BRL Late Model Invitational S26R01 | Southern National Speedway
The BRL Late Model Invitational has kicked off a new season with thrilling racing at Southern National Speedway! The race began with Kurt Smith and Mike Holloway leading the field. Smith had a strong start, with Holloway swiftly moving to the inside to secure second place and avoid losing positions on the outside. Meanwhile, John Wilson and Jeffery Hardin were locked in a side-by-side battle for third. After five laps, the top five drivers settled into single file, with much of the field following suit. Holloway made a move on lap 6, overtaking Smith and claiming the lead on lap 7. Throughout the race, it was challenging to pass on the inside line, as cars struggled to maintain momentum and stability compared to those on the high side. The drivers impressively completed 68 green flag laps before the first caution. When racing resumed on lap 73, Holloway and Smith led the pack, with Hardin seizing the opportunity to pass Smith on the inside. However, a caution on lap 77 interrupted their battle, with Smith in second place when the caution flag was raised. After the restart on lap 81, another caution quickly followed on lap 82. Racing resumed on lap 87, with Holloway and Hardin at the front. Smith managed to hold his position on the inside, engaging in a battle with Hardin for second place. Behind them, Mike Goodman and Adam Schoen were fighting for third. With 10 laps to go, Smith secured second place, leaving Hardin in third. As the white flag waved, Holloway and Smith surged ahead, with Holloway widening the gap to claim the first victory of Season 26. Kurt Smith finished in second place, with Jeffery Hardin in third. BRL will take a break for Easter, and the racing action will resume on April 6th at 8:55pm EDT at Martinsville Speedway.Highlights
🏆 Mike Holloway wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 26 Round 01 race at Southern National Speedway.
🚀 Jeffrey Kemper was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 12, up 7 spots.
🏁 Mike Holloway begins Season 26 first in points and led a convincing 95 laps to start the season out
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
*photo credit = Mike Goodman
BRL OUTLAWS S35 R1 Recap
22 March 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 35 | Round 1
Outlaw Modified Series | Southern National Speedway
On Friday night, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series hosted a thrilling 100-lap feature event, with Todd Liston leading the field to the green flag from the pole. Bruce Pearson secured the second position, as the leaders quickly broke away from the pack, which was embroiled in intense side-by-side battles.
Throughout the race, the close-quarters racing led to multiple caution periods, but Liston managed to maintain his lead during the opening stages. Pearson briefly lost the second position to Stephen Spies after one restart, but he managed to regain his position before Brennen Myers could capitalize. Despite Myers’ relentless attempts to overtake Pearson, he lost momentum and eventually fell victim to Matt Hoose, who moved into third place.
As the laps progressed, Hoose successfully made his way past Pearson to claim third, and a subsequent caution brought him back within striking distance of the leaders. When racing resumed, Hoose made a bold move to the inside of Spies, securing the second position. However, his fortunes took a turn for the worse approaching the halfway mark, as he lost traction and slid into the inside wall, relegating him to the rear of the field.
Liston continued to dominate the race until tragedy struck with just 17 laps remaining, as he lost control of his car, relinquishing the lead to Jason Menda. Menda capitalized on the opportunity, pulling away from the pursuing pack and ultimately crossing the finish line to claim victory.
The thrilling race showcased the skill and determination of the competitors, as they battled for position on the challenging track. Following a brief hiatus for the Easter holiday, the Bootleg Racing League will return for round 2 at Martinsville Speedway on April 5th. Fans can catch all the action live at 8:55 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
PGRL S6 W24 Recap
19 March 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 24
Premier Series | Richmond Raceway
On Tuesday, March 19th, the Pretty Good Racing League concluded its pre-chase season with two exhilarating 80-lap races at Richmond Raceway, aptly named the “No Time For Cautions at Richmond Raceway” presented by Wrong Time Watch. The unique twist of the races staying under green regardless of on-track incidents added an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
Race 1 saw Matt Press securing pole position, with Michael Chrobok alongside him on the front row as the green flag waved. Press and Chrobok quickly established themselves at the front of the pack, building a considerable lead over the pursuing field. Meanwhile, Jeff Ward engaged in a fierce battle with Woody Mahan for the third position, while Scott Eckrich made impressive progress through the field from a deep starting position.
