 40 laps remaining, Heyn challenged Hardin for the lead, diving to the inside and forcing Hardin up the track. Once clear, Heyn controlled the race while Stephen Spies worked his way through the field, determined to challenge for the win. Spies caught Heyn’s bumper on lap 69 and made several attempts to overtake, but Heyn held firm, demonstrating exceptional defensive driving. Coming out of turn 4, John Heyn crossed the finish line to claim his third victory of the season, solidifying his status as a championship contender.
The win propels Heyn to the top of the standings, now leading Bruce Pearson by 2 points with two rounds remaining. The BRL heads to Kern Raceway next Saturday, November 23rd, with live coverage starting at 7:40 PM ET on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S37 R7 Recap
09 November 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 37 | Round 7
Outlaw Modified Series | Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
On Saturday, November 9th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series took on the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, drawing a season-high field of 22 cars. Stephen Spies launched from the pole, setting a quick pace from the start, while points leader Allen Wannamaker faced an uphill battle starting in 10th. Wannamaker’s night took a turn when he got caught in a multi-car incident coming out of turn 4, sustaining significant damage to his right front. Undeterred, he stayed on track, hoping to salvage points with the large field.
As Spies controlled the front, the rest of the pack wrestled with the track’s unique two-lane racing challenge, trying everything to make overtakes. A few bold drivers took to the outside, managing to gain ground by using momentum on the straights, but for most, overtaking remained a struggle. John Wilson and Bruce Pearson battled over second, briefly easing the pressure on Spies. However, as John Heyn advanced into fourth, he intensified his charge, and Pearson ramped up his aggression to hold position.
After a restart on lap 64, Heyn capitalized, moving past Pearson on the outside for third, with his sights set on Wilson. Heyn stayed persistent, making multiple attempts to pass Wilson. Finally, on lap 81, he executed a decisive dive to the inside, engaging in an intense multi-lap battle before successfully taking second.
With the race nearing its end, Spies held an insurmountable lead, allowing him to cruise to victory, having led every lap. Mike Holloway benefited most from Wannamaker’s misfortune, seizing the points lead, just one point ahead of defending champion Todd Liston. The BRL returns next Saturday, November 16th, at Lucas Oil Raceway, with live coverage starting at 7:40 PM ET on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL Late Model Invitational S28R06 | Martinsville Speedway
Kurt Smith and Chris Haizlip began the race for Season 28, Round 6, at Martinsville Speedway. Smith quickly took the lead, leaving Donny Moore to challenge Haizlip for second place, successfully making the pass. Joe Segalla then moved underneath Haizlip for third place. Stephen Spies also advanced, passing Segalla to claim third and began to pressure Moore for second, while Smith maintained a 1.8-second lead about a quarter of the way into the race.
A caution flag came out on Lap 35. When racing resumed on Lap 41, Smith and Mike Holloway were at the front. Smith powered ahead, with Holloway managing to secure second place. Segalla fell in line for third. Another caution occurred on Lap 42.
After the caution, racing resumed on Lap 47 with Smith and Holloway once again leading the pack. Smith launched off well, allowing Holloway to settle into second. Segalla remained in third. A caution was displayed on Lap 60.
Once more, racing resumed on Lap 66, with Smith and Holloway continuing their dominance in the top two positions. Smith launched effectively, allowing Holloway to secure second. Jeffery Hardin, starting from the top lane, cleared Segalla for third. A caution came out on Lap 67.
When racing resumed on Lap 73, Smith and Holloway were again at the front. Smith continued to have great launches, with Holloway settling for second and Hardin clearing Segalla for third. Another caution occurred on Lap 73.
Racing resumed on Lap 79 with Smith and Hardin leading. Smith launched early, while Hardin attempted to overtake Moore for second, which he managed, leaving Moore in third. A caution was displayed on Lap 81.
On Lap 92, racing resumed with Hardin and Moore in front. Hardin launched effectively to take the lead, while Moore tried to challenge him but ultimately settled for second. Jason Menda and John Heyn battled for third, but Menda held onto the position.
Jeffery Hardin won Season 28, Round 6, at Martinsville Speedway, followed by Donny Moore in second and Jason Menda in third.
