Off Turn Four - Issue 04

Contents 06 BRL Late Models Bootleg Racing League Late Models at Hickory Motor Speedway.

14 PGRL Premier Series Pretty Good Racing League Premier Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

22 BRL Dirt Street stocks Bootleg Racing League Dirt Street Stock Series at I-55 Raceway.

28 BRL Dirt Super Late Models Bootleg Racing League Dirt Super Late Model Series at I-55 Raceway.

2

Featured Topics

34

Virtual Grip network News Recent news and upcoming broadcasts from VGN.

35

Off Turn Four News

Additional information about Off Turn Four.

our vision Off Turn Four aims to contribute to the efforts of Virtual Grip Network by creating something that will hopefully bring people together in checking out our weekly magazine that highlights those within our sim racing community.

Utilizing articles written by Ryan Senneker, photos, and contributions from our community members, we hope to create a point of interest for people to enjoy and discuss.

In the end, our goal is to promote the continuation of the respectful and competitive racing community that Virtual Grip Network has become known for covering.

Off Turn Four

3

Contrib How long you’ve been working with VGN? - I’ve been working with VGN since our first broadcast, which was the BRL 2021 Dirt Shootout, where I was brought in to do race recaps. Lowell asked in the league Discord if anyone would be willing to do write ups for VGN events and, although I’ve never done anything like that before, I figured I’d give it a shot and everyone seemed to enjoy them.

What is your title with VGN? Ryan Senneker

Virtual Grip Network Broadcast Director

- Like most people with VGN, I fill many roles. My title was “Staff Writer/Social Media” for the first year or so until I added “Broadcast Director” to the list What do you do in that role for VGN? - As a broadcast director, I work closely with our talented race announcers. I control what is seen and heard during the racing events from on-screen graphics and camera angles to ad placement and audio levels as well as being the person responsible for actually streaming the races to YouTube live. Again, not something I had any real experience with before VGN, but it always amazes me what a person is actually capable of when they are open to try new things in life.

How long you’ve been working with VGN and what led you to the creation of VGN? - I founded VGN in August of 2021 with the goal of promoting the sim racing community with quality broadcasts of league events.

What do you do in that role for VGN? Lowell Jewell

Virtual Grip Network Producer

4

- My Producer duties take place in the background. I work closely with league owners and advertisers, finding ways to showcase their products. I’m involved in a large amount of data gathering and processing so that our broadcast overlays can provide said info. I also search for and recruit on-air talent and handle all scheduling for Commentators and Directors. I am in constant contact with Senneker as we look for ways to improve our product.

butors Why create Off Turn Four magazine?

- My hope by creating this magazine is to give a home and outlet for those in our sim racing community that want to appreciate or contribute to the design side of the sim racing sphere.

How do you feel about being a part of VGN? Derek Henry

- I feel extremely grateful to be included as a part of Virtual Grip Network. It has been many years that I have been looking for an organization like that of VGN.

Designer + Editor

Do you enjoy designing more than actually racing?

Off Turn Four

- I would say that I do but maybe that is due to feeling more confident with design as compared to my skill on the track. The benefit of designing is that I have no chance at ruining someone’s night with a bad racing decision. With that being said, I have never felt more comfortable and encouraged to race before joining Bootleg Racing League.

How did you get introduced to sim racing?

- Derek, my partner, introduced me to sim racing. It was the next logical step after taking me to see a dirt track race at Lawrenceburg Speedway, his hometown track.

Do you have a favorite racing series?

- I am still familiarizing myself with the different types, but I really enjoy watching non-wing sprint cars.

MJ Dunne

Off Turn Four

Writer Social Media + Marketing Manager

How do you feel being a new addition to Off Turn Four magazine?

- I am very excited to be a part of the team. Derek and I love to collaborate and bounce ideas off of each other, and this partnership takes it to the next level. In this role I am able to try different things and learn new skills in an exciting industry.

