Virginia
Street racing in Virginia brings big money and big risks, police warn
Street racers profiting off viral videos
Influencers and organizations make hundreds of thousands of dollars from social media posts going viral, showing dangerous races across the DMV and beyond. FOX 5’s Tisha Lewis has all the details.
Street racing in the DMV area is turning into a high-stakes, money-making venture as social media influencers and organizations profit from viral posts showcasing these illegal events.
Videos of dangerous races are drawing in millions of views across platforms, creating a lucrative business for everyone involved — from drivers to videographers, and even those who simply repost the content.
Fairfax County police issued a stern reminder of the risks, saying, “It’s not worth it,” as they continue to crack down on these reckless displays. Just last week, two drivers responsible for a viral race between a Cybertruck and Lamborghini on Leesburg Pike near Tysons Corner were arrested and charged. They will soon face a judge.
The races aren’t isolated incidents; police say they’re happening regularly and are fueled by social media fame and significant earnings from viral views.
Scott Baradell, CEO of Idea Grove, explained how platforms like TikTok reward these videos based on the number and quality of views.
“You can literally be talking about tens of thousands of dollars,” he said, noting that for some influencers, the profits reach hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
The Cybertruck-Lamborghini race, which took place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, quickly gained traction online, eventually amassing 75 million views on X, thanks in part to a retweet by X’s founder, Elon Musk.
The Fairfax County Police underscored that, while the profits are high, so are the risks to public safety.
Gaithersburg resident DJ Jean voiced his concerns, saying, “It’s inappropriate whether it happens once or twice, or many more times than that; the public’s safety is at risk.”
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis echoed this, stating that incidents involving speed racing aren’t “accidents” but “preventable crashes.”
Police investigate after viral Virginia street race video hits 75M views
A street racing video taken in Tysons, Virginia is going viral – with more than 75 million views on social media after Elon Musk shared it. FOX 5’s Homa Bash has the story.
During a news conference, police revealed that these events are often carefully organized. This includes blocking off traffic, cordoning sidewalks, and assigning flaggers before the race is posted online.
According to Baradell, “There are influencers in this space making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, if not more.”
He added that even the original videographer and those who share these videos can profit from each viral hit.
The profits vary across platforms, with different payout structures, especially on TikTok, where earnings per million views can fluctuate.
A manhunt is underway in Virginia for a suspect accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy while he was conducting a welfare check, law enforcement officials said.
Deputy Logan Utt was fatally shot after police received a request from a family member to do a welfare check at the location, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said.
A man at the home opened fire on the two deputies who responded to the location, according to the sheriff’s office. The deputies returned fire, the sheriff’s office said, and both were hit by gunfire. Utt was pronounced dead, while the second deputy was struck in his ballistic vest. That deputy is currently receiving medical evaluation and is reported to be in stable condition, officials said.
“Deputy Utt was a devoted husband, loving father, cherished family member, friend, and respected member of our law enforcement family. His service, courage, and dedication will not be forgotten,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Utt joined the sheriff’s office in 2023, after serving in the military.
A search is underway for the suspect. He should be considered armed and extremely dangerous, law enforcement officials said.
“My office is closely monitoring this tragic incident,” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger wrote on social media. “I encourage anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts to contact Virginia State Police. My thoughts are with the deputy’s family and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office as we work through this awful situation.”
“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Richard Delcid, the general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, told WTOP.
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‘I didn’t know I could go that fast’: Virginia pizza maker breaks record
A general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, Virginia, won the chain’s “World’s Fastest Pizza Maker” competition this month.
Richard Delcid prepared a pepperoni pizza, mushroom pizza and cheese pizza for the oven in 31.22 seconds.
“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Delcid told WTOP.
“Eight seconds better than the previous record,” Robert Donner, one of the owners of the Domino’s on Centreville Road, said.
The competitors at the May 13 Las Vegas event came from Domino’s locations around the world, and Donner said the competition is about more than speed.
“They’re judged by weight, they’re judged by portion, and they’re judged on whether they’re sellable to a customer,” Donner said.
When Delcid first started working for Domino’s in 2012, he was a teenager. He was much slower then, he joked.
As with anything, practice makes perfect.
“We record ourselves during practices,” Delcid said. “We dissect videos, we look at body movement, hand movement, everything.”
Delcid was not alone in Vegas. Donner, who is part owner of more than 30 Domino’s Pizza locations in Virginia and Maryland, brought dozens of employees to the event.
Coming in second at the competition was another member of Donner’s team.
Joe Burr, who is known as “Domino Joe,” is the local director of training, and calls himself the Dan Marino of the Domino’s World’s Fastest Pizza Maker competition.
“I’ve won third place a couple times, I’ve won second place like three or four times,” Burr said. “So I’m like always a bridesmaid, but never a bride.”
Don’t let Burr’s jokes fool you — he has known Delcid for a long time and is very proud of him.
“I like to say it’s not the sculptor, it’s the clay. Richard is the best clay,” Burr said.
Along with a championship belt and a trophy, Delcid’s record‑breaking performance earned him $5,000 from Domino’s Pizza corporate, and his local bosses kicked in another $5,000.
Virginia
Netflix casting Central Virginia singles for “Love on the Spectrum” after Danville man joins show
DANVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Netflix is searching for singles in Central Virginia to appear on its documentary-style dating series “Love on the Spectrum,” after a Danville man was cast for an upcoming season and producers are now looking to find his match.
The series follows adults on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating.
Monica Karavanic, executive director of The Arc of Southside in Danville, said the person cast has ties to her organization.
SEE ALSO: City leaders tour $100M Lynchburg CSO tunnel aimed at improving Lynchburg waterways
“This show has been loved by millions internationally and so for it to come to Danville is pretty awesome and we’re just really excited and hoping to make it work,” Karavanic said.
Casting is focused on singles ages 25 to 40, of any gender, who live near Danville or Lynchburg and would be interested in going on a date with a man on the spectrum. Producers say the time commitment could be as little as half a day.
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For more information on how to apply, you’re asked to email: production@northernpictures.com.au
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