BRL Late Model Invitational S26R08 | New Smyrna Speedway
Steve Hilbert and Tre Blohm bring the field to green for Round 8 racing at New Smyrna Speedway. Hilbert gets a great start, and Blohm falls into second behind, with Scott Negus behind in 3rd. Mike Holloway is peaking underneath Joe Segalla for 4th on Lap 4, racing side by side before Holloway secures the lead. On Lap 5, Blohm passed on the inside of Hilbert to claim the lead, followed closely by Negus, who made the pass for 2nd. Holloway also capitalized and made a move inside for 3rd. On Lap 8, the whole field was a single file. First caution on lap 10. Racing resumed on Lap 15 with Blohm and Negus on the front row. Blohm gets a good jump and clears the outside. Holloway, keeping a nose inside Negus, gets side by side in turns 3 and 4 and completes the pass for 2nd, with J R Shepherd racing behind them for fourth. He gets inside Negus for 3rd on lap 18—caution on Lap 23. Racing resumed on Lap 28 with Blohm and Holloway on the front row. Late restart caused a stack up on the restart and brought out the caution right away. Racing resumed on Lap 34 with Blohm and Holloway out front. Blohm gets a considerable start, allowing Shepherd to get into 2nd passing Holloway. Behind was Negus and Donny Moore racing for 4th. Shepherd moved under Blohm on Lap 35 and ran side by side for a bit with Holloway close behind before Shepherd clinched the lead. Racing once again cooled to single-file racing on Lap 40. On Lap 42, Holloway made the pass for 2nd outside of Blohm. On Lap 46, Negus started peaking inside of Moore but couldn’t complete the pass for 4th. Negus tried again on Lap 51 and could get to the inside on the turns but lost the position on the straights. This allowed the top three drivers to get ahead by a second from the rest of the field—caution on Lap 66. Racing resumed on Lap 72 with Shepherd and Holloway out front. Shepherd gets a good start, and Holloway can get down for 2nd. Blohm and Donny Moore battle for 3rd behind, and Blohm finishes the battle for 3rd. Kurt Smith started challenging Moore for 4th and made the pass—caution on Lap 77. Racing resumed on Lap 82 with Shepherd and Holloway out front. Shepherd gets a good jump, Blohm gets along with Holloway to battle for 2nd with Kurt Smith close behind, and another caution occurs on Lap 84. Racing resumed on Lap 90 with Shepherd and Blohm out front. Contact on the restart between Blohm and Holloway allowed for Todd Liston to move to 3rd. With only ten laps to go, Shepherd maintained the lead and claimed his 7th win in a row while Tre Blohm got 2nd and Todd Liston got 3rd.
That’s a wrap for the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 26 Round 08 race. We’ll be off for Memorial Day Weekend, but mark your calendars for June 1st. Round 9 action is coming to South Boston Speedway at 8:55pm ET. Don’t miss it!
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 26 Round 08 race at New Smyrna Speedway.
🚀 Austin Boelke was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 4th, up 19 spots.
🏁 There were three leaders for two lead changes: J R Shepherd led 66 laps, Tre Blohm with 30 laps, and Steven Hilbert with four laps.
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
ABL S36 W10 Recap
19 May 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Week 10
GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup | Nürburgring
On Sunday, May 19th, the Absolute Beginners League hosted a 40-minute race at Nürburgring in the GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup. Marcus Byfeldt secured pole position in qualifying and quickly demonstrated his pace, breaking away from the rest of the field as soon as the green flag dropped. Behind him, David Burns settled into a solid second place, unable to close the gap to Byfeldt but comfortably ahead of the drivers behind him.
Vincent Brehm found himself under pressure from JT Koppinen and Wojtek Potoczek as he tried to defend his third position. About ten minutes into the run, the majority of the field had spread out around the course, with the battle for third being the primary point of contention. The first half of the race went by with minimal incidents, and the few passes that occurred were mainly due to driver errors rather than aggressive overtakes.