Off Turn Four

5

Photographer: Mike Goodman

#98 J R Shepherd celebrates his second win in the Bootleg Racing League Late Model Series in Round 9 action at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Bootleg racing league

late models Bootleg Racing League | Season 21 | Round 9 Late Model Series | Hickory Motor Speedway Written by: Ryan Senneker J R Shepherd with Different Path Motorsports claimed his 2nd win of the season tonight in the Bootleg Racing League Late Model Series at Hickory Motor Speedway ahead of Mathew Thunhorst and Michael Goodman. “I was hoping we’d have a lot more green flag racing…

A little bit lucky after last week not being able to finish the race for sure this is a better week”, Shepherd shared with us. When asked about the car change coming next week, he commented, “I’m excited that we’re getting the new body, the new car it’s got a few different specs on it a little bit more power. We’ll have to see how it is, I’m optimistic about it for sure but this has been a great car at least for league racing.”

J R Shepherd continued his streak taking the top spot again in qualifying putting down a 14.567 taking the 10 bonus points and starting in 10th place with Joe Segalla of Segalla

6

Photographer: Mike Goodman

#81 Joe Segalla leads the field to green in his “Rockford Speedway for iRacing” machine.

Photographer: Mike Goodman

Motorsports taking the pole from the Bootleg Racing League grid invert. Segalla came out of turn 4 to take the green flag and quickly cleared ahead of Stephen Spies who started to his outside. Spies was able to slot in behind Segalla off the jump with Joseph Snyder holding onto 3rd.

Lowell Jewell was on the outside trying under pressure from Jeffery Hardin running side by side for 4th as the two drivers

“I was hoping we’d have a lot more green flag racing.. A little bit lucky after last week not being able to finish the race for sure this is a better week.”

- J R SHepherd

#39 Joseph Snyder leads #45 Jason Menda and #98 J R Shepherd out of turn 2 at Hickory.

came together bringing out an early caution and collecting several other drivers in the chaos to include Shepherd, Kenny Kibbey, and Aiden Young while Donny Moore and Mathew Thunhorst were able to weave through mostly untouched jumping far up through the running Shepherd finds quick time and 2nd victory #98 J R Shepherd adds to his quick time tally as well as his win total in round 9.

Off Turn Four

7

Photographer: Mike Goodman

#28 Mike Goodman survives a massive accident in the backstretch of Hickory Motor Speedway.

order. As racing resumed, the leaders again quickly single filed out with Segalla still in control of the field with the first 10 laps completed.

Spies was pressuring Segalla for the lead and similar to the earlier incident, the two made contact sending both drivers around giving control of the field to Snyder. The green flag came back out going into lap 17 with both Shepherd and Thunhorst closing in on the front of the field. Moore was up into 3rd with Jason Menda running in 2nd behind Snyder as the drivers started to get spread out for the first time of the night. Shepherd continued his charge to the front quickly overtaking Moore and set his sights on Menda with the first 25 laps behind them.

Shepherd made short work of Menda and Snyder taking the lead and running away with it as they came up on lap traffic while Thunhorst was back in 5th feeling the pressure with Shepherd having open track ahead of him to stretch out his lead going into the 2nd half of the night. The laps were quickly counting down with everyone spaced out around the track as Shepherd extended the gap ahead of Hoose to over 2 seconds with Thunhorst running in 3rd. A caution came out with 32 laps 8

to go giving Thunhorst exactly what he needed closing the gap to Shepherd and giving him a perfect chance to get around Hoose into 2nd off the restart. “[Shepherd’s] going to have to make a mistake which, well, I’d rather get a lottery number and see how that goes instead.”, Thunhorst shared with us briefly under the caution regarding how to get to the lead. As the race went back green, Thunhorst cleared around Hoose, but Shepherd had a great jump off the start and pulled out to a strong lead.

Going into the final stretch, Shepherd was outpacing the rest of the field pulling away from Thunhorst as a late race

A Tough Night at Hickory Photographer: Derek Henry

Above: #59 Mike Allen adds to the damaged car count in a tough BRL Round 9 for competitors.

Photographer: Derek Henry

Below: #55 Stephen Spies just barely misses out on a top 5 finish in Round 9.

