A Champion Crowned, A Sponsor Victorious: Mark Hertzog Wins at Rockingham

Rockingham, NC – The TBP ARCA Series 2025 Season came to a dramatic close Tuesday night at Rockingham Speedway, where the Turkey Trot 140 delivered a storyline-rich finale filled with dominance, disaster, and the crowning of a deserving champion. Race sponsor Mark Hertzog stole the show with a commanding performance over the final 73 laps to take the victory, while Alan Kundman survived a chaotic night to officially secure the championship. It was a fitting conclusion to a season built on consistent excellence rather than single-race heroics.

Kundman entered the finale with a comfortable 23-point lead over his nearest rival, Adam Bosse, backed by three wins and a flawless record of single-digit finishes in every counted race. The math only required Kundman to finish 17th, assuming Bosse swept the night and collected all possible bonus points. Instead, the championship drama fizzled almost immediately as Bosse, starting deep in 28th, disconnected before Lap 44 and was scored 35th. The sudden exit effectively sealed the title for Kundman before the race had truly settled into rhythm.

But even with the championship clinched, Kundman still had to survive Rockingham—never an easy task. His night unraveled early when a connection issue for Keith Handlon caused Ryan Hyatt to slide up into Kundman, sending the points leader into the grass. Later, a separate incident left Kundman sitting sideways on the track, where he was clipped by Cory Silva. Fortunately, Kundman was able to nurse the car home to a 23rd-place finish—more than enough to lock down his well-earned crown.

While the championship narrative settled early, the front of the field put on a strong performance, highlighted by long green-flag runs and an emphasis on mastering Rockingham’s notorious tire wear. Justin Baxter led the opening 22 laps from the pole before Brad Cress surged forward using the top lane to seize control, leading 20 laps of his own. Meanwhile, drivers like Steve McLendon and Nicholas Deal sliced through the field with big gains, and Hertzog established himself as a constant presence among the leaders. Hertzog eventually worked his way into the top spot by executing a strong, patient move through Turns 1 and 2, signaling that the No. 57 was only getting better as the track loosened up.

As the first half of the race unfolded, tire strategy became the defining element. Hertzog and several others pitted around Lap 70—giving up track position in hopes of catching a caution. That gamble paid off when the first major incident erupted near Lap 95, involving Deal and others, cycling Hertzog to the front. From there, his strategy and pace aligned perfectly.

The cautions that followed reshaped the running order again, with Matt Harmon emerging as a late-race threat. Starting 23rd, Harmon charged through the field using what he estimated was a 15-lap tire advantage. His preference for the bottom lane when the tires were fresh allowed him to move past Chad Winstead and Dakota Floyd, positioning him as the last real obstacle between Hertzog and a storybook win for the race sponsor. Hertzog’s finesse on the high side proved too much to overcome, and Harmon simply ran out of tire and time.

Hertzog, who said Rockingham was a track he “gets along with pretty well,” never faltered in the closing laps and powered to victory, leading a race-high 73 laps. Harmon’s remarkable charge from 23rd ended in second, while Winstead claimed his fifth third-place finish of the season.

When the dust settled, Alan Kundman officially became the TBP ARCA Series Season 9 Champion—an earned honor built on consistency, discipline, and the ability to avoid major mistakes over the long haul. His 23rd-place finish mattered little in the context of a season defined by smart racing and near-perfect execution.

Rockingham reminded the field why it remains one of the toughest tracks in stock car racing. It rewarded tire management, punished impatience, and, in the end, crowned the two drivers who played the long game best: the race winner who mastered the strategy and the season champion who mastered everything else.

Honeycutt Controls Nashville, Kundman Retakes Championship Lead in ARCA Series Thriller

Nashville, TN – James Honeycutt was the class of the field Tuesday night at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, leading a dominant 108 laps to win Round 13 of the TBP ARCA Series Season 9. Starting from the pole, Honeycutt used a late-race tire strategy to hold off Alan Kundman, who finished second and — most importantly — reclaimed the championship points lead. The 150-lap event served as the penultimate race of the season, run under traditional league rules that allow two sets of tires and one fast repair. While the format can create chaos, the field raced with surprising discipline.

The championship storyline overshadowed everything else, with Kundman entering the race just four points ahead of Adam Bosse. Bonus points for pole, leading a lap, and leading the most laps made every moment critical. Honeycutt started P1, Kundman P2, and Bosse buried back in P12, putting pressure on Bosse to charge forward early.