Be sure to come back for more exciting Late Model action, as we are about halfway through Season 28. Points standings will become increasingly important in the latter half of the season. The next racing action is scheduled for Saturday, November 9th, at 9:10 PM ET, when the BRL will be at Nashville Fairgrounds.
Highlights
🏆 Jeffery Hardin wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 26 Round 08 race at Martinsville Speedway.
🚀 Jason Menda was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 3rd after starting in 17th.
🏁 There were two leaders: Kurt Smith led 79 laps and Jeffery Hardin led 21 laps.
BRL OUTLAWS S37 R6 Recap
02 November 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 37 | Round 6
Outlaw Modified Series | Martinsville Speedway
On Saturday, November 2nd, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series took to the track for the sixth round of season 37 at Martinsville Speedway. Chris Haizlip started on pole with Steve Hilbert alongside him on the front row. The night got off to a chaotic start, with several short green flag runs shuffling the field and ultimately paving the way for Todd Liston to work his way up to the front as several contenders faced misfortune.
When racing resumed on lap 44, Liston held onto the lead, but Kurt Smith had moved up to challenge him, closely followed by VGN’s own Ricky Hardin, who had climbed into third. The drivers anticipated a long green flag stretch and began making strategic moves for track position. On lap 51, a small error from Liston opened the door for Smith, who swiftly dove to the inside and captured the lead. Hardin quickly followed, pushing Liston back to third. Unwilling to settle, Hardin immediately went after Smith, taking control of the lead with 40 laps to go, while Liston fought to retain third from Jeffery Hardin.
As the laps counted down under green, Ricky Hardin consistently widened his lead, even navigating through lap traffic, and ultimately maintained his pace to secure a dominant win. He crossed the finish line 1.2 seconds ahead of Smith, with Liston rounding out the podium in third.
The Bootleg Racing League continues its season next Saturday, November 9th, from the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, with the action going live at 7:40 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL Late Model Invitational S28R05 | Southern National Speedway
Bruce Pearson and Lowell Jewell brought the field to green for Season 28, Round 05 action at Southern National Speedway. Pearson got off to a strong start, securing first place, while Jewell got a little too high in turn 2, allowing Tom Hilbert to sneak in and claim second. Todd Liston then jumped into third place under Jewell. By Lap 3, Liston had taken second from Hilbert and was applying pressure on Pearson for the lead. On Lap 7, Liston moved inside Pearson, and they battled for the lead through Lap 9. Liston briefly took the lead at the finish line, but Pearson held strong on the outside and settled back into second by Lap 10.
On Lap 16, Joseph Snyder was battling Hilbert for third, followed closely by Jewell. A caution came out on Lap 21. Racing resumed on Lap 26 with Liston and Pearson on the front row. Liston surged ahead, allowing Pearson to clear Snyder for second. Joe Segalla was battling Jewell for fourth place. Another caution occurred on Lap 35.
When racing resumed on Lap 40, Liston and Pearson were again in front. Liston darted ahead to regain the lead, while Pearson settled into second. Segalla and Snyder engaged in a battle for third, with Snyder eventually taking the position. Mike Holloway challenged Snyder for third on Lap 52, and they made contact but continued racing. Snyder soon faced pressure from Holloway again for third. By Lap 71, Liston was 1.5 seconds ahead, with Pearson, Snyder, Mark Hertzog, and Holloway closely grouped for second. Hertzog tried to work the outside line and successfully raced past Pearson for a second as caution was called on Lap 74.
Racing resumed on Lap 80 with Liston and Hertzog out front. Liston shot out to maintain the lead, with Hertzog clearing for second. Hertzog showed Liston his nose, preparing for a move as another caution came out on Lap 81. When racing resumed on Lap 86, Liston attempted to hold back the pack with a late start. Hertzog jumped to the outside, briefly moving ahead before another caution halted the race.
Finally, on Lap 92, Hertzog and Liston returned to the front. Hertzog took off and left Liston behind to secure first place. Liston faced pressure from Snyder and Holloway, with Holloway successfully claiming third from Snyder on Lap 94. Hertzog won the race after starting in 17th position, with Liston finishing second and Holloway taking third.
Be sure to tune in for more exciting racing action during Season 28, Round 06 at Martinsville Speedway next Saturday, November 2nd, at 9:10 PM ET.