Off Turn Four

9

Photographer: Derek Henry

#28 Mike Goodman’s survival tactics only lasted so long at Hickory Motor Speedway in Round 9 of the BRL Late Model Series.

caution came out on lap 98 bringing the race to an early end. J R Shepherd paced the field around to take the checkered flag with Mathew Thunhorst, Michael Goodman, Matt Shinoski, and Lowell Jewell rounding out the top 5 tonight at Hickory Motor Speedway.

J R Shepherd seems to have to the season championship locked in currently with 421 points, now 85 points ahead of Michael Goodman in 2nd place. Lowell Jewell holds onto 3rd place with 309 over Mathew Thunhorst 1 point behind. Donny Moore rounds out the top 5 drivers going into the final 2 rounds of the season. Next week, the Bootleg Racing League is going to tackle South Boston Speedway in the all-new Late Model Stock with all of the intense racing action brought to you live at 9PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!

10

Goodman Holds onto 2nd in points #28 Michael Goodman overcomes damage and difficulty to finish top 3 and hold onto 2nd place in the BRL Late Model points standings.

Off Turn Four

11

Photographer: Derek Henry

#14 Kenny Kibbey drives his black and orange Nocturnal Gaming machine to a 15th place finish in Bootleg Racing League’s Round 9 action at Hickory.

12

bootleg racing league late model series Off Turn Four

13

Pretty Good racing league

Next Gen Stock Car Pretty Good Racing League | Season 4 | Round 3 Premier Series | Las Vegas Motor Speedway Written by: Ryan Senneker Vincent Crow with Team Watson Racing claimed his 2nd win of the new season tonight in the MARSS Properties Vacation Rentals 200 with the Pretty Good Racing League at Las Vegas Motor Speedway ahead of Scott Eckrich and Cosmin Ioanesiu. “Stage win and the race win, I feel like I proved I’m not a hack. This race should’ve been called the ‘Vincent Crow’s not a Hack 500′”, Crow joked with us as the night came to a close, “It’s a really good feel-good win. Daytona was, I was blown out of my mind I won the race and now this race is like ‘Cool, I’m ready for Phoenix’.”

Tyler Graaf with GRAAFix eSports led the 42-car field around to take

Photographer: Derek Henry

14

Photographer: Derek Henry

#83 Vincent Crow leads the field in Round 3 of the Pretty Good Racing League.

“Stage win and the race win, i feel like i proved i’m not a hack.”

- Vincent Crow

#98 Tyler Graaf adds a top 10 finish to his PGRL stat sheet for the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

the green flag with Angel Jaime to his outside. Graaf jumped out to an early lead with much of the field spreading out using multiple lines around the corners. Scott Eckrich was making an unexpected push to the front, up to 7th in the first few laps, as he has been known for patiently moving up through the field last season. Only 10 laps into the run, Graff had pulled away from the rest of the field by 2.5 seconds with

Vincent Crow is Not a Hack Creighton Carter running in 2nd place clearly saving his equipment for a longer run.

Cody Dempster was aggressively maneuvering around traffic up into 3rd with a large pack of drivers battling hard from 8th back past 30th place all running 2 and 3-wide as

#83 Vincent Crow sports a new “Boss Hoss Cycles” paint scheme while making it 2 wins in 3 races.

Photographer: Derek Henry

#17 Alex Graetz catches the apron and finds the wall at Las Vegas.

the drivers started to feel more comfortable. With the first 15 laps behind them, the front runners were quickly closing on Graaf up front who was quickly falling off the pace.

Carter dove under Graaf and was able to clear into the lead with Dempster running close behind. Eckrich was up to 4th and broke away from the large pack of drivers as he started reeling in the leaders.

Dempster wasted no time going after the lead as the caution came out on lap 23 from contact between Will Farmer and Saif Faries resulted in a several drivers getting caught out.

