PGRL S6 W21 Recap
27 February 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 21
Premier Series | New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The Pretty Good Racing League delivered an electrifying showcase of racing prowess with back-to-back 60-lap thrillers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, featuring the NASCAR Craftsman trucks in the Loudon Performance Parade presented by Wrong Time Watch.
In the first race, Jeff Ward seized the pole position, flanked by Scott Eckrich on the front row. As the green flag waved, much of the field quickly settled into single file, with Ward asserting his dominance and pulling away from the pack. Meanwhile, Matt Taylor showcased impressive pace, applying relentless pressure on Eckrich for the 2nd spot. Despite Taylor’s persistent challenges, Eckrich held firm, thwarting each passing attempt in the opening laps.
As the race progressed, the field stretched out around the track, with Ward establishing a commanding lead of over two seconds as the fuel window opened. Taylor, opting for an undercut strategy, made an early pit stop on lap 28 in a bid to gain an advantage. However, Eckrich capitalized on the opportunity, overtaking Taylor for the lead with 14 laps remaining. Despite Taylor’s efforts to reclaim the top spot, Eckrich’s blistering pace proved insurmountable, as he stormed to victory with a commanding lead of over four seconds.
In the second race, the finishing order from the first race was inverted to determine the starting lineup, placing Woody Mahan and Sawyer Nelson on the front row. The field inversion triggered early cautions as drivers vied to gain positions, with Ward capitalizing on the restarts to advance through the field. Meanwhile, Eckrich faced adversity amid collisions further back in the pack.
The race dynamics were further influenced by pit strategies, with drivers opting for quick fuel stops during caution periods. Ward emerged as a frontrunner, wresting the lead from Mahan on lap 13. As the fuel window opened, Ward took an early pit stop on lap 31, leading a trickle of trucks down pit road. Amidst the pit cycle, Taylor, who had saved fuel throughout the race, inherited the lead and opted to stretch his fuel to the limit.
In the closing laps, Taylor’s strategic gamble paid off handsomely, as he maintained a five-second lead over Ward, coasting across the finish line to clinch a remarkable victory. Michael Chrobok continued to assert his dominance in the standings, holding a commanding 247-point lead over Ward with three weeks remaining before PGRL’s championship chase.
Looking ahead, PGRL gears up for another exhilarating showdown at Kentucky Speedway, featuring dual 55-lap races in the NASCAR Gen 4 stock cars, set to broadcast live on Tuesday, March 5th, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network.
BRL Late Model Invitational S25R08 | New Smyrna Speedway
At the start of Race 8 of Season 25 at New Smyrna Speedway, two skilled drivers, Bruce Pearson and Tre Blohm, led the field to the green. Pearson got off to a great start, zooming ahead of Blohm, who slower start before quickly catching up to claim the inside line and secure second place. Meanwhile, Joe Segalla and Donny Moore battled fiercely for third place, with Moore ultimately gaining the upper hand by taking advantage of the outside line, which was showing promising speed early on.
As the race progressed, around lap 10, things began to settle down, and the drivers fell into single-file racing throughout the field. However, the first caution came out on Lap 31, as the three top drivers, Pearson, Blohm, and J R Shepherd, engaged in a heated battle for the lead. The caution period provided a brief respite before racing resumed on Lap 37, with Pearson and Blohm leading the field once again. Pearson got another great start, but Shepherd jumped in to challenge Blohm for second place. Shepherd ultimately passed Blohm, who had to settle for third.
On Lap 39, Shepherd made a bold move, positioning himself right under Pearson in the corner and battling side by side with him for several laps. Shepherd’s persistence eventually paid off, and he took the lead on Lap 41. The second caution of the race came out on Lap 58, but the drivers were quickly back in action, with Shepherd and Boelke leading the field to the green on Lap 64. Shepherd started strong and kept his lead, while Boelke was able to get inside and secure second place. Liston made a pass on Pearson to take third place.
The third caution of the race came out on Lap 70, but the drivers were once again back in action on Lap 76, with Shepherd and Boelke leading the pack. Liston and Boelke almost collided in the middle of turn 2 after the restart, but they managed to keep it clean, and Boelke was able to keep his second place with the outside line momentum over Liston. Finally, the checkered flag waved over Shepherd to win round 8 at New Smyrna Speedway for his 6th win, followed by Austin Boelke in second and Todd Liston in third.