As the laps unfolded, Chrobok intensified his pursuit of Press, ultimately executing a daring move to seize the lead. However, Ward and Eckrich were hot on their heels, closing in rapidly. The pit cycle commenced just before the halfway mark, with Chrobok and Ward engaged in a strategic battle for track position. Despite a valiant effort from Ward, Chrobok managed to retain his lead, but with Ward relentlessly closing the gap.
With 18 laps remaining, Ward made a decisive move to overtake Chrobok, ultimately claiming victory in an impressive display of skill and determination.
For race 2, the finishing order from the first race was inverted, placing Kyle Hosely on the pole. However, it was Eckrich who quickly asserted his dominance, swiftly taking control of the race lead in the opening laps. Ward, eager to challenge Eckrich once again, swiftly navigated through the field, ultimately securing second place just before the halfway point.
Despite Ward’s efforts to close the gap, Eckrich maintained a commanding lead throughout the race, running unchallenged and ultimately clinching victory in dominant fashion. Ward attempted to utilize strategic pit stops to bridge the distance, but Eckrich’s superior pace proved insurmountable.
With the conclusion of the pre-chase season, drivers now prepare to enter the championship chase, commencing on April 2nd at Kansas Speedway. Fans can expect more thrilling action as the championship battle heats up, with live coverage exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network at 8:50 PM ET!
ABL S36 R1 Recap
17 March 2024
Absolute Beginners League | Season 36 | Round 1
FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle | Red Bull Ring
The Absolute Beginners League kicked off its highly anticipated Season 36 with a thrilling opening round at the Red Bull Ring, featuring back-to-back 20-minute races in the FIA F4 Series Formula Neagle. Philipp Hammer, representing Impulse Racing, secured pole position for the first race, setting the stage for an action-packed evening of racing.
As the lights went out, Hammer wasted no time asserting his dominance, quickly pulling away with the lead. Behind him, a fierce battle ensued for the remaining podium positions, with Erik Blixt facing relentless pressure in his defense of second place from contenders Michael Haflidason, Marcus Byfeldt, Eero Nõmm, and Wojtek Potoczek.
Haflidason successfully maneuvered past Blixt to claim second position, but Hammer had already established a significant lead, leaving the rest of the field in his wake. Meanwhile, the battle for second intensified, with positions constantly changing as drivers jostled for position.
By the halfway mark, Byfeldt managed to secure second place from Haflidason, gradually closing the gap between himself and Hammer. As the race entered its final lap, Byfeldt launched a fierce challenge for the lead, closing in on Hammer and attempting to snatch victory. However, Hammer maintained his composure and successfully defended his position, crossing the finish line to claim a well-deserved victory after leading every lap of the race.
With the top five finishers inverted for the second race, Eero Nõmm found himself starting from pole position, eager to capitalize on his advantageous position. However, Haflidason wasted no time in seizing the lead, with Nõmm hot on his heels.
The battle for the lead intensified in the opening laps, reaching its climax when contact between Haflidason and Nõmm resulted in both drivers going off-track, collecting Blixt in the chaos. While Haflidason managed to recover and continue, Nõmm’s race came to an untimely end due to the damage sustained in the incident.
With the collision gifting Hammer the lead once again, Byfeldt seized the opportunity to challenge him for the top spot. In a nail-biting finale, Byfeldt made a decisive move on the final lap, overtaking Hammer in the closing corners to clinch victory in a dramatic fashion.
The ABL’s next event promises to deliver further excitement, as the GT3 Series Andy Morgan Cup heads to Autódromo José Carlos Pace on Sunday, March 24th. Don’t miss the action, streaming live exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network at 2:50 PM ET!