At the green, cold track temperatures helped Kundman surge around the outside to lead Lap 1 — earning a vital bonus point — before Honeycutt quickly reclaimed the top spot. Honeycutt settled into a strong rhythm, describing his preferred style as “arcing it and then flooring it on exit,” which fit Nashville perfectly. Bosse, meanwhile, climbed methodically through the field, reaching fifth by Lap 32. That long opening run ended when Marc Jarrell looped his car, bringing out the first caution.

As the race wore on, pit strategy grew more important. Caleb Brown was among those who pitted near halfway, noting that tire wear wasn’t terrible and his stop was primarily for fuel, though he did take fresh rubber. Honeycutt had led 64 laps when Kundman slipped past around Lap 65. With Honeycutt fading slightly, commentators wondered if he had burned up his equipment dominating the early run.

Then the championship picture exploded. Around Lap 96, Curtis Mitchell got loose and slammed the inside wall, triggering a multi-car incident. Bosse initially threaded the chaos perfectly, restarting second behind Matt Harmon. But moments later, Bosse made hard contact with Harmon taking the lead briefly, then hit the outside wall hard getting significant damage to his right front before disconnecting from the session. The DNF was disastrous — with his lowest drop race being just 26 points, Bosse was locked into a brutal score. Kundman, meanwhile, escaped the carnage and stood poised to regain the points lead.

Honeycutt inherited the lead after Bosse’s exit and soon faced pressure from Chad Winstead and Kundman. A late caution on Lap 117 set up a tense closing run. Honeycutt revealed afterward that he had taken only two tires on his final stop, a move that made the car “turn into the corner so much better.” Winstead struggled to fire off on the last restart, giving Kundman a clear shot at Honeycutt. Winstead later noted that Kundman had four tires while he had just two, making the No. 3 significantly faster.

Kundman closed a 12-car-length gap to just four in the final 10 laps, even slapping the wall as he pushed to catch the leader. But Honeycutt drove flawlessly, holding on to take the win by a slim margin. Kundman, who finished second, said he wished he’d been more aggressive earlier and had hoped for a long green run to take advantage of his tire-saving style. Winstead completed the podium in third.

The race dramatically reshaped the championship outlook: Kundman now leads heading into the season finale at Rockingham. In a race filled with strategy swings, late-race chaos, and title implications, the lesson was clear: speed matters, but survival matters more. Bosse’s championship hopes were shaken not by pace, but by the unpredictable chaos — proof that sometimes, the championship is decided simply by staying out of the wrecks.

Allen Rises from the Back: Thanksgiving Thunder Delivers a Stunning Strategy Upset at Phoenix

Avondale, AZ — The 2025 Thanksgiving Thunder at Phoenix Raceway brought together the best of Red Light Racing’s Monday and Thursday divisions, but few expected the season’s most dramatic twist to come from deep in the field. Ken Allen, who didn’t even take part in qualifying and rolled off from the tail end of the 30-car grid, executed one of the most daring off-sequence strategies in recent memory to charge all the way to the win in the 125-lap shootout. On a night defined by a punishing green-flag stretch, chaotic late-race cautions, and clashing agendas between two series sharing one racetrack, Allen’s climb of 30 positions became the story of the event.

Qualifying set the tone early, rewarding consistency over outright aggression. Zach Mitchell captured the pole with a 27.268 lap time, while Eric Stout lined up alongside him on the front row. When the green flag dropped, the mixed-series field displayed crisp execution, fanning out across the dogleg and making use of Phoenix’s sweeping apron. Mitchell quickly established control, pacing the field through the early laps. But the opening drama struck around Lap 14, when Stout and Sean Single tangled entering Turn 3. Stout pounded the outside wall and limped to an early exit, while Single soldiered on with what appeared to be a badly bent front end that cost him more than a second per lap.

As the long green-flag run continued, the race evolved into a war of attrition, with tire wear and clean air dictating every decision. Mitchell set the pace through the first third of the race before Andrew Lewis muscled his way to the lead around Lap 42. Maxime Theriault then added his name to the rotation by taking the front shortly after Lap 60. While the leaders traded positions up front, the middle of the pack became a swirl of divergent strategies as drivers wrestled with the razor-thin balance between running hard and saving enough tire for the eventual pit cycle. The unique “Honor Your Father-in-Law Lap” at Lap 63 briefly shuffled the focus when Chris Hammet earned a $10 bonus for holding the sixth position, a running joke in the booth as he enjoyed what was called the “most comfortable seat in the house” thanks to a generous buffer around him.