Don’t miss out on the excitement of BRL Late model action! Tune in next Saturday for Round 9 of Season 25 at the Bullring at Las Vegas on Saturday, March 2nd, at 8:55 pm ET, exclusively on Virtual Grip Network!
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 25 Round 08 race at New Smyrna Speedway.
🚀 Kurt Smith was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 6th after starting 19th, up 13 spots!
🏁 J R Shepherd extends his strong season championship standing.
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
BRL OUTLAWS S34 R8 Recap
23 February 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 34 | Round 8
Outlaw Modified Series | New Smyrna Speedway
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series concluded its action-packed Friday night with a thrilling 100-lap feature broadcast live on the Virtual Grip Network, courtesy of the Skitter Creek Motorsports Group. The pole-sitter, Joe Segalla, led the charge as the green flag dropped, but it was Todd Liston who wasted no time making his presence felt, swiftly maneuvering into the second spot by overtaking Jeff Sharp.
Liston’s prowess on the outside line proved fruitful when an early caution on lap 7 provided him with the perfect opportunity to restart on the outside. Seizing the moment, Liston powered past Segalla to claim the lead by lap 14, with Matt Hoose hot on his heels in second place and Donny Moore securing the third spot.
As the laps unfurled, Liston and Hoose engaged in a fierce battle for supremacy at the front of the pack. Despite Hoose’s relentless attempts to gain the upper hand on the inside line, Liston’s momentum remained unyielding. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Hardin quietly made his ascent towards the front, eventually securing the final podium position.
However, the race took a dramatic turn on lap 69 when Hardin encountered a momentary loss of control, sliding down the track and relinquishing positions. Mark Hertzog capitalized on the opportunity, surging into third place and setting his sights on Hoose.
With just 13 laps remaining, Hertzog made his move, diving low under Hoose and then setting his sights on Liston. Yet, as Hertzog attempted to maneuver past Liston, contact between Hoose and Hertzog sent the latter spinning, triggering a late-race caution.
In a sprint to the finish, Hoose made a valiant effort to surpass Liston, but Liston’s mastery of the outside line prevailed once again as he crossed the finish line by a mere 18 hundredths of a second to claim the checkered flag.
With this victory, Liston solidifies his lead in the standings by 14 points as the Bootleg Racing League gears up for its next thrilling round at The Bullring at Las Vegas on Friday, March 1st. For those eager to join the adrenaline-fueled action, visit bootlegracingleague.com to learn more about how to get involved!
PGRL S6 W20 Recap
20 February 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 20
Premier Series | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway played host to the exhilarating Brickyard 175 Spectacular, presented by The Joy of Driving, featuring back-to-back 35-lap races courtesy of the Pretty Good Racing League (PGRL). In the first race, Mike Rasimas led the charge from the pole position, facing fierce competition from Jeff Ward alongside. Ward wasted no time asserting his dominance, seizing control of the field on lap 4 and setting the pace for the early stages. Meanwhile, Scott Eckrich showcased his prowess, surging into contention for the final podium spot from his fifth-place starting position.
However, drama unfolded on lap 11 as Michael Chrobok encountered trouble, making heavy contact with the outside wall in turn 1, relegating him to the back of the pack. Ward’s strategic pit stop on lap 15 caught his rivals off guard, but fuel constraints would later hamper his chances as Rasimas and Eckrich executed flawless pit strategies. With Ward forced to make a second pit stop for fuel, Eckrich capitalized on his rival’s misfortune, maintaining a commanding lead over Rasimas to secure victory in the first race.
The excitement continued to build as the PGRL unleashed the second race of the Brickyard 175 Spectacular. Michael Chrobok, determined to bounce back from his earlier setback, led the field around the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Despite an early charge from the competition, Chrobok showcased his resilience, fending off relentless pressure to maintain the lead. As the laps dwindled, Jeff Ward emerged as his primary challenger, relentlessly pursuing the race leader in a thrilling duel for supremacy.
With strategic pit stops and intense on-track battles shaping the race, Chrobok’s masterful handling of the pressure ultimately paid off as he crossed the finish line to claim victory in the second race, reaffirming his dominance in the PGRL standings. With only four weeks remaining before the championship chase begins, where the top 16 drivers will vie for glory, the stakes have never been higher in the PGRL.