BRL Late Model Invitational S25R11 | Five Flags Speedway
The final round of Season 25 at Five Flags Speedway was led by Todd Liston and John Heyn. The drivers started well at the drop of the flag and were side by side into turn 1 before settling down into line, while many drivers behind them did the same before more side-by-side racing back in 12th between Ruben Altice and Jason Menda. On Lap 5, Tre Blohm made a move on the inside of John Heyn for second, but a wreck occurred behind them to bring out the first caution of the race. Racing resumed on Lap 11 with Liston and Blohm up front. Liston made a great jump and pulled away from the pack, and Blohm was able to get down to the inside, but another caution came out to disrupt the racing action.
Racing resumed on Lap 17, with Liston and Blohm still leading the pack. Liston restarted well, and Heyn behind him took the second position from Blohm. The inside line kept rolling by those stuck on the outside line. On Lap 20, Adam Schoen was able to get inside of John Heyn for second, and then Matt Hoose followed suit to fight for the third position. By Lap 33, the whole field was pretty much single file, possibly doing a bit of tire saving for the moment and waiting for opportunities to pass.
A caution on lap 37 was followed by a green flag on Lap 42 with Liston and Schoen on the front row. On lap 46, Schoen got a nose to the inside of Liston to fight for the lead, and they battled side by side for a couple of laps until the pass was completed on Lap 49. But then Liston did the ol’ over and under and got back to the inside of Schoen and claimed the lead again on Lap 51. Now, J R Shepherd was in third and starting to reel in the leaders.
A caution on Lap 59 was followed by a green flag on lap 65 with Liston and Schoen up front. Schoen slammed the door on Shepherd to come down to the inside for 2nd in front of Shepherd in 3rd. Another caution on lap 66 was followed by a restart on Lap 72 with Liston and Schoen again, but Schoen almost jumped the start, having to slow down, which allowed Shepherd to jump to 2nd and leaving Schoen in that difficult outside line. Shepherd got to the inside of Liston on Lap 75 and claimed the lead on lap 76 from Liston.
Matt Hoose, in 3rd, was starting to put pressure on Liston, battling for second. Jason Menda made a pass on Hoose on Lap 80 for 3rd. A caution on Lap 85 was followed by a green flag on Lap 90 with Shepherd and Liston on the front row. Shepherd got a great start, and Menda stayed to the inside of Liston to fight for second. Behind them, Hoose and Schoen had a side-by-side battle for 4th. On Lap 92, Mike Holloway accomplished his 10,000th lap in BRL, making him 6th all-time!
As the remaining laps went on, J R Shepherd claimed the 8th victory of the season and his 18th BRL Late Model Championship. Jason Menda brought home 2nd, and Matt Hoose took 3rd. Season 25 is in the books, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more racing action! Come back for the start of Season 26 Round 1 at Southern National Speedway on Saturday, March 23rd, at 8:55 pm EDT!
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season Round 25 race at 11.
🚀 Jason Menda was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 2nd after starting 19th, up 17 spots.
🏁 J R Shepherd is the Season 25 Champion, his 18th championship. Congrats J R!
🌟 The race featured 3 leaders with 3 lead changes. Todd Liston led the most laps at 71, followed by J R Shepherd with 26 and Adam Schoen with 3 laps.
*Photo credit: Mike Goodman
BRL OUTLAWS S34 R11 Recap
15 March 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 34 | Round 11
Outlaw Modified Series | Five Flags Speedway
On Friday, March 15th, the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series, presented by the Skitter Creek Motorsports Group, reached its thrilling conclusion with a 100-lap season finale. The stage was set with Matt Hoose on the pole position, ready to lead the field to the green flag.
From the outset, Hoose showcased his prowess, holding the lead in the opening laps amidst pressure from Jason Menda and Aiden Young in second and third, respectively. The SK modifieds, running practically full throttle around the track, made passing a challenging feat, leading drivers to fiercely defend their positions along the inside line.
Intermittent cautions peppered the race as drivers attempted aggressive moves to secure the inside line, resulting in sporadic contact throughout the night. However, each restart provided brief opportunities for drivers to gain ground before the field settled into single-file formation once again.
Thirty laps into the race, Menda capitalized on a restart to snatch the lead from Hoose. Despite Young’s attempts to capitalize on the opening, another quick caution allowed Hoose to maintain his grip on the second position. Menda asserted his dominance in the lead as the race entered its second half, with Donny Moore climbing up to challenge for second.