It was during this long, grueling stretch that Allen made the race-winning call. After missing qualifying entirely at the start, he ducked onto pit road around Lap 64—well before anyone else—and gave up two laps in the process. It was a gamble that only works when the yellow flag appears at exactly the right time, and with more than 60 laps of uninterrupted racing underway, it felt like a desperate swing. Yet as the leaders delayed their stops and the laps wound down, the race tightened just enough to bring Allen’s strategy back into view. Mitchell executed the cleanest pit stop among the contenders and briefly retook the advantage over Lewis and Theriault, with the three running nose-to-tail in a tense half-second cluster.

After more than a hundred straight laps of uninterrupted green racing, the first caution finally arrived with roughly 15 laps remaining when Louis Flowers and Allen Wannamaker made contact. The caution upended everything. Mitchell, Theriault, and Trent Potter were swept up in the scramble that followed, leaving their once-dominant machines battered and suddenly vulnerable. The new order elevated four drivers who had stayed out on older tires—Bill Benedict, Fred LeClair, Brian Neff, and Allen—catapulting Allen from 27th to fourth in one stroke. The next restart immediately triggered more chaos when Neff suffered catastrophic suspension damage in a multi-car stack-up, forcing another yellow.

With the field shuffled and tensions high, the race marched toward its inevitable Green-White-Checker phase, with up to three attempts available under Red Light Racing rules. On the restart with five laps remaining, Benedict led the field to green, but Allen—suddenly in prime position—pounced instantly. He swept past Benedict with four laps to go, just moments before another caution flew when Benedict and Allen briefly came together, sending LeClair spinning and setting up a two-lap shootout.

In the final dash, Allen planted his car firmly on the preferred inside line and never gave Benedict a chance to reclaim the lead. The battle behind him erupted into a frantic three-wide fight for second as drivers fanned out across the dogleg trying to get one final run. Allen, calm and composed, powered out of the final corner and crossed the line ahead of Benedict to complete one of the single greatest positional gains in the league’s history. Jeff Aho slipped through the late-race chaos to grab the final podium spot after climbing ten positions of his own.

For Allen—whose race nearly unraveled before it even began—the victory was a perfect marriage of bold strategy, tire discipline, and the well-timed caution he desperately needed. It was the type of win that turns an off-sequence gamble into legend, proving once again that even on a mile-long stage surrounded by speed, sometimes the sharpest tool a driver can bring is patience and a perfectly timed roll of the dice.

Rookie Kyle Feimster Slays the Dragon at South Boston

South Boston, VA — South Boston Speedway played host to one of the most dramatic races of the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series this season, as rookie Kyle Feimster stunned the field with his first-ever broadcast win. The race—sponsored by Tre Blohm in a heartfelt Thanksgiving tribute featuring a throwback A5 paint scheme honoring his grandfather—unfolded with equal parts chaos, heartbreak, and unexpected heroics. And at the center of it all stood a newcomer who managed to outwit the series’ most consistent veteran, points leader James Lowe.

Entering the weekend, Lowe had expanded his championship lead to a commanding 276 points over Chris Davis, despite not winning in the previous three rounds. South Boston’s starting grid inversion placed him mid-pack while John Wilson, “the Canadian Goose,” rolled off from the pole with Todd Liston alongside and Feimster slotted directly behind them in third. But the opening lap delivered instant turbulence. A tangle involving Lowe, Ruben Altice, and one of the Hilbert brothers folded the nose of Lowe’s No. 99 machine and knocked the toe out. Even as cars scattered and slowed, race control inexplicably swallowed the whistle and kept the field under green, sending Lowe tumbling back to 15th with a wounded race car.

While the early chaos set the tone, Wilson quickly established himself as the runaway favorite. With smooth laps and a steady rhythm, he built a small but stable lead and held it for nearly the entire race, ultimately pacing an incredible 92 of the 100 laps. Passing was nearly impossible on South Boston’s worn single-groove bottom lane, forcing drivers to search endlessly for grip and opportunities. Feimster, however, approached the situation with surprising maturity. Knowing the track would devour right-rear tires if pushed too hard, he spent the first half of the race easing into the throttle, preserving his equipment while quietly stalking the leaders.

