📢 Race Summary

Talladega’s high banks always promise uncertainty, and round nine delivered exactly that—along with a surprise, 1st time winner this season from deep in the field. Qualifying proved deceptive: only three of the top-ten qualifiers survived to finish inside the top ten. Pole-sitter Jared Kelly saw his front row view disintegrate  late in the race, ending the day in 14th. Ultimately, it was David Owens, who started all the way back in 26th, who managed the perfect late-race slingshot, leading only the final lap to steal a stunning victory.

🔥 Headline Battle: “Last Lap Heroics”

David Owens made the ultimate gamble—patiently lurking mid-pack, making strategic moves, and saving his best for last. Despite a slower average pace compared to many in the field, Owens proved that at Talladega, timing and lane choice reign supreme.

🥇 Top Finishers

• David Owens (P1) – Started: 26th, +25 positions, led only the last lap.
• Nick Mills (P2) – Solid racecraft and 15 laps led after starting 11th.
• Jason Landry (P3) – Championship leader, managed a strong 27 laps out front.
• Kevin Kyle (P4) – Turned a 3rd place qualifying spot into a top-five finish.
• Brandon Shelton (P5) – Impressive surge from mid-pack, gaining ten positions.

💔 Tough Breaks

• Kyle Lynott- Lap 3 Incident with Jax Duval. Duval always pushing the envelope, and this time it was to far for the 988 ending his day.

• Matthew Smith – Started 6th, ended 25th after damaging the engine from over heating. (lap 57)
• Justin Malarkey – plagued by outside obligations.
• Zack Clawson & David Brenner – Both drivers encountered a race-high 12 incident points each, reflecting the intense close-quarter racing typical at Talladega.
• Jose Medina & Steven Neal-Lap 4 Medina comes down on Neal, on back stretch and turns him self. Ending Jose day with a P27

🛠️ Strategy Spotlight

With only two cautions for just six total laps, strategy hinged on well-executed pit stops and clean lane choices. Mid- to late-race positioning mattered far more than early-race speed. Penalties also had a considerable impact, with six drivers facing lengthy repairs and several others penalized for pit road speeding, underlining the razor-thin margins at play.

📊 Standings Update

Jason Landry remains atop the championship leaderboard with 1,255 points, but David Medina Sr (1,190 points) still sits within striking distance, now trailing by 65 points. Owens’s victory moves him solidly into third with 1,098 points, 157 behind Landry.

🌟 Midfield Spotlight (P11-P25)

Drivers like Jake Achée (P21 to 10th) and Matt Schofield (P27 to 16th) proved that consistency and clean racing pay dividends. Meanwhile, Jared Kelly’s tumble from pole to 14th illustrates how quickly fortunes change at superspeedway racing.

📌 Stats Corner: “Numbers Behind the Madness”

• Average positions gained: Top-10 starters lost on average 9.4 positions, while those starting between 21-30 gained an average of 7.3.
• Fastest lap: Steven Neal (49.433 s, finished 11th).
• Low caution count (2 for 6 laps) kept strategic complexity lower than usual.
• 6th closest finish in Bonfire Premier Cup History .013 gap
• 4 new race winners in last 5 races.
• 2 of the top drivers own 5 wins this season.

Mid Season Madness: From Elite 8 to Final 4

Nick Mills Vs Jason Landry

This matchup certainly didn’t disappoint, as the bracket battle remained undecided until the final lap of the race. Landry stayed disciplined behind Mills, resisting the urge for a risky last-second move. Instead, he played the bigger picture, choosing to focus on what’s most important to him—extending his championship lead over rival David Medina. Mills was in contention for victory right down to the last few feet, successfully holding off Landry, even as Owens slipped by to snatch the overall win.

Brandon Shelton Vs Matt Schofield

Another bracket battle boiled down to the final lap, turning into chaos as Zach Clawson and David Buelle stormed out of Turn 4 with an aggressive push that reshaped the finish. First, Schofield was hurled into Kelly, causing the 55 car to lose control. Clawson reloaded for another hit, and this time Schofield in the 61 bore the brunt of it. Although Schofield spun, he managed to salvage a 16th-place finish. Shelton, who earlier escaped a caution with only minor damage, was struggling with a compromised car but somehow squeezed through the melee to secure a spot in the Final Four.

Brandon Finley Vs David Owens

Another intense bracket battle unfolded on the last lap at Talladega, where Brandon Finley, the lone amateur driver left in contention, had a genuine shot at upsetting Owens and capturing the overall win. Restarting from the second row during the Green-White-Checker, Finley initially held a significant advantage over Owens, who had to battle from row five. However, Owens quickly sliced through the field, claiming second place within a single lap, positioning himself perfectly for a decisive move. Despite Finley’s courageous effort, Owens skillfully threaded the needle in the closing moments, securing the victory and automatically advancing in the challenge.

David Medina Vs Chris Smorol

 The anticipated Team Focm showdown fizzled out due to Smorol’s unexpected absence, attributed to a mandatory rest and relaxation protocol. Medina Sr advanced unopposed into the Final Four, where he’ll face this week’s winner, David Owens. Medina experienced a mediocre day by his high standards, finishing eighth, and was notably outscored by Landry, his championship rival.

🚦 Looking Ahead

With Talladega now behind us, the championship race heats up dramatically as the series heads next to the challenging Dover International Speedway. Known for its concrete surface and intense banking, Dover will test drivers’ courage and cars’ durability. Will Landry hold his nerve and extend his lead, or will Medina Sr and Owens close the gap even further? Expect thrilling battles and another shakeup in the standings!

Editors Note:

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