Dempster maintained the lead after completing his pit cycle with Eckrich in 2nd. Racing resumed with Eckrich staying alongside Dempster off the jump taking the lead away going into lap 27. Jaime was able to close in on Eckrich taking the lead for himself a few Off Turn Four

15

laps later with much of the field shuffling for and looking under Crow for 2nd with Colton Salek close behind. Cautions plagued the 2nd position. half of the race with drivers making more Vincent Crow was moving up toward the front aggressive moves resulting in shuffling the on the field clearing around Dempster into running order around as differing pit strat3rd and looking to challenge Eckrich for 2nd egies staggered the field. Crow was in conplace. Cosmin Ioanesiu, last week’s winner at trol of the field over Ioanesiu with 30 laps Auto Club Speedway, was quietly moving up remaining. through the field into 6th place as Eckrich was starting to drop back giving up positions With drivers running into more problems, to Crow and Dempster. The field continued cautions helped Eckrich get back within making aggressive moves throughout to reach of the lead with Mike Rasimas breakclose out the first half of the night with Crow ing into the top 5 going into the last 10 laps.

Crow still had a strong hold on the race lead and Jaime battling hard over the lead. and broke away from the field with Ioanesiu Crow was holding the lead over Dempster as in tow as Eckrich and Rasimas went side by they crossed the halfway point in the race to side over 3rd place. One last caution came secure the bonus stage points before hand- out restacking the field for a 3-lap shootout ing the lead over to Dempster. Ioanesiu was with Crow still in the lead. Vincent Crow held maintaining a strong pace running up to 3rd the lead unchallenged to take the checkered Photographer: Derek Henry

16

#24 Cody Dempster finds misfortune again in Round 3 resulting in a 19th place finish.

Photographer: Derek Henry

#55 Brian Yaczik and #9 Jeff Ward battle for position in PGRL Round 3 action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Off Turn Four

17

with 166 points, Thomas George drops back to 4th with 165 points, and Jeff Ward rounds out the top 5 with 163 points. The Pretty Good Racing League next heads to Phoenix Raceway for the “MARSS Properties Vacation Rentals 250K” Vincent Crow further extends his lead with 215 on March 14th with all the action broadcast live points with Jake Silvia now 36 points behind at 8:50PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip him. Cosmin Ioanesiu jumps up 5 spots into 3rd Network! flag with Scott Eckrich taking 2nd place away from Cosmin Ioanesiu in the end. Colton Salek and Mike Rasimas round out the top 5 tonight at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Photographer: Derek Henry

#83 Vincent Crow cutout graphic.

18

#83 Vincent Crow takes the win at Las Vegas which moves him to 1st in points.

Off Turn Four

19

Photographer: Derek Henry

#39 Pete Baskins battles with #78 Ryan Rose down the backstretch of Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Round 3 of the Pretty Good Racing League Premier Series.

20

Pretty Good Racing league PGRL Premier Series Off Turn Four

21

Dirt Street Stocks

Bootleg racing league

Bootleg Racing League | Season 14 | Round 9 Dirt Street Stock Series | I-55 Raceway Written by: Ryan Senneker

Photographer: Derek Henry

#00 Billy Northcutt extends his points lead by securing his first Bootleg Racing League Dirt Street Stock Series victory.

“I WOULD’VE BEEN EXCITED TO SEE A CAUTION THERE HONESTLY AND GIVE [BEST] A CHANCE TO GET BACK IN LINE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED” - BILLY NORTHCUTT

Billy Northcutt with Dirt Panda takes the checkered flag tonight in the Bootleg Racing League Dirt Street Stock Series at I-55 Raceway ahead of Stephen Spies and Jason Dill. “I would’ve been excited to see a caution there honestly and give [Best] a chance to get back in line and see what happened”, Northcutt commented at the end of the night, “Early on I jumped out to a little bit of a lead and with no cautions it just takes all the stress off and it’s easier to hit your 22

marks and everything like that so I was able to stay out front and take the win on this one.

Billy Northcutt set down the fastest lap in qualifying putting down a 14.840 starting out front for the first heat of the night with Chris Davis running to his outside. Northcutt took the win and secured the pole position for the feature race later in the night. Jason Best took the 2nd heat win claimed the remaining

Photo

Lorem

Batt To

front row feature slot. David Traylor held off Chris Hill and Brandyn Proudfoot to take the checkered flag in the B-Main consolation race wrapping up the evening’s preliminary events.