Meanwhile, Lowe began his long, methodical climb back up the order. Even with his early damage, he carved his way forward with calculated inside-line pressure and stubborn persistence, including a stubborn duel with Altice, who refused to yield. Farther ahead, Tom Hilbert entertained the crowd with a determined scrap against Adam Schoen in a prolonged fight for fourth place. Hilbert eventually ceded the position but rallied later in the race to earn the better end of the family rivalry with a gritty top-five finish.

Everything changed in the closing laps. Following a late caution triggered by Kenny Allen and Schoen, the field reset for a sprint to the finish. On the Lap 92 restart, Mark Hertzog—who had charged from 14th and was positioned as the event’s biggest mover—got a run on Wilson and made contact that sent the race leader up the track and out of contention. And just like that, the “goose” was officially cooked. The door flew open for Feimster, who slipped through to take command, while Lowe seized second place and prepared for one final showdown.

The decisive moment arrived with a three-lap dash beginning on Lap 98. Feimster launched perfectly and immediately protected the bottom, refusing to surrender the preferred groove. Lowe tried everything—rolling the middle, diamonding the corner, pressuring the rookie’s bumper—but Feimster never cracked. With the poise of a seasoned veteran, he held firm over the final two circuits and even clocked the fastest lap of the race as he crossed the line two-tenths ahead of the points leader.

For a rookie to outduel a reigning powerhouse is rare enough. For him to do it in his first televised victory, in a holiday tribute event, after saving tires like a chess prodigy sacrificing pieces early to spring a late-game trap—that’s the stuff of sim-racing folklore. Even Lowe admitted afterward that he “didn’t have anything for Kyle there,” a testament to just how complete Feimster’s performance was.

Wilson’s misfortune relegated him to a 10th-place finish despite his 92 laps led, while consistent runs from names like Kurt Smith, Brennan Myers, and Todd Liston helped shape the overall complexion of the top ten. But the night belonged unmistakably to Feimster, a North Carolina racer and Army veteran, who summed up the evening with fitting simplicity: “It was a fun race—I mean, chaos.”

Chaos, yes. But also clarity—a moment where preparation, patience, and a perfectly timed opportunity allowed a rookie to slay the dragon and announce his arrival in spectacular fashion.

Schoen Holds Off Lowe in Southern National Thriller, Scores First Win of the Season

Lucama, NC — Adam Schoen delivered the performance of his season Saturday night, fending off a furious late-race charge from points leader and defending champion James Lowe to win Round 7 of the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series. The 100-lap showdown at Southern National Motorsports Park produced one of the most dramatic finishes of Season 32, capped by a tense Green-White-Checker sprint that tested every ounce of Schoen’s defensive instincts.

The night began with big implications for the championship picture. Lowe entered the event with a strong points lead after winning the first four races and never finishing outside the top three all season. Chris Davis, sitting second in the standings, was forced to start 17th after missing the previous round, putting him on the back foot immediately. Meanwhile, Rubin Altice, fresh off a victory at Lanier, had climbed to third in points and looked poised to continue his momentum.

A baker’s dozen inversion from last week’s results placed former police chief Steve Hilbert on the pole with Schoen to his outside, while Lowe—despite posting the fastest practice lap—had to roll off from 10th. The shuffled field set the stage for an unpredictable opening stint. On Lap 1, Schoen slipped to third as Todd Liston surged forward, first snatching Schoen’s spot and then diving under Hilbert to take the early lead.

Liston controlled the early race, but trouble found him midway through the event. Running strong at the front, he plowed through a cloud of smoke caused by contact between Mark Hertzog and Ryan Senneker, collecting right-side damage that derailed his night. His wounded #87 quickly faded, allowing Schoen to pounce and take over the lead with authority. From that point forward, Schoen commanded the field, pacing the final 53 laps.

While Schoen controlled the clean air, Lowe was busy clawing through the pack behind him. He found himself repeatedly battling Rubin Altice and Kurt Smith, who both fought hard to keep their preferred low line. Passing proved difficult all night; drivers had to force opponents up the banking if they wanted any hope of getting by. Lowe made steady forward progress but even he wasn’t immune to mistakes, misjudging a gap at one point in what commentators labeled a rare error for the normally ice-cold #99.

The final laps devolved into chaos when Darryl Wineinger, enjoying a career-best run in fourth place, spun after contact with rookie Kyle Feimster, triggering the lone mandatory Green-White-Checker attempt. The restart set up a dramatic showdown—Schoen on the point, Lowe tucked tightly into second, both drivers hungry for the win.

