Season 32, Race 1
by Tim Corder

North Wilkesboro Speedway

The 32nd season of Bootleg Racing’s Street Stock Series began on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway. Ryan Senneker’s #19 Thunderbird led the field to the green flag, but James Lowe’s #99 Camaro emerged victorious, claiming the season’s first trophy. Donny Moore (#26 Camaro) finished second, and Aiden Young (#69 Monte Carlo) secured third. Edward Foster (#4 Thunderbird) and Senneker rounded out the top five. The race saw two cautions and concluded with a dramatic green-white-checkered finish.

The first 20 laps ran under green with clean side-by-side racing. On lap 11, Aiden Young passed Senneker with an inside move in turns one and two. Scott Negus (#29 Thunderbird) made the biggest early charge, gaining eight positions from 17th to 9th before the first caution on lap 21. The yellow flag flew after Chris Haizlip spun in turn four, sending his #93 Camaro into the inside wall.

Racing resumed on lap 26, with Lowe taking the lead from Young immediately and holding it for the rest of the race. A second green-flag stint of 12 laps followed, marked again by competitive but clean short-track racing. Tom Hilbert (#25 Thunderbird) was the standout during this run, gaining five positions before the second caution on lap 38. This yellow came after Steve Hilbert (#52 Monte Carlo) got loose in turn four, collecting Karl Grave (#62 Monte Carlo) and sending both into the inside wall.

The race culminated in a green-white-checkered finish. Treacherous turn four caused last-lap chaos as drivers pushed hard for positions. Bruce Pearson (#22 Camaro) appeared to, running fifth, appeared to get loose and spun after slight contact with Lowell Jewell (#2 Monte Carlo), sending both into the wall. Pearson finished 17th, and Jewell 19th. Tom Hilbert also spun coming to the checkered flag, finishing 18th.

Notable Performances:
• Hard Charger: Scott Negus gained 11 positions to finish 6th after starting 17th.
• Fastest Lap & Most Laps Led: James Lowe clocked the fastest lap (20.477 seconds) and led 20 laps.
• Clean Machines: Nine of 21 drivers completed the race without incident: Lowe, Moore, Young, Foster, Senneker, Liston, Sprenger, Isaacs, and Corder.

The series now heads to Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Georgia, for the second race of the season. The 3/8-mile oval was last visited in Season 29, where Jason Menda claimed victory after leading 21 of 40 laps.