What’s Happening?

Tonight, drivers from the world of sim racing meet regulars from the world of NASCAR in Groovy Hollow 5. Well-known names from the world of NASCAR are nothing new to the Halloween-themed sim race, but what drivers from the ‘big leagues’ are taking on Groovy Hollow this year?

Throughout the event’s history, Groovy Hollow has welcomed fan favorite drivers and winners from the world of NASCAR. These names include Jordan Anderson, Anthony Alfredo, Bayley Currey, Brennan Poole, Parker Retzlaff, and Josh Berry, who won Groovy Hollow 1 and is the first Groovy Hollow alum to win a NASCAR Cup Series race.

This year, seven names from the ranks of ARCA and NASCAR will set their sights on winning at Groovy Hollow:

Armani Williams

Williams is a well-known member of the NASCAR community known not only for his on-track work but also for his work outside the sport to advocate for those diagnosed with Autism. Throughout his career, the 25-year-old has had seven NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts and two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts.

Blake Lothian – No. 62

Blake Lothian is a regular in the ARCA Menards Series West, where he is currently competing in his first full-time season. Through 11 races, he sits seventh in points with seven top-ten finishes. But the 23-year-old also has four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts to his name, scoring a career-best finish of 20th this season at New Hampshire.

Brennan Poole – No. 44

Brennan Poole is a fan favorite in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Throughout his 189 career starts in the series, Poole has made a name for himself as a skilled driver who gets the most out of his equipment. This year, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Poole has set an Alpha Prime Racing record with two top-fives and five top-tens. He will also carry the colors of Groovy Hollow 5 Title Sponsor, Toxic Waste Hazardously Sour Candy, on his no. 44.

Dean Thompson – No. 26

Dean Thompson made his name in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Tricon Garage before earning a promotion to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing this season. So far, Thompson has had a solid rookie campaign, scoring a top-five finish and eight top-tens in the No. 26.

Garrett Smithley – No. 5

Garrett Smithley has made his way through all the ranks of the NASCAR National Series, with 76 starts in the Cup Series, 204 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and 10 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Smithley made an impression on fans during the 2020 NASCAR iRacing series that took place during the COVID-19-affected season, scoring a pole in the first event at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He currently races full-time with SS-Greenlight Racing.

Lawless Alan – No. 25

Lawless Alan is fresh from his first ARCA Menards Series win earlier this year at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing fifth in series points despite only entering 16 of 20 races. The 25-year-old is also a veteran of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Xfinity Series, with a career best finish of fifth in 78 career truck starts.

Ryan Vargas

Ryan Vargas is a jack of all trades and an all-around fan favorite. Not only has he raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Xfinity Series, but he has also competed in the NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, and Monster Jam, where he is coming off an overall event championship in his first outing behind the wheel of El Toro Loco on October 17.

All these drivers, along with some sim racing favorites, will take the green flag at 7:30 PM EST tonight, live on Eric Estepp’s Out of the Groove YouTube Channel.

This year, Groovy Hollow is raising money for Victory Junction, a camp for kids living with complex medical and physical needs with deep ties to the NASCAR community. So, come by, hang out, and catch some top-tier sim racing for a good cause!

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