When the green dropped, Lowe dove low looking for the opening, but Schoen slammed the door shut with precision, hugging the inside line with laser focus. He gave Lowe no daylight whatsoever, running what broadcasters called a “bikini-wax smooth” defensive line that prevented any opportunity for the champion to slip underneath. The two made slight contact as they wrestled through the final corner, but Schoen held strong and crossed the finish line first, sealing his breakthrough victory. Lowe settled for second, though he padded his championship lead in the process.

Behind them, the late-race chaos benefitted “Double Deuce” Bruce Pearson. Pearson avoided multiple spinning cars and opportunistically vaulted himself into third place, calling the finish a mix of luck and timing after nearly having to park the car to avoid the mess ahead. The Hilbert brothers—Tom in fourth and Steve in fifth—closed out one of their best combined outings in the season. Chris Davis recovered to finish 10th, a respectable salvage given his deep starting spot.

After the race, Schoen described the pressure-packed final moments with a laugh: “I think I had one eye straight and one eye in my rearview mirror. I just went low to cut him off. I had to do everything I could to keep him behind me—he’s fast.” Lowe echoed the sentiment, complimenting Schoen’s execution: “He had an awfully nice guy behind him. I gained points, so that’s always good. We’ll move on.”

The series now shifts to South Boston Speedway for Round 8, where the inversion will place John Wilson, the “Canadian Goose,” on the pole. With just a handful of races remaining and tension rising in the playoff chase, the stage is set for another dramatic chapter in Season 32 of the BRL Late Model Invitational Series.

Ogle Dominates Hickory, Caps Championship Season with Fifth Win in Zach Brewer Classic

Newton, NC – Tom Ogle, the newly crowned Yesteryear Tour Modified Series champion, ended his season in dominant fashion Saturday night, claiming victory in the Zach Brewer Classic at Hickory Motor Speedway. The 250-lap finale marked Ogle’s fifth win of the year, capping off a commanding season as he prepares to be awarded the coveted Old Red Boot championship trophy.

The race carried special meaning as it honored North Carolina Modified standout Zach Brewer, who passed away in 2024. In a touching tribute, Allen Wannamaker piloted Brewer’s familiar No. 79 Hillbilly Racing machine, giving the field extra motivation to put on a strong show in his memory.

The drivers faced a rough, character-filled Hickory surface—a bumpy, under 3/8-mile oval that has long tested the skill and patience of racers. The high-powered Modifieds danced across the worn asphalt, with even minor missteps threatening to upset the cars. From the drop of the green, it was clear that the track’s abrasive surface would be a major factor throughout the night.

Polesitter Scott Negus led the field to green with Ogle alongside and James Lowe starting third. But before a rhythm could form, an early caution on Lap 4 saw Brian Bianchi get loose in a three-wide battle and spin, serving as an early reminder that staying out of trouble would be key.

When racing resumed, Ogle quickly took control and established a steady lead, showing why he’s been the man to beat all season. As the laps wore on, the race became a battle of tire management and pit strategy. Around Lap 50, the first major caution brought nearly the entire lead pack to pit road for right-side tires and fuel. Negus clocked a lightning-fast 11.4-second stop to briefly retake the advantage, though some wondered if he had taken on enough fuel for the long haul. Lowe, meanwhile, lost a couple of spots on pit road in a costly but common example of how razor-thin margins can define the outcome at Hickory.

Through the middle stages, Ogle methodically worked his way back to the front, his car thriving on longer runs. Some drivers gambled by staying out on old tires, including Lowe and Bruce Pearson, but the strategy didn’t pay off. They fell back quickly, opening the door for Ogle and Bianchi to reclaim control of the race.

The complexion of the event changed dramatically on Lap 87 when Rex Hoyle and Torrance Childs made contact, spinning Childs directly in front of Ogle. The champion clipped the spinning car but managed to keep his composure, sustaining only light damage that was repaired on pit road. That pit cycle proved pivotal—Ogle won the race off pit road, while Bianchi jumped from ninth to second, setting up the duel that would define the remainder of the night.

Over the final 100 laps, Bianchi kept the pressure on Ogle, but the Ohio driver remained unshaken. The top two traded lap times within tenths of a second while Jerry Isaacs lurked just behind in third, unable to find a way past Bianchi despite having what appeared to be a quicker car in clean air. “It was so hard to pass,” Isaacs said afterward. “You could try to dive in, but you’d just get loose on entry or exit. I wasn’t going to end the season by wrecking someone.”