Next up, the action shifts to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Tuesday, February 27th, promising more heart-pounding moments and adrenaline-fueled battles as the PGRL continues to deliver top-tier racing action. Stay tuned for more excitement, drama, and wheel-to-wheel competition, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL Late Model Invitational S25R07 | Myrtle Beach Speedway
The Season 25 Round 7 BRL Late Model Invitational at Myrtle Beach Speedway was a thrilling event with Darryl Wineinger and Tre Blohm leading the field to the green flag. Wineinger started off the race on a high note, allowing Ruben Altice to get into second place. The top 5 drivers were all settled into line, but behind them, there was some side-by-side action early on. After the first caution of the race, we restarted with an exhilarating moment of four cars wide across the backstretch, which was able to stay clean and accident-free.
As the race progressed and we hit the quarter-way mark, the whole field had pretty much settled down to single-file racing. Single-file racing was interrupted by an excellent battle for second place between Ruben Altice and J R Shepherd before Shepherd was finally able to win that battle, but it was a tough fight. On lap 48, J R Shepherd took the lead, passing Darryl Wineinger. On lap 56, we saw some more good battles for the third spot between Mike Holloway and Ruben Altice, but that ended with some contact that allowed Altice to maintain his third spot, although he was quickly pressured by Lowell Jewell.
The latter part of the race had slightly more frequent cautions as drivers were experiencing tire wear and fighting for positions. However, this did not dampen the excitement of the race. A late-race caution set up a Green/White/Checker with Shepherd and Ruben Altice on the front row. Shepherd rocketed off, with Altice falling down into the inside to save his spot. Behind him, Hardin made a move for third, and at the finish line, Shepherd claimed the checkered flag, followed by Ruben Altice for second and Jeffrey Hardin in third.
If you’re looking for more thrilling BRL racing action, be sure to mark your calendar for February 24th at 8:55 pm EST at New Smyrna Speedway! Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 25 Round 7 race at Myrtle Beach Speedway.
🚀 Jeffrey Hardin was the biggest mover of the race finishing in 3rd after starting in 19th, up 16 spots!
BRL OUTLAWS S34 R7 Recap
16 February 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 34 | Round 7
Outlaw Modified Series | Myrtle Beach Speedway
Friday night ignited with a burst of adrenaline as the Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series descended upon the virtual asphalt of New Smyrna Speedway for a riveting 100-lap feature, broadcast live on the Virtual Grip Network courtesy of the Skitter Creek Motorsports Group. With Tom Hilbert leading the pack from the pole position, anticipation crackled in the air.
However, Bruce Pearson wasted no time in asserting his dominance, executing a bold move to surge past Chris Haizlip and seize control of the race lead on just the third lap. As Pearson set the pace at the front, the battle for second intensified, with Haizlip facing relentless pressure from the determined drivers behind him.
Amidst the fierce competition, Matt Hoose emerged as a formidable contender, maneuvering his way through the pack to challenge Haizlip for the runner-up position. With the field settling into a single-file formation, the race charged into its second half, with tensions escalating as drivers vied for position.
In a dramatic twist, a late-race restart on lap 77 saw Hoose launch a bold assault, diving low to snatch second place from Haizlip. Behind them, Jeffery Hardin and Donny Moore engaged in a fierce battle of their own, exchanging positions in a relentless pursuit of the podium.
As the laps dwindled, Pearson maintained a steady grip on the lead, fending off relentless pressure from the charging pack behind him. A late-race caution set the stage for a thrilling sprint to the finish, with Hardin surging past Hoose to claim second place, while Pearson held firm to secure the checkered flag.
With Todd Liston retaining his stronghold atop the point standings, holding a 10-point lead over Hardin, the stage is set for another electrifying showdown as the Bootleg Racing League returns to New Smyrna Speedway on February 23rd. Don’t miss a moment of the heart-pounding action, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network at 8:55 PM ET!
BRL Late Model Invitational S25R6 | Langley Speedway
The adrenaline-fueled sixth race of Season 25 took place at the Langley Speedway, where Tre Blohm and Tim Shinoski led the field to start the race. As the race began, Blohm took the lead, but Shinoski was quick to respond and managed to overtake him on Lap 2, claiming the lead. The rest of the pack followed in a single-file line.