Northcutt opted to start from the outside lane as he came out of turn 4 to take the green flag. Northcutt had a good launch off the start pulling away from the field early on as Proudfoot was aggressively pushing up through the traffic on his way to the front. The top 3 were getting spread out with the middle of the field a hornet’s nest of activity with drivers all fighting for position running 2

and 3-wide with the first 10 laps behind them. Neville Ulph was under pressure from Proudfoot battling over 4th place.

Going into the 2nd half of the run, Northcutt had extended his lead out to almost 1 second over Best with lap traffic coming into view. Proudfoot overtook Ulph for 4th and went to work running down Davis 0.9 seconds ahead of him with 10 laps remaining with the field becoming spread out around the track. Davis was coming under pressure from Proudfoot in the final laps, but it was too little, too late for Proudfoot as Billy Northcutt came around to take the check-

os Title Goes

m ipsum dolor sit

tle for op 10

Photographer: Derek Henry

#69 Aiden Young battles #12 Christopher Hill for positions within the top 10 during Round 9 BRL action at I-55 Raceway.

Off Turn Four

23

Round 9 I-55 Raceway Photographer: Derek Henry #22 Brandyn Proudfoot battles #7 Chris Davis who successfully defends his podium spot.

Photographer: Derek Henry #47 Jason Best takes 2nd place over #7 Chris Davis and #22 Brandyn Proudfoot.

24

Quick Time at I-55 #00 Billy Northcutt doubles up at I-55 Raceway with quick time honors as well as taking his first feature win of the season. ered flag with Jason Best, Chris Davis, Brandyn Proudfoot, and Neville Ulph rounding out the top 5 tonight at I-55 Speedway.

Billy Northcutt stretches out his lead in the point standings with 581 points, now 119 points ahead of Jason Best in 2nd place. William Hargreaves slips back to 3rd place after another no-show on the track with 461 points as Chris Hill moves up to 4th at 423 points and John Wilson rounds out the top 5 with 401 points. The Bootleg Racing League next heads to Weedsport Speedway on March 10th with all of the dirt slinging action brought to you live at 7:10PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!

Cutout Graphic of #004 Joey Brewer.

Off Turn Four

25

Photographer: Derek Henry

#36 Jeffery Hardin has an early battle with another top 10 finisher in #69 Aiden Young during Round 9 BRL action at I-55 Raceway.

26

bootleg racing league Dirt Street Stock Series Off Turn Four

27

Photographer: Derek Henry

#69 Aiden Young leads teammate #55 Stephen Spies through the turn at I-55 Raceway in Round 9 of the Bootleg Racing League Dirt Super Late Model Series.

Aiden Young with Gambler Motorsports takes the checkered flag tonight by 0.005 seconds over his teammate, Stephen Spies, in the Bootleg Racing League Dirt Super Late Model Series at I-55 Raceway with Jason Dill rounding out to podium finishers. “I don’t think I breathed on the last 10 laps”, Young commented as the night came to a close, “It was just fun racing there with [Spies] just trying to stay out of his door and just see if I couldn’t squeak him out at the end.”

Bootleg Racing Leagu Dirt Super Late Model Written by: Ry

bootleg rac dirt super l

Young. Spies quickly maneuvered around Brandyn Proudfoot put down the fastest lap Wilson and Young to take 2nd place away going into the evening at 11.938 leading the with Vickers aggressively pushing up into first heat out of the gate with Aiden Young to 3rd. Vickers saw his chance and dove low his inside. Proudfoot claimed the win fairly under Spies able to take 2nd place with the unchallenged by Young. John Wilson held off first 10 laps completed and was quickly reelStephen Spies to take the win in the 2nd heat ing Proudfoot in for the lead. Vickers threw a and Thomas Vickers absolutely dominated quick slider on Proudfoot, but Proudfoot was the B-Main consolation event wrapping up able to counter with a crossover and mainthe night’s preliminary races before the 30- tained the lead going into the 2nd half of the night. lap feature.