As the laps dwindled, Moore searched for an opening to overtake Menda, but the latter staunchly defended his position, fending off Moore’s advances. Behind them, a fierce battle for third unfolded briefly between Hoose, Young, and John Wilson, ultimately resolved with Hoose maintaining his position amidst lap traffic.
With the white flag signaling the final lap, Menda maintained his composure and held off Moore’s relentless pursuit to cross the finish line and claim the checkered flag.
While Menda celebrated his victory, Todd Liston emerged as the season champion, despite a relatively quiet race.
The excitement doesn’t end here, as the next season of the Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series kicks off on Friday, March 22nd. Don’t miss the action, streaming live at 8:55 PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
PGRL S6 W23 Recap
12 March 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 23
Premier Series | Martinsville Speedway
On Tuesday, March 12th, the Pretty Good Racing League revved up the excitement with back-to-back 100-lap races featuring the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks at Martinsville Speedway. Dubbed the “No Time For Cautions at Martinsville” and presented by Wrong Time Watch, this unique event promised non-stop action on the track.
The green flag dropped for the first race with Matt Taylor leading the charge from the pole position. Taylor showcased impressive speed early on, pulling away from the pack as Scott Eckrich settled into second place. The field quickly fell into single file, with drivers jockeying for position in the opening laps.
However, Eckrich and Mike Rasimas soon closed in on Taylor, setting the stage for an intense battle at the front. On lap 39, Taylor’s grip slipped in turn 1, allowing Eckrich and Rasimas to make their move and seize control of the race. The majority of drivers opted to pit around the halfway mark, shuffling the running order.
As the pit cycle concluded, Matt Press briefly took the lead before Eckrich reclaimed the top spot with Rasimas hot on his heels. Eckrich surged ahead, building a comfortable lead and ultimately securing the victory in the first race of the night.
With the field inverted for the second race, Brian Yaczik led the charge from the pole position. As expected, the chaotic nature of the race intensified, with faster drivers navigating through traffic to reclaim their positions at the front.
Meanwhile, Taylor adopted a strategic approach, focusing on fuel conservation from the outset. Despite fierce competition, Taylor maintained a steady pace to stretch out his fuel window to incredible lengths.
Thomas George briefly took the lead from Yaczik before heading to pit road, allowing Yaczik to regain the top spot. Eckrich, in pursuit of another victory, battled through traffic to challenge for the lead.
As the laps dwindled, Taylor’s calculated strategy paid off, allowing him to take the lead after the pit cycle over Eckrich and cross the finish line victorious, securing a remarkable win at Martinsville.
In the championship standings, Michael Chrobok continued to dominate, maintaining a significant lead over Jeff Ward. As anticipation builds for the upcoming championship chase, the action shifts to the final pre-chase weekend at Richmond Raceway on Tuesday, March 19th, promising another thrilling showdown exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL OUTLAWS S34 R10 Recap
08 March 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 34 | Round 10
Outlaw Modified Series | Lanier National Speedway
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series, presented by the Skitter Creek Motorsports Group, delivered an intense 100-lap feature at the virtual track. Tom Hilbert led the pack from the pole position, with Chris Davis hot on his heels from the start.
Davis wasted no time in asserting his dominance, swiftly maneuvering past Hilbert to claim the lead by lap 4. However, the race took a dramatic turn just 10 laps in when an incident in turn 4 caused chaos, ensnaring many frontrunners and reshuffling the field.
Despite the disruption, Davis emerged unscathed and resumed his position at the front of the pack as racing resumed on lap 16. With Donny Moore and Bruce Pearson in hot pursuit, Davis faced mounting pressure from behind.
As the laps dwindled, Moore made a bold move to challenge Davis for the lead, but contact between the two allowed Jason Menda to capitalize, surging into contention. Davis, determined to maintain his position, faced relentless pressure from the pack behind him, with frustrations running high.
The battle for supremacy intensified as Moore once again closed in on Davis, eager to snatch the lead. However, a contentious maneuver by Davis resulted in a collision, scattering the field and further fueling the tension on track.