As the race entered the second half, Byfeldt had established a strong three-second lead over Burns. Brehm was still in third but with a small buffer between himself and Koppinen. Burns opted for an early pit stop, attempting to undercut Byfeldt, who stayed out for an additional lap. Brehm, Koppinen, and Potoczek followed Burns into the pits, but a mistake from Brehm cost him dearly. Potoczek capitalized on this error, leapfrogging both Koppinen and Brehm to move into third place as they rejoined the track. Brehm’s mistake dropped him to sixth, behind Ludwig Sauer.
Byfeldt’s strong pace allowed him to pit the following lap and maintain his lead over Burns, rejoining the track with a four-second advantage. From there, Byfeldt ran the remaining laps unchallenged, taking the checkered flag with ease.
The Absolute Beginners League will return next Sunday, May 26th, at Mount Panorama Circuit for the FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle. Catch all the action live at 1:55 PM ET on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S35 R8 Recap
17 May 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 35 | Round 8
Outlaw Modified Series | New Smyrna Speedway
On Friday, May 17th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series competed in a 100-lap race at New Smyrna Speedway for round 8 of 11 in season 35. Joe Segalla started the night from the pole. In the opening laps, brothers Steve and Tom Hilbert battled for the 2nd spot, with Tom securing the position. Early cautions plagued the first half and set the tone for the race overall, forcing drivers to focus on short green flag runs and making more aggressive moves for gains. This aggressive mindset led to disaster for points leader Matt Hoose and his closest competitor in the points, John Wilson, as both drivers were caught up in early incidents, putting them each a lap down.
Throughout the race, Segalla maintained the lead while drivers like Donny Moore and Todd Liston quietly climbed up through the field with each restart. By lap 20, Moore had reached Segalla’s rear bumper and started making attempts for the lead but was unsuccessful each time. On lap 33, Moore pushed too hard, breaking the rear end loose and spinning in front of the oncoming field. After racing resumed, this opened the way for Liston, who had moved up to 2nd and made a bold move to challenge Segalla on the outside. They ran side by side for several laps, with Ricky Hardin waiting in 3rd to see which lane prevailed.
As the battle for the lead continued, Stephen Spies moved up to 4th, joining Hardin, with Rubin Altice rounding out the top 5. Approaching the halfway point, Liston finally cleared himself out front in the lead, with Segalla slotting back into 2nd ahead of Hardin. Spies worked on Hardin for much of the 2nd half before finding his way into 3rd on lap 82. A caution soon afterward gifted Hoose the lucky dog, bringing him back onto the lead lap, but it was too little, too late, as there wasn’t enough time left in the race to make up for the bad luck earlier in the night.
As the green flag came back out, Spies took advantage to steal the 2nd spot from Segalla but didn’t have the pace to challenge Liston before Liston claimed the checkered flag. Hoose still holds a slim 2-point lead in the standings, now ahead of Liston, who took the 2nd spot from Wilson with his win. After taking off next week for Memorial Day, the BRL will return on Friday, May 31st, at South Boston Speedway for the next round of the season, with the action going live at 8:55 PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!
PGRL S6 W31 Recap
14 May 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 31
Premier Series | Rockingham Speedway
On Tuesday, May 14th, the Pretty Good Racing League took on Rockingham Speedway for the Wreckingham Twin 60s presented by Yaz’s Sandwiches & More. With only four races left in the season, and the surprise absence of Scott Eckrich, the championship battle narrowed to Michael Chrobok and Mike Rasimas.
The first race began with Brian Yaczik on the pole, joined by Brendan Marr on the front row. Championship contenders Chrobok and Rasimas started in 4th and 5th, respectively. Yaczik had a strong start, quickly distancing himself from Marr. Rasimas, however, launched an aggressive charge, overtaking Chrobok and then Yaczik to claim the lead after just 11 laps. The side-by-side battle between Yaczik and Rasimas allowed Chrobok to close in and take the second spot.