Proudfoot led the field around to take the green flag getting a strong jump going into the first corner clearing ahead of Wilson and 28

Young had caught the leaders and was pressuring Spies for 3rd. In a shocking upset, Vickers and Proudfoot came together knock-

Proudfoot Takes Quick Time

#22 Brandyn Proudfoot was the quickest qualifier in the BRL Round 9 Action at I-55 Raceway.

“I DON’T THINK I BREATHED ON THE LAST 10 LAPS.” - AIDEN YOUNG

ue | Season 1 | Round 9 l Series | I-55 Raceway yan Senneker

cing league late models

out of the last corner, Aiden Young was able to get a nose ahead to take the checkered flag over Stephen Spies by 0.005 seconds at the line. Jason Dill, Brandyn Proudfoot, and Thomas Vickers round out the top 5 tonight at I-55 Spedway.

ing both drivers out of contention as the caution flag came out. Spies was in control of the field as racing resumed but Young was able to stay alongside him Gambler Motorsports teammate and the 2 drivers ran side by side without either lane having a clear advantage Jason Dill is now leading in the point standings with 601 points, 7 points ahead of Thomwith the laps quickly counting down. as Vickers in 2nd place. Aiden Young sits in Jason Dill followed the leaders closely waiting 3rd with 532 points, William Hargreaves is for an opportunity to capitalize on as Spies in 4th with 522 points, and Michael Smith and Young stayed door to door going into rounds out the top 5 with 474 points. The the final moments. In an amazing show of Bootleg Racing League next heads to Weedincredible skill, the leaders battled hard lap sport Speedway on March 10th with all of the after lap without making contact while still dirt slinging action brought to you live at able to outpace the rest of the field. Coming 8:50PM ET only on the Virtual Grip Network!

Off Turn Four

29

Photographer: Derek Henry

#73 Michael Smith makes brief contact with the wall just infront on #81 Joseph Segalla during Bootleg Racing League Round 9 action at I-55 Raceway.

30

bootleg racing league Dirt Super Late Model SEries Off Turn Four

31

32

Off Turn Four

33

News

Skitter Creek Super Late Model Series The Skitter Creek Motorsports Group will be the title sponsor for season 21 of the Super Late Model Series. This series will be broadcast live on Fridays at 8:10pm ET on the Virtual Grip Network with legendary hosts Bill “Soup” Zahn, DJ Clark, and Sean Ambrose! The season kicks off March 24th and will feature the SLM stock cars racing 200 laps on short tracks all across the USA.

VGN on Youtube

Upcoming Broadcasts Above are a few of the upcoming races that will be covered by Virtual Grip Network.

Please visit us at virtualgrip.net to see the most up-to-date coverage schedule.

34

Did you know that you can catch all VGN action live or past recordings on the Youtube page?

Head on over to our page and check out the latest races, make sure you are getting notified when we go live, and subscribe so that you do not miss out on any of the action.

Social Media Growth

news

Off Turn Four is pushing for growth with our social media. Please feel free to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter for custom driver card graphics of the previous week’s race winners, current points leaders, and standout community members.

Twitter twitter.com/offturnfour

Instagram instagram.com/offturnfour

Social Media Driver Cards Off Turn Four social media has stepped up it’s game and will now be including driver cards from the week’s outstanding performers. These cards will highlight current league position, wins, poles, and more.

Facebook facebook.com/offturnfour

Off Turn Four

35

36

Where to Read Off Turn Four Off Turn Four has decided that Issuu.com will be our hosting platform. Allowing for a lot of features that will continue to be added to the magazine as time goes by and the publication continues to grow. issuu.com/offturnfour

Follow us here

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

twitter.com/offturnfour

instagram.com/offturnfour

facebook.com/offturnfour

A Sincere Thank You Thank you to our readers and to everyone involved in the community. My hope with this magazine is to give back to this community that I enjoy so much.

Thank you all, Derek

Off Turn Four

37