PGRL S6 W11 Recap
28 November 2023
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 11
Premier Series | Charlotte Motor Speedway
The Pretty Good Racing League delivered a double dose of excitement with back-to-back 80-lap races at Charlotte Motor Speedway featuring the NASCAR Craftsman trucks for the “Tight on Time Twin 120’s” presented by Wrong Time Watch.
In the first race, Jeff Ward commenced from the pole position alongside Colton Salek. Ward dominated the early laps, while Scott Eckrich surprisingly struggled, consistently losing ground from his 3rd place starting position. Salek persistently pressured Ward for the lead, but despite his efforts, couldn’t make a decisive move.
A caution on lap 24 provided a window for the first round of pit stops, and Salek executed a flawless stop, overtaking Ward on pit road to assume control at the front. As Salek led, Mike Rasimas and Ward mounted a challenge, with Ward eventually opting for a pit stop on lap 56 to undercut Salek.
Fortune favored Ward as another caution emerged while he was on pit road. Beating the pace car when rejoining the track, Ward regained the lead as Salek and the rest of the field made their final stops. Ward maintained his position for the last 20 laps, claiming the checkered flag in an impressive display of strategy and pace.
The grid reset for the second race with Mark Poe starting on the pole. Michael Chrobok swiftly seized the lead within the initial 10 laps, with Thomas George trailing in 2nd. Amidst traffic challenges faced by potential race winners, Eckrich struggled, incurring a speeding penalty and retiring early from the event.
As the race progressed, Salek, making a charge from the top 8, steadily closed in on Chrobok for the lead. A perfectly executed pit stop aided Salek in overtaking the leader, allowing him to maintain a commanding lead for the final 10 laps, securing his second checkered flag of the night.
Chrobok, though maintaining an impressive 369-point lead over Salek in the standings, remains winless for the season. The upcoming race on December 5th at Dover Motor Speedway promises further exhilarating action as the PGRL returns, exclusively live on the Virtual Grip Network at 8:50 PM ET. The championship battle intensifies, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the thrilling clashes yet to come.
BRL LM S24R8 | Lanier National Speedway
19 November 2023
At the start of the race, Bruce Pearson and Joseph Snyder were positioned at the front row, eagerly waiting for the green flag to wave. As the flag dropped, Pearson was quick off the mark and managed to secure the lead, while Todd Liston, starting from third, took advantage of Snyder’s slow start and jumped under him to take second place. The inside line proved to be the most efficient at the start of the race, and really throughout, with some drivers engaging in side-by-side racing. However, the drivers in the bottom line had the upper hand and were able to take consistently win the position battle.
As the race progressed and the drivers settled into their rhythm, Todd Liston made a daring move and overtook Pearson to claim the lead. The race started with 27 green flag laps before the first caution came out on Lap 28, allowing the drivers to regroup. As the race resumed on Lap 32, Todd Liston and Bruce Pearson occupied the front row, with Liston getting an excellent start, allowing Kurt Smith to follow the inside lane and take second. Nonetheless, the outside line was still not working, forcing Pearson and others in the outside lane to wait for their turn to get into the inside line and avoid losing positions.
On Lap 41, a caution came out, and the drivers had to slow down once again. As the race restarted on Lap 46, Liston and Smith were at the front row, and J R Shepherd was able to take second place from Smith, who was on the outside. However, Smith was quick to shut the door on Pearson, who was in third place, to avoid losing too many positions. Another caution came out on Lap 53, and as the race resumed on Lap 58, Liston and Shepherd were at the front row. Liston got a great start, but Smith challenged the inside lane under Shepherd. Despite Smith’s efforts, Shepherd kept enough momentum to regain the inside line and stay in second place. The top five drivers were all incredibly close by Lap 65, and Shepherd was able to peak to the inside of Liston, taking the first place. Kurt Smith passed under Liston for second, with Liston fighting to get back on the inside.