Rasimas extended his lead steadily as the race progressed, showing remarkable pace and control. At the midway point, a superior pit stop performance allowed Rasimas to further stretch his lead over Chrobok to more than five seconds. By the time Rasimas took the checkered flag, his lead had grown to a commanding seven seconds, securing a dominant victory in the first race.
For the second race, the finishing order was inverted, placing Marr on the pole and Mark Poe alongside him. Chrobok and Rasimas started from the rear in 8th and 9th. Learning from the first race, Chrobok adopted a more aggressive approach, quickly charging through the field and seizing the lead from Marr by lap 19. Marr’s resistance allowed Rasimas to close in, and he soon took the second spot.
Chrobok’s strategy paid dividends as he managed to fend off Rasimas’s repeated attempts to overtake. Rasimas stayed close, applying relentless pressure, but Chrobok’s defensive driving and optimal racing line thwarted all passing attempts. Chrobok’s persistence was rewarded as he crossed the finish line to win the second race.
With his victory, Chrobok maintained a solid 59-point lead over Rasimas heading into the final two races of the season. The championship will be decided next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with the action going live at 8:50 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL Late Model Invitational S27R06 | Myrtle Beach Speedway
Tom Hilbert and Donny Moore were at the forefront of the field to start Round 6 of Season 27, as the engines revved up and the anticipation in the air grew. Hilbert made a swift move to take the lead, and Moore was right behind him in second place. Meanwhile, John Wilson wasted no time and quickly made his way up to third. On the second lap, Moore made a daring move and overtook Hilbert to take the lead, and Wilson followed suit to secure second place.
Further back in the pack, Adam Schoen and Kenny Kibbey were locked in a fierce battle for sixth place, while the season championship contenders raced closely behind. However, on lap 19, a caution brought the race to a halt. The drivers had to put their skills to the test again when the race resumed on lap 24, with Moore and Wilson leading the pack. Moore showed his prowess once again and took the lead, with Joe Snyder hot on his tail, trying to deny Wilson second place. Unfortunately, another caution interrupted the battle, and the drivers had to slow down once again.
The race resumed on lap 30, with Moore and Snyder in the lead. Moore was in his element and maintained his lead, while Wilson managed to stay inside Snyder and took second place. Meanwhile, Scott Negus and Matt Shinoski battled for fourth place, with Negus gaining momentum and making a move to get inside Snyder. Although he couldn’t make the pass, Kibbey soon joined the fray and challenged Negus on the outside for fourth place. In a rare outside pass, Kibbey managed to secure fourth place.
By around lap 40, the drivers had settled into single-file racing, with little change in position. However, the excitement was far from over. On lap 50, the race resumed with Moore and Wilson leading the pack. Moore wasted no time and took the lead once again, with Kibbey also starting strong and taking second place from Wilson. J.R. Shepherd followed closely behind Kibbey to secure third place.
A caution shortly after the restart brought Moore and Kibbey to lead the field to restart on lap 57. Moore maintained his lead, but Kibbey had other plans. He dove under Shepherd and challenged for second place, with the two drivers battling it out side-by-side until lap 62, when Shepherd clinched second place. Meanwhile, Wilson rounded out the lead pack in fourth place, with a half-second lead on the rest of the pack.
The drivers largely maintained their positions for the remainder of the race. Kibbey put a lot of pressure on Shepherd, but the latter managed to pull away slowly and secure his sixth victory in a row on the season, with a half-second lead. Kibbey finished in second place, and Wilson finished in third place. The next race will take place on Saturday, May 18th at 8:55 PM ET at New Smyrna Speedway, and fans can expect more thrilling racing action.
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 26 Round 07 race at Myrtle Beach Speedway.
🚀 J R Shepherd was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 1st, up 13 spots.
🏁 There were three leaders with two lead changes. Donny Moore led the most laps (64), followed by J R Shepherd (35), and Tom Hilbert (1).
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
ABL S36 W9 Recap
12 May 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Week 9
FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle | Oulton Park Circuit
On Sunday, May 12th, the Absolute Beginners League delivered an electrifying doubleheader at Oulton Park Circuit in the FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle. Michael Haflidason set the stage from pole position for the first race, with Marcus Byfeldt alongside him.