Maintaining positions in the top line proved to be difficult early on, as anyone stuck outside was sure to lose a spot or two. The first caution of the race occurred on Lap 21, which caused a brief pause in the action. On Lap 29, the race resumed with Shinoski and Blohm leading the field to the restart. Shinoski got an incredible jump, and Blohm was quick to follow, tucking down inside, avoiding getting stuck outside. Boelke and Holloway continued their side-by-side battle for 3rd place, with Boelke eventually gaining the upper hand. However, a wreck occurred on turn 2 on Lap 30, causing another pause in the race.
After the restart on Lap 36, Shinoski and Blohm led the field again, with Shinoski taking another fantastic jump. Boelke and Holloway continued their fight for 3rd place, with Boelke ultimately winning the battle. Unfortunately, yet another wreck occurred, causing the caution to come out in quick succession.
The race resumed on Lap 43, with Shinoski and Blohm leading the pack. This time, Boelke held off Joseph Snyder for 3rd place. Despite some non-flagged incidents on the track, the latter half of the race saw a good stint of green flag racing. However, a late race caution came out on Lap 90, and the race resumed on Lap 95 with just five laps remaining. Shinoski, who had led all but one lap, led the field to green with Joseph Snyder in 2nd. Shepherd, restarting 3rd on the inside line, quickly took advantage and claimed second place from Snyder. However, Shinoski held off Shepherd’s charge to claim the win for Round 6 of Season 25 at Langley, with J.R. Shepherd finishing in second and Joe Snyder taking home 3rd.
Don’t miss the next exciting BRL action (and don’t forget your beach towel), as we have Round 7 of Season 25 at Myrtle Beach Speedway!
Highlights
🏆 Tim Shinoski wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 25 Round 6 race at Langley Speedway.
🚀 Chris Davis was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in 5th up 13 spots from 18th.
🏁 Season 25 has had 3 different winners so far.
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
BRL OUTLAWS S34 R6 Recap
09 February 2024
Bootleg Racing League | Season 34 | Round 6
Outlaw Modified Series | Langley Speedway
The Bootleg Racing League’s Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series brought the thunder to Langley Speedway for a thrilling 100-lap race presented by the Skitter Creek Motorsports Group. With Lowell Jewell starting on the pole, the stage was set for a showdown of epic proportions.
As the green flag unfurled, John Wilson wasted no time in asserting his dominance, snatching the second spot from Matt Hoose as the field battled for supremacy. Wilson’s momentum carried him to the front on lap 4, with Hoose swiftly capitalizing to reclaim the second position.
However, Hoose’s grip on the lead proved short-lived as Todd Liston launched a relentless charge, maneuvering his way into contention and setting his sights on the top spot. Liston’s precision and determination paid off on lap 9 as he wrestled control of the race from Hoose.
With Liston at the helm, the competition intensified, with drivers jostling for position and battling fiercely for every inch of track. As the laps dwindled, Liston faced a formidable challenge from Aiden Young, who had quietly surged through the field to claim the final podium spot.
In a dramatic turn of events, Young executed a daring move to seize the lead from Liston with just 10 laps remaining. From there, Young held firm, navigating the remaining laps with precision and poise to clinch a hard-fought victory.
Liston, despite relinquishing the lead late in the race, maintained his stronghold atop the standings, boasting a commanding 15-point lead over his closest rival, Jeffery Hardin. The stage is now set for another thrilling showdown as the series heads to Myrtle Beach Speedway on February 16th, with all the action set to unfold live at 8:55 PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
PGRL S6 W19 Recap
06 February 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 19
Premier Series | Chicagoland Speedway
The Pretty Good Racing League brought the heat to Chicagoland Speedway with an electrifying pair of duel 55-lap races on Tuesday, February 6th. The first race kicked off with Colton Salek and Scott Eckrich leading the charge, setting the stage for an intense battle. Eckrich wasted no time asserting dominance, snatching the lead from Salek early on with a daring move on lap 2.
As the race unfolded, pit strategies played a pivotal role, with Adam Jurski and Dave Matson showcasing their skills at the front of the pack. Matson, aided by a push from Michael Chrobok, surged into the lead, only to face stiff competition from Eckrich, who reclaimed the top spot.