The race continued with intense side-by-side racing, with the drivers pushing their limits. On Lap 77, another caution came out, and when the race restarted on Lap 83, Shepherd and Smith were at the front row. Shepherd got a great start, and Matt Hoose also followed behind with a good start to take second from Smith. Lowell Jewell made his way up under Smith on that fast inside line to take 3rd. Another caution came out on Lap 89, and as the race resumed on Lap 95, Shepherd and Hoose were at the front. Shepherd got another great start, allowing plenty of room for Hoose to jump inside right away. Jewell was in 3rd, and behind him was side-by-side racing, and a quick caution came out on lap 97. The race was set up for a Green-White-Checker shootout on Lap 102, with Shepherd getting another great start, followed by Hoose and Jewell. The race finished in that podium order, with the rest of the field fighting hard side-by-side after the shootout to claim their spots.
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 24 race at Lanier for his 3rd win of the season.
🚀 Lowell Jewell was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in third place after starting from 17th.
🏁 J R Shepherd’s victory gave a big point boost for his battle for the season championship
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
BRL OUTLAWS S33 R8 Recap
17 November 2023
Bootleg Racing League | Season 33 | Round 8
Outlaw Modified Series | Lanier National Speedway
In a thrilling night of high-octane action at Lanier National Speedway, Aiden Young of Gambler Motorsports stamped his authority, clinching his fourth win of the season in the fiercely contested Bootleg Racing League Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series.
The race began with Joe Segalla seizing the pole position, setting an early pace. Meanwhile, Young, starting from the 10th spot, had an uphill climb ahead. Matt Hoose, initiating from 3rd, wasted no time and powered into the lead merely four laps into the intense race, with Donny Moore swiftly securing 2nd place as Segalla encountered difficulty on the outer racing line, consequently slipping down the running order.
Hoose commanded the lead for a substantial portion of the race, steering the pack until lap 80. However, Young, exhibiting an impressive display of skill, steadily made his way through the grid. In a daring maneuver, Young dove low, making a calculated move to slide underneath Hoose late in the corner, compelling Hoose to yield the lead and slip back to 2nd place. As Hoose maneuvered to regain his position behind Young, an unfortunate collision with Moore sent Hoose spinning, relegating him to the rear of the field.
Unfazed by the incident, Young surged ahead, navigating the remaining 20 laps unchallenged, securing yet another commanding victory. With this win, Young extends his dominance in the championship standings, now boasting a formidable 31-point lead over Todd Liston.
The Bootleg Racing League’s next showdown awaits after the Thanksgiving break, as drivers gear up to conquer Myrtle Beach Speedway on December 1st. Race enthusiasts can catch all the heart-pounding action live exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network, starting at 8:55 PM ET. The anticipation builds for another adrenaline-fueled spectacle in this gripping series.
PGRL S6 W10 Recap
14 November 2023
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 10
Premier Series | Michigan Int’l Speedway
The Pretty Good Racing League held an exciting event, the Wrong Time Watch Michigan Mix-Up presented by Wrong Time Watch, featuring back-to-back 40-lap races at Michigan International Speedway.
In the first race, Scott Eckrich started on the pole alongside Michael Chrobok. Chrobok claimed the lead from Eckrich early on, dominating a large portion of the race until a pivotal final pit stop with 10 laps to go. Jeff Ward, making a strong late-race charge, overtook Chrobok with four laps remaining, ultimately securing the victory in race one.
The second race saw Mike Rasimas leading the field at the start. Familiar names quickly ascended toward the front, including Eckrich, Chrobok, and Ward. Eckrich, displaying aggressive moves, took the lead early in the race. Bryan Yaczik also fought for the lead, but Chrobok emerged, making a significant maneuver on lap 18, surpassing several competitors to secure the lead.
Despite Ward’s attempts at pit strategy, Eckrich managed to reclaim the lead and maintain a dominant pace, crossing the finish line first in the second race of the night.
In the points standings, Michael Chrobok continues to maintain a substantial 405-point lead over Adam Jurski. The league’s next event is scheduled for November 28th, post-Thanksgiving holiday break, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Don’t miss the action, broadcasting exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network at 8:50 PM ET!
BRL LM S24R7 | South Boston Speedway
12 November 2023
In an enthralling race, J R Shepherd made a late race pass to clinch victory in round 7 of season 24. The margin of his victory was an impressive 4 seconds. Despite the tricky outside line that can cause a car to spin within seconds, the race featured some excellent side-by-side racing, showcasing the drivers’ skills and sportsmanship.