Bianchi admitted that the track’s ever-loosening condition made life difficult, saying he brushed the outside wall “about 50 times” trying to hang with Ogle. “It just kept getting freer every lap,” he said. “We only took rights, and by the end, it was all about survival.”

Despite the pressure from behind, Ogle kept his composure, managing the gap to perfection. He took the white flag with a comfortable margin and crossed the line to secure his fifth win of the year—his most impressive yet—bringing home both the race victory and the championship hardware. Behind Ogle, Bianchi earned a hard-fought runner-up finish, followed by Isaacs, Lowe, and Negus rounding out the top five.

Allen Wannamaker’s emotional run in Brewer’s No. 79 ended early after contact, but his tribute resonated deeply with the field and fans alike. Ogle, meanwhile, reflected on his remarkable season with gratitude. “Getting track position early made all the difference,” he said. “Once I was out front, I could pace myself and take care of the tires. Huge thanks to my teammates and to Allen and Torrance for putting on this awesome series.”

As the checkered flag waved over Hickory, the message was clear—Tom Ogle’s season was one for the ages. Five wins, a championship, and a dominant finale at one of short-track racing’s toughest bullrings cemented his place as the driver to beat in the Yesteryear Racing.

Altice Holds Off Lowe to Win Chaos-Filled BRL Late Model “Equator” Race at Lanier

Braselton, Georgia — The Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series hit its season midpoint with a wild and unpredictable showdown at Lanier National Speedway, where chaos, cautions, and tire wear ruled the night. When the dust settled, the ever-calm Rubin Altice delivered a masterclass in composure, leading every lap from the pole and fending off a late charge from points leader James Lowe to capture his first victory of Season 32.

The race marked the “equator” of the eleven-race season — round six, the dividing line between the front and back halves of the championship. Lowe entered the event as the clear favorite after winning four of the first five rounds, holding a narrow lead over Chris Davis in the standings. That lead only widened when Davis failed to make the grid, leaving Lowe free to strengthen his title position with another strong finish.

The field was set by the league’s traditional inversion of the top 13 finishers from the previous race — a format designed to mix things up and force the fast drivers to earn their way forward. The shuffle placed Altice on pole, while Lowe rolled off ninth. Adam Schoen started alongside Lowe, and Todd Liston lined up mid-pack, all with eyes on moving forward in the 100-lap feature. With no tire changes allowed, drivers knew their success would depend on managing grip over a long green-flag run.

When the green flag dropped, Altice immediately took command from the inside lane and never looked back. Behind him, the opening laps were anything but smooth. Allen Wannamaker nearly looped his car off Turn 2 on cold tires, gathering it up just in time to avoid a bigger incident but falling to the rear. Lowe, meanwhile, began carving his way through traffic with surgical patience, jumping from ninth to fifth in the early going without using up his tires.

The action intensified mid-race as Liston, Brennan Myers, and Bruce Pearson traded paint in a hard-fought battle for top-five positions. Lowe took advantage of the chaos to slip by when gaps opened, while Kurt Smith quietly picked his way forward from deep in the field, saving his tires for a late charge. Darryl Wineinger also made steady progress, running just outside the top five and keeping his car clean through the rough middle stages.

The first caution of the night flew after contact between Schoen and Myers triggered a chain reaction that collected John Wilson. Myers sustained right-front damage but managed to stay on the lead lap. The restart that followed reshuffled the order and ignited another round of drama. Altice held firm out front, while Wilson and Wineinger tangled in a hard-fought battle behind them that sent Wilson spinning, bringing out the second yellow.

That set the stage for a tense closing run. Lowe cleared traffic after the restart and began tracking down Altice, cutting into the lead with each lap as the field settled into a sprint to the finish. With ten laps to go, Lowe was glued to Altice’s rear bumper, searching for any opening. Altice, however, never wavered. Running a near-perfect line along the inside curb, he defended every corner with veteran precision.

Lowe tried the high side off Turn 2 in the final laps, but Lanier’s tight confines left him no room to complete the move. Altice held his ground, holding off Lowe by less than half a car length at the checkered flag to score his first win of the season. He later admitted the closing laps “felt like forever,” adding that he wasn’t sure he could’ve held Lowe off for another five.