As the green flag unfurled, Haflidason shot ahead, but Byfeldt found himself entangled in a thrilling battle with André Selander. Meanwhile, Neil Bamber and Vincent Brehm jockeyed for position behind them, rounding out the top five.
In an intense display of skill and strategy, Haflidason and Byfeldt quickly established themselves as frontrunners, engaging in a relentless duel for the lead. Lap after lap, Byfeldt shadowed Haflidason, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
With just five minutes remaining, Haflidason made a crucial error, allowing Byfeldt to seize the lead. Although Haflidason fought back valiantly, a subsequent contact sent him careening into the tire barriers, earning him a meatball flag and a pit stop in the race’s final moments.
Byfeldt capitalized on the opportunity, streaking across the finish line to claim victory in the first race, while Haflidason salvaged a seventh-place finish.
For the second race, the top five finishers were inverted, placing Brehm at the front of the grid. Haflidason, starting from seventh, wasted no time in mounting a fierce charge through the field. Within moments, he found himself back at the front, with Byfeldt hot on his heels.
In a nail-biting rematch of the first race, Haflidason and Byfeldt engaged in a thrilling battle for supremacy. With each lap, they traded positions, refusing to yield an inch to their opponent.
As the checkered flag loomed, the tension reached its peak, culminating in a heart-stopping sprint to the finish line. In a photo finish, Haflidason emerged victorious by a mere tenth of a second, securing a breathtaking win in the second race.
Join us next Sunday, May 19th, as the Absolute Beginners League takes on the legendary Nürburgring in the GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup. Don’t miss a moment of the action, live at 1:55 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S35 R7 Recap
10 May 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 35 | Round 7
Outlaw Modified Series | Myrtle Beach Speedway
On Friday, May 10th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series roared into Myrtle Beach Speedway for an exhilarating 100-lap showdown. The evening kicked off with Mike Holloway leading the charge from the pole position.
Holloway showed early dominance, but the dynamic duo of Jeffery Hardin and Matt Hoose wasted no time carving their way through the field, setting their sights on the lead. Just seven laps into the race, Hardin executed a daring move, diving low under Holloway to seize control of the race.
Hoose quickly joined the fray, relentlessly pressuring Hardin for the lead. The two engaged in a thrilling side-by-side battle, with Hoose ultimately gaining the upper hand on lap 31. However, the fight for supremacy was far from over, as Todd Liston and Donny Moore lurked close behind, ready to pounce on any opportunity.
As the race progressed into its second half, Hardin and Hoose continued their fierce duel for the top spot, trading positions with precision while Liston patiently awaited his chance. Moore, seizing the moment, made a bold move to snatch third place from Liston, intensifying the battle up front.
In a pivotal moment on lap 78, Hardin surged ahead to reclaim the lead, leaving Hoose to fend off Moore’s advances. With the laps winding down, Hoose’s aggressive maneuvers ultimately cost him, allowing Moore to slip past and secure second place with just eight laps remaining.
Hardin, maintaining a steady pace, navigated the final laps flawlessly to clinch a well-deserved victory. Despite the intense competition, Hoose remains at the top of the standings, holding a narrow four-point lead over John Wilson.
Be sure to tune in next week, Friday, May 17th, as the BRL shifts gears to New Smyrna Speedway for another thrilling round of racing action, live at 8:55 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
PGRL S6 W30 Recap
07 May 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 30
Premier Series | Phoenix Racway
On Tuesday, May 7th, the Pretty Good Racing League brought the heat to Phoenix Raceway for a thrilling double-header of 65-lap races in the MARSS Properties Arizona Adventure. The excitement kicked off with Scott Eckrich leading the pack from the pole position in the first race.
Eckrich wasted no time asserting his dominance, setting a blistering pace in the opening laps while series points leader Michael Chrobok kept him honest from second place. However, as the laps wore on, tire wear began to take its toll on Chrobok’s machine, allowing Eckrich to stretch out a commanding lead.