The race began with Todd Liston and John Wilson at the front. Liston took an early lead, with Wilson trying to keep up from the outside. Joe Segalla secured the third position at the start, and racers were competing fiercely from fourth place onwards. The first caution came out on Lap 7, bringing the race to a temporary halt. After the restart, Liston and Wilson were still on the front row, with Liston getting a great start. Wilson took the second position, and Segalla and Tre Blohm battled for the third position. Blohm won the battle and secured the third position, while the rest of the field worked on settling their positions and fighting for the inside line. Another caution was called on Lap 15, and after the restart, Liston and Wilson were still on the front row. This time, Wilson stayed with Liston on the outside and tried to fight for first place before settling back in second. The field had calmed down by this point, with mostly single-file racing.
On Lap 40, Shepherd battled with Wilson for second place before a caution was called on Lap 42, pausing the battle for second. We resumed racing on Lap 48, with Liston and Shepherd leading the pack. Liston got a great start, and Shepherd followed behind, eventually claiming the second position from Wilson. Wilson and Mark Hertzog quickly challenged Shepherd, with Hertzog moving up to third place on Lap 51. However, a caution caused a big pileup on Lap 52, again bringing the race to a halt.
We went green again on Lap 58, with Liston and Shepherd leading the pack. Shepherd was able to use the top line to clear Liston and claim the lead. From there, he maintained his lead, gaining a 3-second advantage by Lap 93. The green flag racing continued, with the top 7 racers being in contention for the win, while the rest of the field (8th onwards) were about 2 seconds behind. Mike Holloway made a move on Liston on Lap 87 and took second place, while Liston battled with Matt Hoose, who dove underneath for the third position.
On the final lap, Shepherd was comfortably ahead and claimed victory with a 4-second lead. Mike Holloway finished second, and Matt Hoose rounded out the podium in third place. Mike Holloway was also the biggest mover of the race, finishing 16 spots ahead of his starting position of 18th. Overall, it was an exciting race, featuring some of the best racers in the circuit showcasing their skills and passion for the sport.
Highlights
🏆 J R Shepherd wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 24 race at South Boston Speedway.
🚀 Mike Holloway was the biggest mover of the race, finishing in second place after starting from 18th.
🏁 J R Shepherd’s victory gave a big point boost for his battle for the season championship
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
BRL OUTLAWS S33 R7 Recap
10 November 2023
Bootleg Racing League | Season 33 | Round 7
Outlaw Modified Series | South Boston Speedway
In a thrilling race at South Boston Speedway, Jason Menda with Thunder Ridge Racing took the checkered flag after leading every lap in a Green-White-Checker (GWC) finish in the Bootleg Racing League Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series.
Starting the night on the pole, Menda demonstrated exceptional control and skill as he fended off multiple challengers throughout the race. Despite a few early cautions in the first 20 laps, the majority of the race witnessed an extended green-flag stretch, with several drivers attempting to seize the lead from Menda, including notable contenders like Matt Hoose and Chris Davis.
Aiden Young quietly made his way through the field during the first half of the race, steadily closing the gap on Menda. As the laps dwindled, Menda’s competition struggled to maintain his pace, wearing out their equipment in fierce battles for the lead. Young, however, continued to gain ground lap after lap.
The late-race caution set the stage for a dramatic 2-lap dash to the finish, with Menda still firmly in control. Young secured the 2nd position but couldn’t mount a challenge for the victory before Menda crossed the finish line, securing his first win of the season.
Aiden Young finished the night in 2nd place but maintains a robust points lead, sitting 30 points ahead of Todd Liston.
The Bootleg Racing League will return on November 17th for another exciting round, this time at Lanier National Speedway. Catch all the racing action live at 8:55 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
PGRL S6 W9 Recap
07 November 2023
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 9
Premier Series | Talladega Superspeedway
In an action-packed night of racing, the Pretty Good Racing League (PGRL) ran back-to-back 40-lap races at Talladega Superspeedway for the Try Not to Go HardinTheWall Dega Duels, presented by HardinTheWall on Twitch. This event provided an evening of high drama and excitement for both drivers and fans.
