The Elite 8 face off on the high banks as chaos, teamwork, and luck decide who moves on in the Mid-Season Madness Tournament.
This week, the series moves from the narrow street course of Chicago to the largest oval on the schedule—Talladega. Drivers will have more than four lanes to choose from as they rocket around the high banks at nearly 200 miles per hour.
To many in the field, this is their shot. A chance to make a name for themselves. At Talladega, anyone can cross the line first, and that’s exactly why it’s one of the most anticipated races on the calendar.
We’re heading into Race 9 of 15 in Season 13’s new format. Right now, it’s a two-man race at the top: Jason Landry and David Medina Sr. are separated by just 45 points. Brandon Shelton sits in third, but he’s 114 points behind Medina. That may sound like a lot, but this season’s point format throws it back to late-’70s NASCAR—a win can net you 175 to 185 points, depending on bonuses. So, yeah—things can flip in an instant.
And let’s not forget: this is Talladega. Arguably the most luck-based track on the schedule. With field sizes consistently over 25 cars, one wreck, one push, one bold move can completely change the direction of someone’s season. Oh—and the season finale? Daytona. Buckle up.
🔥 Mid-Season Madness: Elite 8 Matchups
The bracket battles continue this weekend, and the matchups? They’re spicy.
Jason Landry vs. Nick Mills
This one’s gonna be must-watch TV. Landry comes in hot off a dominant performance in Chicago, where he led every single lap. But Talladega is a different animal.
Nick Mills—road course struggles aside—is widely seen as a top-tier plate track racer. He caught a break last week when Jax Duval bowed out early, giving Mills a path to advance. Now, he’s got a golden opportunity to take out the top dog and insert himself squarely into the championship conversation.
Brandon Shelton vs. Matt Schofield
This one might not be decided by driver skill alone. Brandon Shelton is coming off a strong performance in Chicago, but what people aren’t talking about is the firepower he brings to Talladega. He’s part of Team FOCM, and he’s not coming alone—two of his teammates are also in the Elite 8.
Matt Schofield? He’s used to being the underdog. And that’s exactly how he likes it. Schofield’s “fly under the radar” style could be perfect for Dega. If he stays clean and survives the chaos, don’t be surprised if he sneaks through.
David Medina Sr. vs. Chris Smorol
Teammate vs. teammate—welcome to the FOCM civil war. Expect David Medina Sr. to stay cool, calm, and collected. He knows this bracket battle is important, but not worth derailing his championship campaign.
Chris Smorol, on the other hand, needs a swing. He’s looking for a win, and this is the kind of race where he could absolutely steal one. Team dynamics will be tested—will they work together or go for the kill?
David Owens vs. Brandon Finley
David Owens sits 4th in the points and is 162 back from Landry. He’s no stranger to plate racing—he’s won multiple times on tracks like this. Owens also brings deep-rooted team support that can rival even FOCM. Expect him to be at the front or in the catch fence. There is no in-between.
Brandon Finley, meanwhile, is the last rookie standing. He’s only 64 points out of the AM championship lead, and Talladega gives him a real shot to punch his way to the top. The wildcard? He doesn’t have the teammate firepower others do. But hey—this is Dega. If he survives, he’s got a chance.
🧩 Team Alliances at Dega?
With teammates being a huge theme in the Elite 8—and knowing how critical drafting partnerships are at Talladega—there’s been garage chatter about cross-team cooperation.
Our own Mean Gene on the Streets is reporting that Pony Up Motorsports and Animal House Customs are negotiating a race-day alliance. Data sharing, joint practice, and even voice comms on Discord are being discussed.
If it happens, look for that alliance to pay dividends for both teams.
Sunday is going to be wild. Brackets will break. Favorites might fall. And somebody’s championship hopes are about to get a serious boost—or come to a crashing halt.
See you on the high banks.
Numbers Never Lift: A Look Under the Hood
🥇 Top 5 Average Finishers (3+ Starts Only)
| Driver | Starts | Avg Finish |
|---|---|---|
| David Buelle | 3 | 5.0 |
| Nick Mills | 5 | 7.2 |
| Joseph Vulpis | 4 | 8.3 |
| Justin Malarkey | 4 | 8.3 |
| Kyle Lynott | 6 | 8.8 |
🔹 David Buelle holds the top average, but Nick Mills and Kyle Lynott are the best full-time contenders with consistent top-10s.
🏎️ Most Total Passes (Aggressive Movers)
| Driver | Starts | Total Passes | Quality Passes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Lynott | 6 | 255 | 135 |
| David Medina Sr | 6 | 239 | 163 (best) |
| Nick Mills | 5 | 235 | 116 |
| Christopher Smorol | 5 | 209 | 89 |
| David Brenner | 6 | 184 | 73 |
🔹 Medina Sr. converted the highest number of passes into quality moves.
🔹 Lynott had the most overall activity in traffic.
🎯 Most Efficient Passers (Quality / Total)
| Driver | Starts | Quality % |
|---|---|---|
| Jared Kelly2 | 3 | 70.0% |
| Paul Ferdiani | 4 | 69.2% |
| David Medina Sr | 6 | 68.2% |
| Jason Landry | 4 | 66.3% |
| Joseph Vulpis | 4 | 65.3% |
🔹 A good balance of aggression and clean passing seen across these names.
🧠 General Talladega Insights (Filtered Drivers)
- Consistent top performers like Medina, Mills, and Lynott are not just fast, but also clean and efficient in traffic.
- Average finish is more correlated with pass efficiency than starting position, highlighting the importance of racecraft over qualifying.
- Clean races reward: Most top drivers hold a 0.02–0.03 incident-per-corner ratio, which indicates disciplined pack racing.
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