Meanwhile, Brian Yaczik applied pressure on Mike Rasimas for the third spot, but Rasimas held his ground, denying Yaczik any opportunity to advance. As the race approached the halfway mark, Rasimas launched an assault on Chrobok for second place, successfully seizing the position when Chrobok opted to pit for fresh rubber.
Eckrich, opting for a longer stint on track, reclaimed the lead with fresher tires, and once again pulled away from the field with authority, securing the victory in the first race of the night.
As the grid was inverted for the second race, Mark Poe and Brian Yaczik led the field to the green flag. Yaczik wasted no time in asserting his dominance, storming into the lead on the opening lap and setting a strong, consistent pace.
Chrobok, Rasimas, and Eckrich, starting from the rear of the field, aggressively worked their way up through the pack. However, a pivotal moment occurred on lap 5 when Eckrich made contact with Woody Mahan, sending Eckrich hard into the outside wall and compromising his pace for the remainder of the race.
Despite a fierce challenge from Brandon Marr, Yaczik maintained his composure and managed his tires masterfully, fending off Marr’s advances as the laps ticked by. With Chrobok swiftly moving up to second place, the battle for victory intensified.
Yaczik executed a flawless pit stop on lap 36, rejoining the race in fifth place. With fresher rubber, he quickly carved his way through the field, reclaiming the lead and leaving his competitors in his wake as he crossed the finish line to clinch a commanding victory.
Chrobok’s solid performance ensured a strong points haul, maintaining his lead in the standings as the series heads to Rockingham Speedway next Tuesday, May 14th, for a thrilling double-header of 60-lap races in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks series. Tune in live at 8:50 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL Late Model Invitational S26R06 | Irwindale Speedway
The BRL Late Model race at Irwindale Speedway was a thrilling event that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. Tom Hilbert and Scott Negus started on the front row and quickly took the lead. Steve Hilbert followed suit by passing Negus and taking second place. However, a minor scuffle caused a caution, which allowed points leader Jeffery Hardin to move into 2nd place.
The race resumed on Lap 6 with Hilbert and Hardin leading the pack. Hilbert made an excellent start and maintained his lead, while Hardin settled into 2nd place. Meanwhile, Negus moved into 3rd place, and behind them, there was some exciting 3-wide racing for 6th place.
On Lap 7, Hardin made a daring pass on Tom Hilbert to take the lead. Negus started challenging Hilbert for 2nd place and continued to battle side by side until Lap 17. Brennan Myers and Mike Holloway were also vying for podium positions on Lap 9, adding to the excitement.
A caution on Lap 17 interrupted the intense race for positions 2nd to 7th. The race resumed on Lap 23 with Hardin and Negus on the front row. Hardin made a great start, and Shepherd moved into 2nd place, overtaking Negus. On Lap 24, Negus made a move to pass Shepherd and regain 2nd place, but failed. Ruben Altice saw an opportunity to put pressure on Negus for 3rd place.
A caution on Lap 30 again halted the exciting action. The race resumed on Lap 36 with Hardin and Shepherd leading the pack. Shepherd made a bold move on the inside line to challenge Hardin for 1st place but settled back into 2nd. However, on Lap 39, Shepherd tried again to get the inside line to work and was able to lead the lap on Lap 40. Hardin attempted to pass Shepherd with an over-under move but couldn’t complete it.
The front positions remained the same until Lap 85 when Kenny Kibbey started challenging Negus for 3rd place, and Altice was putting pressure from behind. On his own up front with a 4.5s lead, J R Shepherd won the race at Irwindale, with Jeffery Hardin finishing 2nd and Kenny Kibbey finishing 3rd.
The BRL Late Models race at Irwindale Speedway was an enthralling and action-packed event that saw thrilling moves, daring passes, and intense battles for podium positions. Fans of the sport should check out the next round of the competition, which will take place at Myrtle Beach Speedway on Saturday, May 11th, at 8:55 PM ET.