The first race of the night began with Scott Eckrich starting from the pole position. The initial eight laps proceeded smoothly, with drivers making calculated moves to secure their positions. However, on the ninth lap, a major multi-car incident unfolded down the backstretch as drivers jockeyed for position, coming out of turn 2. Brian Yaczik received a challenging push, sending him into Eckrich on his inside, triggering a chain reaction that collected numerous other drivers.
Following the caution and a restack for the green flag, Marc Cohn displayed strategic prowess, maintaining his position near the front of the field. Cohn took the lead and held it as a late-race caution emerged with just three laps remaining. Since PGRL does not employ a Green-White-Checker finish rule, the caution marked the end of the first race. Cohn was leading the bottom line by a mere 0.025 seconds ahead of Michael Chrobok, who was positioned to his outside, making Cohn the race winner. A jubilant Cohn, upon speaking about his victory, exclaimed, “Oh my God. I can’t believe it, we won Talladega!” He shared his elation, emphasizing the strategic and strong run that led to this moment.
After a brief intermission, the field was inverted to determine the grid for the second race. This race, following the season’s pattern, proved to be more chaotic than the first, with early cautions complicating pit strategy for the drivers throughout the first half.
Following the final fuel stop, Ryan Zima, Michael Chrobok, and Jordan Harnish emerged as the frontrunners in a group by themselves, well ahead of the rest of the field. As the laps ticked down, it became apparent that they were in prime positions to vie for the win. However, a miscommunication between the leaders and lap traffic led to a sudden slowdown, enabling several other drivers to join the lead pack in the final laps.
Chrobok fought to maintain control of the lead as he emerged from the final corner, but Gael Brooks managed to get a nose ahead at the line, securing the checkered flag with a margin of just 0.000 seconds over Chrobok.
Chrobok continues to maintain a substantial lead in the point standings, with a 330-point advantage over Adam Jurski. As the season progresses, racing enthusiasts can look forward to Week 10, where PGRL will be taking on Michigan International Speedway on November 14th. Catch all the action live at 8:50 PM ET, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!
BRL S24R6 | Kern County Raceway Park
06 November 2023
Season 24 of BRL Gargamel’s Late Model Invitational has seen five rounds with five different winners: J R Shepherd, Kenny Kibbey, Aiden Young, Bryan Dehn, and Matt Hoose. Kibbey, has surrounded his first with additional top 5’s and placing him strongly in the season lead. Kern County Raceway Park had never hosted the BRL Late Models until tonight, and it provided some excellent racing.
Excitement was high during the inaugural bootleg racing league late model race at Kern County Raceway Park as Chris Davis and Bruce Pearson led the pack through the green. Davis had an impressive start and easily maintained his position, while Young attempted to compete for second place but was unable to overtake Pearson. However, a caution on Lap 4 slowed down the race and allowed the drivers to regroup.
After the race resumed, Davis once again started strong, forcing Young and Pearson to fight for second place. Young was finally able to secure second place from Pearson, with the inside line appearing to work better for the early part of the race. However, around Lap 18, the outside line started to work better as many drivers started to accumulate there, and the excitement level increased as drivers engaged in side-by-side racing.
There was a long green flag stretch of approximately 30 laps where Shepherd moved from 20th to 6th place when a caution was thrown causing the racers to regroup. On Lap 82, the green flag was waved once more with Kibbey and Davis again leading the pack, with only 19 laps to go. Kibbey started strong, but Davis was quick to jump down to the bottom line while Young, Shepherd and Dehn fiercely fought for 3rd place. Finally, Shepherd was able to take 3rd place from Young on lap 88, adding to the excitement of the race. Apart from that, the field was mostly single file.
Davis challenged Kibbey on Lap 97 in a thrilling side-by-side and back-and-forth racing until lap 98 where Davis grabbed the lead and kept it for the final two laps, clinching the win and becoming the 6th winner in 6 races for the 24th season of the BRL late model invitational. J R Shepherd finished second and Kenny Kibbey finished 3rd.