Despite the tumultuous final laps, Davis held his ground, crossing the finish line under caution after a series of late-race incidents. Todd Liston emerged as the unofficial season champion, holding a commanding lead in the standings heading into the final round at Five Flags Speedway.
The stage is set for an exhilarating season finale on March 15th, promising more adrenaline-fueled action and fierce competition, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL Late Model Invitational S25R10 | Lanier National Speedway
Season 25 Race 10 at Lanier National Speedway was an eventful race that saw J R Shepherd and Tre Blohm lead the field to green to start the race. Shepherd made an impressive start, quickly taking the lead. Tim Shinoski followed behind in second place, while Blohm settled for third. Behind them, Jeffery Hardin and Mike Allen engaged in a two-way battle for third place. However, by lap 8, the field had settled down to the inside line.
The first caution of the race came out on Lap 26, momentarily halting the action. Green flag racing resumed on Lap 32, with Shepherd and Blohm leading the field. Shepherd once again took the lead, while Blohm moved down to the bottom line for second place, with Hardin closely following in third. As the race progressed, the whole field moved to the bottom line if possible on that restart.
On Lap 60, Hardin made a move and overtook Blohm for second place. Adam Schoen quickly followed and raced on the inside, gaining an impressive 13 spots as of Lap 63. The race continued with about 30 laps of green flag racing before the next caution came out on Lap 90.
Green flag racing resumed on Lap 96, with Shepherd and Hardin leading the field to green. Shepherd once again took the lead, while Hardin managed to keep Schoen at bay. Altice and Spies engaged in an exciting battle for fourth place, with great side-by-side racing.
Finally, J R Shepherd emerged as the winner of the race, his seventh win of the season. Jeffrey Hardin followed closely in second place, with Adam Schoen taking third place. The BRL Late Model racing action continues next Saturday, March 16th at 8:55 pm ET for Round 11 at Five Flags Speedway, only on Virtual Grip Network!
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 25 Round 10 race at Lanier National Speedway.
🚀 Adam Schoen was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 3rd, up 13 spots!
🏁 With his 7th win of the season, J R Shepherd all but locked up his 18th Season Championship
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
*photo credit to Mike Goodman
PGRL S6 W22 Recap
05 March 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 22
Premier Series | Kentucky Speedway
The Pretty Good Racing League revved up the excitement with twin 55-lap races at Kentucky Speedway, featuring the NASCAR Gen 4 stock cars in the thrilling Wrong Time Watch Kentucky Classic. Jeff Ward led the charge from the pole position in the first race, setting the stage for a high-octane showdown.
As the green flag waved, Ward maintained his lead in the early laps, but the field saw significant movement as Mike Rasimas surged from 5th to challenge for the lead. However, Ward’s fortunes took a turn when he received a pit road violation, dashing his hopes of victory. Rasimas capitalized on the opportunity, establishing a commanding lead over the pack.
Despite a brief caution period on lap 42, Rasimas held firm at the front, crossing the finish line with a commanding 1-second lead over his closest competitor, Colton Salek. Meanwhile, Ward staged a remarkable comeback, charging through the field to secure a commendable 4th-place finish.
The grid was inverted for the second race, with Thomas George leading the charge from the pole position. After a chaotic start that sent some drivers off track, George battled to maintain his lead against the relentless pressure from contenders like Rooster Rodden and Matt Taylor.
As the race progressed, Rasimas and Ward once again showcased their skill, climbing up the ranks to challenge for the lead. Taylor eventually wrestled the lead away from George, but Rasimas quickly closed in, seizing control of the race with a strategic pit stop.
With Rasimas dominating at the front, Taylor mounted a late charge but fell short as Rasimas stormed across the finish line to complete his sweep of the night at Kentucky Speedway.
Despite the thrilling battles on track, Michael Chrobok continued to assert his dominance in the standings, maintaining a substantial lead over Ward as the championship race heats up.
Next Tuesday promises more heart-pounding action as PGRL heads to Martinsville Speedway, with the NASCAR Craftsman trucks set to take center stage in another exhilarating showdown, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
Virtual Grip Network 