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 25 Round 06 race at Irwindale Speedway.
🚀 Ruben Altice was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 4th, up 15 spots!
🏁 There were three leaders with two lead changes: J R Shepherd led the most with 62 laps, followed by Jeffery Hardin with 32 laps, and Tom Hilbert with 6 laps.
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
BRL Late Model Invitational S25R05 | Kern Raceway
Hello racing fans! This is a make-up recap of the BRL action from last weekend (April 27th, 2024) at Kern Raceway. Tom Hilbert and Jeffrey Kemper led the field to the start, with Hilbert getting an excellent start. Joseph Snyder peaked to the inside, while Kemper rolled the outside, and Snyder made it three-wide for a moment, while Kemper was able to maintain momentum to take the lead just as a caution came out.
Racing resumed on Lap 7 with Kemper and Hilbert out front. This time Kemper started well, while Snyder snuck in under Hilbert. Behind him, Tre Blohm took 3rd, followed closely by Kenny Kibbey and the rest of the field. Blohm made an inside pass on Snyder on Lap 10 but got loose on exit, giving Kibbey a chance, and they almost went three-wide into turn 3. Mike Holloway started challenging for fourth against Snyder. A caution came out on Lap 14.
Racing resumed with Kemper and Blohm on the front on Lap 20. Kemper started, but a checkup back in the field caused a massive pileup right as the race resumed. Racing resumed with Kemper and Bruce Pearson up front again on Lap 26. Kemper got another great start, and Pearson rolled the top line while Holloway followed in 3rd. Kibbey moved to the inside of Blohm with season point leader Jeffery Hardin followed closely behind. A caution came out on Lap 29.
Working on Lap 35, Kemper and Holloway led the field to the green. Kemper started well, and Kibbey was able to pass Holloway for 2nd. Blohm and Hardin worked behind for 4th. Kibbey moved to the inside of Kemper on Lap 36, working side by side, but Kibbey took the lead on Lap 37. J R Shepherd made a big run off Turn 2 to go inside of Hardin on Turn 3 and grabbed 5th place on Lap 41. Holloway peaked inside of Kemper on Lap 42, challenging for 2nd. Lap 43 had two rows side by side for position battles on 2nd and 3rd. There was a great battle between Kemper and Blohm for 4th, for a few laps, with side by side racing, and Blohm was finally able to make the pass on Lap 57, with Young and Hardin following suit on the inside line, passing Kemper.
On Lap 61, Shepherd peaked inside Holloway on exit of turn 4 for 2nd and made the pass. A caution came out on Lap 72. Racing resumed with Kibbey and Shepherd out front on Lap 77. Kibbey got a great jump, and Shepherd had to lag back to avoid jumping the leader, but they both battled fiercely on the restart, and Shepherd made a crossover maneuver to claim the lead on Lap 78. Kibbey tried to follow suit but didn’t quite have the momentum.
Racing resumed on Lap 88 with Shepherd out front and Kibbey behind in 2nd. Aiden Young and Mike Holloway battled for 3rd. Young secured 3rd, and Holloway secured 4th but under pressure from Brennan Myers. A late race caution with 3 laps remaining came out to give the dramatic Green-White-Checker restart. Shepherd lead the field, followed closely by Kibbey, but Young fought inside but wasn’t able to get 2nd from Kibbey. The white flag flew, and Shepherd had a convincing 0.5s lead and claimed his 4th win in a row, followed by Kenny Kibbey and Aiden Young.
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 26 Round 05 race at Kern Raceway.
🚀 J R Shepherd and John Heyn were the biggest movers of the race, finishing in 1st and 10th respectively, both drivers up 12 spots.
🏁 There were three leaders for two lead changes: Kenny Kibbey led the most with 42 laps, followed by Jeffrey Kemper with 35, and finally J R Shepherd with 28 laps led.
🌟 Ruben Altice accomplished 5000 Late Model laps during the race, congrats Ruben!
Virtual Grip Network 