Meanwhile, Salek staged a remarkable comeback, maneuvering his way through the field to challenge Eckrich for the lead. With the race reaching its climax, pit strategies diverged, with Chrobok opting for a two-tire gamble that briefly catapulted him into the lead.
However, Eckrich, displaying his prowess once again, hunted down Chrobok and seized control of the race. Salek, hot on his heels, closed the gap, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown in the closing laps. Despite Eckrich’s efforts to defend his position, Salek relentlessly pursued him, setting up a dramatic final lap duel.
In a heart-stopping finale, Eckrich made a bold move to block Salek, resulting in a collision that dashed both drivers’ hopes of victory. Seizing the opportunity, Chrobok surged past to claim a dramatic win, capping off an exhilarating first race.
As the field reset for the second race, Matt Press led the charge, setting the stage for another action-packed showdown. Salek, determined to bounce back from his earlier setback, quickly asserted himself at the front of the pack, engaging in a fierce battle with Press.
Amidst the chaos, Eckrich and Chrobok fought their way through the field, but a stroke of misfortune befell Chrobok, knocking him out of contention. Undeterred, Salek regained the lead, only to face relentless pressure from Eckrich, who closed in with 25 laps to go.
With the final pit cycle underway, Mike Rasimas emerged as a surprise contender, employing a cunning fuel-saving strategy to snatch the lead. Despite Salek’s valiant efforts to chase him down, Rasimas held on to claim a stunning victory, leaving Salek and Eckrich in his wake.
As the dust settled, Chrobok maintained his stronghold atop the point standings, holding a commanding lead over Jeff Ward. With anticipation building for the next race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on February 20th, the stage is set for another thrilling showdown in the world of PGRL racing. Don’t miss the action, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL Late Model Invitational S25R5 | Kern Raceway
Parker and Pals 100 by Autism Speaks (https://www.autismspeaks.org)
The Bootleg Racing League Late Model Invitational at Kern Raceway was off to an exciting start as Chris Davis and Aiden Young led the field to the green flag. However, the race was halted by a caution right at the start, prompting the drivers to try again from Lap 6. Davis and Young led the pack through a better restart, but Liston made a daring move to make it three-wide into turn 3, battling for the lead with Davis and ultimately winning the first spot on Lap 9.
On Lap 11, Shepherd, who had recently moved to second, made a move to peek inside Liston for the lead. Liston managed to gain more momentum on the outside and kept the lead, but he got way too high on turn 3 and 4, losing a few spots and giving Shepherd the lead. Davis followed closely in second place, with Jeffrey Hardin in third on Lap 14.
The drivers settled into their temporary positions with some occasional battles for position after the initial Lap 1 caution, and we had green flag racing for almost half the race. However, the caution came out again on Lap 46, and racing resumed on Lap 53 with Shepherd and Davis leading the pack. Shepherd got a good start, and Jeffrey Hardin dove inside of Davis for a side-by-side battle for second. Jason Menda followed closely in third but could not complete the pass. The yellow flag came back out on Lap 65, but we went green again on Lap 70 with Shepherd and Hardin up front. Unfortunately, the “big one” occurred on Lap 71, collecting a lot of the latter half of the field in it. Michael Goodman expertly maneuvered his way through the chaos, which was incredibly impressive and the broadcast booth did an excellent job showcasing it (check it out at 39:16 minutes!).
We resumed racing with Shepherd and Hardin leading once more as we went green on Lap 76. Two more cautions occurred, but racing resumed with Shepherd and Hardin leading once more as we went green on Lap 93. With two laps to go, Shepherd had jumped to a one-second lead, with Hardin and Menda fighting for second. J R Shepherd won the fifth race of Season 25, with Jeffrey Hardin finishing second and Jason Menda finishing third. Overall, it was a thrilling race, full of exciting maneuvers and impressive saves, making it a memorable event for the drivers and fans alike.
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 25 Round 5 race at Kern Raceway.
🚀 Michael Goodman was the biggest movers of the race, finishing in 6th after starting 23rd up 17 spots!.
🏁 Shepherd increases his point lead a little more over Matt Hoose for the Season 25 championship.
Virtual Grip Network 
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