BRL fans should be sure to continue following their favorite racers and the exciting racing action of the Gargamel’s Late Model Invitational Season 24 Round 7 on next Saturday November 11th at 8:55pm ET where we will be at South Boston Speedway. Will we get 7 winners in 7 races? Or will we have the first repeat winner of the season. Be sure to tune in next Saturday!
Highlights
🏆 Chris Davis wins the BRL Late Model Invitational Series Season 24 race at Kern County Raceway.
🚀 J R Shepard makes an incredible comeback, finishing in second place after starting from 20th.
🏁 Kenny Kibbey secures a third-place finish and maintains his lead in the championship standings.
🌟 The race featured intense battles and impressive displays of skill from the drivers.
BRL OUTLAWS S33 R6 Recap
03 November 2023
Bootleg Racing League | Season 33 | Round 6
Outlaw Modified Series | Kern County Raceway
In a much-anticipated return to Friday nights, the renowned J R Shepherd of Different Path Motorsports secured the checkered flag in the Bootleg Racing League Outlaw SK Modified Invitational Series at Kern County Raceway. Shepherd’s return to Friday nights followed a series of no-shows from track rival James Tiernan, and Shepherd’s remarkable performance was celebrated by the racing community.
The race commenced with Lowell Jewell in the pole position, while J R Shepherd started from the 16th spot. The evening’s racing was marked by chaos and frustration for many drivers as the field struggled to maintain a prolonged green flag run, with frequent incidents causing the action to unfold in short bursts, spanning just three or four laps at a time. Shepherd, a seasoned expert, navigated through the mayhem without incident, working his way toward the front.
As the race transitioned into its second half, Shepherd found himself in a fierce battle for the lead with Matt Hoose. Unfortunately, this battle ended with Hoose getting loose and making heavy contact with the inside wall, allowing Aiden Young to claim the second position. The lead exchanged hands multiple times between Shepherd and Young in the midst of several restarts. In the end, it was Shepherd who managed to maintain his position, crossing the finish line to secure the win.
Aiden Young continues to maintain a strong hold on the points lead, sitting 23 points ahead of Jeffery Hardin. Racing enthusiasts can look forward to the next round, scheduled for November 10th at South Boston Speedway. Tune in for the live action, exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network at 8:55 PM ET!
BRL Late Model S24R5 | Bullring at Las Vegas
29 October 2023
The excitement was palpable at the Bullring in Vegas as the drivers revved up their engines for S24R5. The field was led by Matt Hoose and Mike Allen, but their hopes for a clean start were immediately dashed when a spin occurred in turn 1, forcing a restart. The race resumed on Lap 7, with the drivers eager to make up for lost time. Lap 18 saw a caution and green flag, and as the drivers raced towards turn 1, Mike Allen got sideways, causing a moment of panic for the rest of the field. However, Allen was able to save the car in an impressive display of driving skills and all other drivers avoided him, leading to some exciting and intense bunched-up racing off the restart.
A second caution occurred on Lap 23, adding to the already nerve-wracking atmosphere. But the drivers were determined to push on, knowing that every lap was crucial. On Lap 29, with Matt Hoose still leading all laps in first and Bryan Dehn in the front row, the race went green again. A caution on Lap 54, with a little under halfway remaining, reracked the field, but Hoose still held his first position.
J R Shepherd moved up to second and was on the front row with Hoose as the field went green on Lap 60. Hoose and Shepherd engaged in some back-and-forth cross-over battles, each driver diving under the other for a couple of laps, which was a thrilling display of skill and determination. Kenny Kibbey, meanwhile, crept up to put 1-3 positions under a blanket. On Lap 71, Kibbey was in second and putting some serious pressure on Hoose, who had led all laps in the race so far. But Hoose refused to give up his lead, determined to claim his first victory of Season 24 Round 5. In the end, Hoose dominated the entire race, leading all 100 laps and taking home the win.
Kenny Kibbey, the season points leader, took second place, with Kurt Smith claiming third and the last podium spot. It was an exciting race from start to finish, and fans were left in awe of the drivers’ skill and courage.
Don’t miss out on the action! Join us on Virtual Grip Network on Saturday, November 4th, at 8:55 pm ET for Round 6 of Season 24 racing at Kern County Raceway, a new track for the BRL. This promises to be another thrilling event that you won’t want to miss.