Kurt Smith completed the podium after a patient and consistent drive from 13th, avoiding trouble and making his move late to secure third. John Wilson rebounded to finish fourth after his earlier spin, and Wineinger rounded out the top five with another solid run.

The win was a statement for Rubin Altice, who proved that calm execution can still trump chaos in the Bootleg Racing League. For James Lowe, the runner-up finish extended his championship advantage as the Late Model Invitational Series crossed its midpoint and headed into the backstretch run.

Isaacs Dominates Late at Atlanta as Ogle Locks Up Championship

Atlanta, GA— The OBRL Yester Year Tour Modified Series delivered one of its most grueling strategic tests of the season at Atlanta, and Jerry Isaacs rose to the occasion. After a relentless, full-distance 100-lap green flag battle, Isaacs executed a perfectly clean pit stop cycle and commanded the bottom lane over the closing laps to score his first win of the season — while Tom Ogle backed up his championship campaign with a deliberate, championship-minded second place finish that effectively sealed his path to the coveted “old red boot”.

The night began with major stakes. Double points were in play and Ogle entered the event with a 30-point cushion over primary rival Brian Johnson. Johnson came out swinging, taking the pole and controlling the entire first half of the race. Track conditions made tire conservation borderline desperate — this historic Atlanta layout chews up front tires and punishes excess wheel input — forcing most of the field to lock into long-run survival mode on a night where no cautions slowed the tempo.

When the green flag pit cycle began around halfway, everything flipped. The lead group attempted to hit pit road together, but several drivers — including Johnson, who had led every lap up to that moment — were penalized for pit road violations. Johnson’s black flag buried him multiple laps down, and with it went any realistic shot at the championship. Isaacs, Ogle, and Todd Liston executed flawless stops, merging cleanly into the lead draft with clear track ahead.

The race then tightened into one final chess match: Isaacs and Ogle worked the inside groove with discipline, while Liston and Scott Negus repeatedly tried to build momentum topside. Negus made multiple attempts to slingshot the high lane into contention, even leading brief attacks late, but the bottom lane simply carried too much speed down the straights. Ogle refused to move off the preferred line, knowing P2 under these conditions would lock down his season. He committed himself to ensuring Isaacs stayed in front, staying tucked behind him and never giving Negus the side draft runway needed to make a sustained charge.

Isaacs never cracked under pressure. Running flawlessly along the white line and never offering the outside lane an opening, he held the bottom all the way to the checkers to grab a statement win in one of the most mentally demanding races of the season. Ogle crossed right behind him in second — and with Johnson finishing two laps down in P13 — Ogle now heads to Hickory as a mere formality before taking home the championship title and legendary “Old Red Boot” trophy.

Foltz Captures OBRL YesterYear Cup Championship at Phoenix in Strategy-Driven Finale

Avondale, AZ — After 35 races and 4,777 total laps logged this season, the OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup crowned its new champion Saturday night in a 175-lap finale at Phoenix Raceway. In a race defined by tire conservation, pit execution, and long green-flag segments, Sean Foltz sealed the deal and clinched the championship, using a perfectly timed green-flag pit call to out-maneuver early dominator Andrew Kotska and overcome a costly pit mistake from James Hislop.

The final four championship contenders were Foltz, Hislop, Kotska, and Jerry Isaacs — and it was Kotska who rolled in with momentum. He set quick time, earned the pole, and immediately established control of the event, reinforcing his reputation as a Phoenix specialist. Isaacs’ title fight took an early hit, however, when he was forced to serve a green-flag pass-through penalty on lap one, dropping him nearly a lap down before even settling into race rhythm.

The race settled into the long-run Phoenix environment everyone expected. Hislop was smooth and steady while running the top lane with precision, and Foltz quietly kept himself within striking range while focusing on managing tire life rather than attacking early. The first caution arrived just before the race reached the 50-lap mark when Tommy Emasie, on fresh tires and closing rapidly on Dave Matson, made contact and sent Matson hard into the outside wall — a break that allowed Isaacs to climb back onto the lead lap.

On the subsequent restart, Kotska dramatically lost clean air and found himself locked in a fierce battle with Cortney Nelson, who surged to the lead for several laps. Unfortunately, Nelson’s bid to stay at the front ended in heartbreak — contact with the wall caused front suspension damage severe enough to force him backward through the field shortly after.