🏆 Mark Hertzog wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 28 Round 05 race at Southern National Speedway.
🚀 Mark Hertzog was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 1st after starting 17th gaining and impressive 16 spots!
🏁 This race featured three leaders with two lead changes: Todd Liston led 78, Mark Hertzog led 15, and Bruce Pearson led 7.
🌟 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 R5 Recap
26 October 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 37 | Round 5
Outlaw Modified Series | Southern National Speedway
On Saturday, October 26th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series took to Southern National Speedway for the Stand Up To Cancer 100, an event dedicated to raising funds and awareness for cancer research through Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). This organization supports collaborative cancer research and initiatives, and donations can be made at standuptocancer.org.
Starting from pole was Steve Hilbert, joined by Chris Haizlip on the front row. Jeffery Hardin, starting in third, wasted no time, diving under Hilbert on the opening lap to claim the lead. An early caution came when Matt Hoose was spun toward the back but, fortunately, without damage. The night turned into a caution-filled battle, with frequent restarts keeping the field in flux while Hardin fought to maintain control at the front. Donny Moore and Brennen Myers attempted to challenge Hardin, but the short green-flag runs kept them from making sustained passes.
In the race’s second half, Myers worked his way to Hardin’s inside, making repeated attempts to steal the lead. Their battle drew more competitors into the mix, including defending champion Todd Liston and recent race winner Allen Wannamaker. Hardin held his ground on the outside until lap 59, when he lost control coming out of turn 4, sliding into Myers and triggering a multi-car collision. Out of the chaos, Donny Moore emerged as the new race leader, with Matt Hoose—who had quietly worked his way back through the field after early trouble—now sitting in second.
On the restart, Hoose made a daring outside move on Moore, battling side by side for several laps before finally clearing Moore on lap 68. Once out front, Hoose checked out, pulling away from the pack to secure his first win of the season in commanding fashion.
The Bootleg Racing League will be back in action on Saturday, November 2nd, at Martinsville Speedway. Catch the live action at 7:40 PM ET on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL Late Model Invitational S28R04 | Oswego Speedway
Lowell Jewell and Jeffery Hardin brought the field to green for Season 28, Round 04 action at Oswego Speedway. Jewell surged ahead at the start, and Kurt Smith moved inside Hardin to claim 2nd place, leaving Hardin in 3rd. Chris Haizlip and Mike Holloway battled for 4th place, but Haizlip gained the advantage on the inside line.
Smith began to challenge Jewell for the lead, but a caution flag was waved just as Smith made his move on Lap 11. The field went green again on Lap 17, with Jewell getting a strong start and clearing Smith, who settled back into 2nd place. Hardin maintained 3rd, followed by Holloway in 4th. However, another caution on Lap 18 slowed the pace once more.
Racing resumed on Lap 24 with Jewell and Smith once again in the front. Jewell controlled the lead and had another good restart, but the leaders were involved in some delayed caution consequences, causing iRacing to award the lead to Hardin.
The restart occurred on Lap 30, with Hardin and Todd Liston at the front. Hardin started strong, but Liston quickly moved inside to take 2nd place. Allen Wannamaker lined up in 3rd. On Lap 63, Liston made a move to pass Hardin, seizing the lead. However, Hardin regained the lead on Lap 77 by moving inside Liston.
Liston attempted an over-under maneuver and got side by side with Hardin in turns 3 and 4, reclaiming the lead. But Hardin fought back, and they battled side by side on Lap 81, with Hardin once again taking the lead.
Wannamaker and John Wilson, now in third and fourth place, respectively, set their sights on Liston, looking for podium spots. Hardin then built a substantial lead of over 2.5 seconds, ultimately claiming victory in Season 28, Round 4. Wannamaker finished in second place, while Wilson rounded out the podium in third.
Be sure to come back for more thrilling late model action next Saturday, October 26th, at 7:40pm ET for Round 5 action from Southern National Speedway!
Highlights
🏆 Jeffery Hardin wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 28 Round 04 race at Oswego Speedway.
🚀 Brennan Myers was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 6th after starting 18th.
🏁 This race featured 3 leaders with 3 lead changes. Jeffery Hardin led the most (59), followed by Lowell Jewell (23) and Todd Liston (18).
🌟 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.
Virtual Grip Network 