As the race crossed halfway, pit timing and tire delta became the entire difference maker. Foltz waited patiently, then committed to his call — short pitting two laps earlier than his title rivals. It was the turning point of the season. While Foltz maximized his out laps, both Kotska and Hislop struggled: Kotska barely missed his pit mark and had to reset, and Hislop’s overshoot was far more costly, forcing him to back up significantly in the box and losing multiple positions during the cycle.

When green flag stops completed, Foltz emerged with more than four seconds of advantage — a margin he defended with discipline in the closing run. Kotska and Hislop both chipped away at the deficit inside the final 15 laps, but damage and dirty air stalled the run. Hislop mounted one final push and closed the lead down to a single second with three laps remaining, but the math — and the laps — simply ran out.

Sean Foltz crossed the stripe to win the Phoenix finale and secure the OBRL YesterYear Cup Championship — a title won not on raw pace, but on a decisive strategic strike at exactly the right moment.

Kotska completed an impressive season turnaround by finishing third in the finale, while Isaacs clawed back for a top-six finish despite his early penalty. But this night belonged to Foltz — whose patience, timing, and execution delivered a champion’s closing statement.

Chris Davis Triumphs at Oswego, Ends James Lowe’s Bid for Perfect BRL Season

Oswego, NY – Chris Davis delivered under pressure in Round 5 of the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series at Oswego Speedway, scoring his first win of the season and officially ending the perfect season streak attempt of points leader James Lowe. Coming into the night, Lowe had been undefeated through the first four races, but Oswego has historically been one of his tougher venues, and his flawless run finally came to an end.

The starting grid was set by the finishing order of the previous event, placing veteran Steve Hilbert on the pole. Allen Wannamaker elected to start from pit road. Hilbert got a strong launch to begin the 100-lap feature, but the opening lap immediately erupted into a major multi-car incident in Turns 3 and 4. John Wilson, Mike Holloway, Kurt Smith, and Chris Davis all became tangled in the chaos — but Lowe, starting deep in the order, showed the poise that put him atop the standings. He got hard on the brakes, waited for the smoke to clear, and navigated through the mess, jumping seven spots and putting himself right into early contention.

Once the race settled, Hilbert settled into a steady rhythm at the front, leading for 32 laps while holding off multiple pressure waves behind him. As the field began to compress mid-race, the battle for the lead intensified. Davis, who had rallied forward from 11th, worked his way into the top three, while Lowe climbed into second. In a pivotal three-wide fight entering Turn 1, Davis drove low underneath Hilbert, making contact that sent Hilbert spinning into the outside wall and forcing another caution.

The restart placed Davis and Lowe side-by-side. Davis grabbed command and the duel for the win was fully on — but the perfect season machine suddenly looked vulnerable. Lowe’s earlier contact resulted in a bent nose that hindered his handling, giving Davis just enough margin to hold firm. Meanwhile, Tre Blohm put on one of the biggest charges of the race. Starting 15th, he stormed through the field with the fastest lap of the night (19.252) and powered into the top three. He managed to muscle by Lowe, shrinking Davis’s lead down to half a second in the closing laps, but his tires finally surrendered with eight laps remaining and the forward drive evaporated.

A late caution involving Allen Wannamaker and Mike Holloway sent the race into a single Green-White-Checker shootout. Davis executed cleanly, while Adam Schoen made a final-lap surge to second. But before the field could mount one final strike, Rubin Altice spun, freezing the order and ending the race under yellow. Chris Davis crossed the line first, scoring the signature breakthrough win of his season — and the one that finally put a stop to Lowe’s perfect run.

Davis took the victory after starting 11th. Adam Schoen finished second, and James Lowe brought it home third. Tre Blohm’s charge ended with a fourth-place result after torching his right side tires late, while Ryan Senneker completed a standout run through the field from last on the grid to finish fifth.

Post-race, Davis admitted the final laps were nerve-wracking knowing Lowe was coming, but he was relieved to break through cleanly and confirmed he had escaped the opening chaos with no major damage — a stroke of luck that allowed him to save his equipment for the end. Davis’s win also activates another Mission 22 donation — $122 — tied to his season-long personal pledge in honor of his son recently earning Captain rank in the U.S. Army. Lowe, meanwhile, said he was satisfied salvaging third, comparing his night to feeling like a “ping-pong ball,” but happy simply to get Oswego behind him.

The BRL Late Model Series now shifts to Lanier National Speedway as Season 32 continues.