Corey Vincent goes from third to first on final straightaway to win at Indianapolis

It turned into a fuel strategy event at the virtual Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, and in the closing laps, it turned into an absolute free-for-all for the victory.

Off of the final corner, the leader Blake Reynolds ran out of fuel, and put a hasty block on Casey Kirwan.

As the two leaders slammed into the inside pit wall, Corey Vincent, running in third, stayed high and passed the carnage en route to his first victory of the 2019 eNASCAR Peak Antifreeze iRacing Series season, and third of his career.

Reynolds recovered to finish in second, while Kirwan fell back to finish in fifth.

***

Jimmy Mullis took the field to the second green flag of the 2019 eNPAiS playoffs, but Keegan Leahy made it known early that he would be the man to beat.

The race ran past halfway caution free, but at lap 42, the first and only caution flew when Brian Schoenburg and Caine Cook made contact, ending Schoenburg’s race.

It was apparent under the caution that fuel strategy could come into play if the race went green to the end, and some drivers immediately went into fuel conservation mode.

In the closing laps, Blake Reynolds rocketed from about tenth to the lead, with Casey Kirwan and Bobby Zalenski right behind.

Reynolds made a handful of aggressive blocks to maintain the lead, and as they rounded Turn 4, it looked like he would be heading towards his first career victory.

It was not to be, however, as his fuel pressure began to drop, along with his speed. A last ditch block ultimately saved Reynolds a second place effort, but it was Corey Vincent’s day, scooting by on the high side for the victory.

***

PEAK PLAYOFF UPDATE

One race remains in the 2019 eNPAiS playoffs, and not a single driver can say they are truly locked into the title fight at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Keegan Leahy and Zack Novak are both sitting in the best positions leaving Indy.

Leahy finished third, and leads the standings, ahead of the cutoff by 39 points.

Novak is ahead of the cut by 28 points after a 17th place finish at Indianapolis.

Also ahead of the cut, Garrett Lowe and Blake Reynolds are tied for third, 13 points ahead. Lowe finished eighth on Tuesday.

After not having enough gas to make it to the end, Ryan Michael Luza is now the first man out, 13 points outside of the cut. Luza has struggled at road courses at the past, and possibly had the toughest hill to climb at the Charlotte Roval in two weeks.

Michael Conti was never on the fuel saving strategy, and knowing he couldn’t save enough, pitted midway through the final run finishing in the in 30th position. Conti has a gap of 17 points to make up at the Roval.

Jimmy Mullis ran out of gas on the final lap, and after what looked to be a promising race, wound up coming home 26th. Mullis will enter the Roval 25 points behind the cutoff.

Bobby Zalenski took the lead after the restart on lap 48, and even began to save fuel from the lead, but it wouldn’t be enough, as he peeled off with two laps to go in the race.

Zalenski wound up 36th, and with 28 points to make the cut, he essentially has to win at the Roval to advance to the Championship 4.

Thankfully for Zalenski, he was dominant at Sonoma earlier in the season, and could bring that dominance in Charlotte.

The series has one race left before the Championship Four is set. The date is set for September 24th, and will take place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

CHAOS AS THEY CROSS THE BRICKS!!! 🧱🧱

That may have been the most dramatic finish of the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series. Corey Vincent comes away with the 🏁 in the final inches of the race. pic.twitter.com/LGqIwPAmBe

— iRacing.com (@iRacing) September 11, 2019

 

SOURCES:
iRacing
RaceSpot TV
NASCAR

RACE RESULTS:

1. 27 – Corey Vincent – Renegades
2. 30 – Blake Reynolds – Team Dillon eSports
3. 62 – Keegan Leahy – G2 eSports
4. 7 – Ryan Lowe – Independent
5. 14 – Casey Kirwan – Clint Bowyer Racing
6. 80 – Brandon Hayse Kettelle – Independent
7. 42 – Dylan Duval – Independent
8. 28 – Garrett Lowe – Renegades
9. 15 – Michael Guariglia – Jim Beaver eSports
10. 66 – Jarl Teien – G2 eSports
11. 90 – Malik Ray – Richmond Raceway eSports
12. 75 – Philip Diaz – Mode Motorsports
13. 4 – Nathan Lyon – Letarte eSports
14. 5 – Matt Bussa – Williams eSports
15. 21 – Ray Alfalla – Wood Brothers Racing
16. 16 – Chris Overland – Wood Brothers Racing
17. 6 – Zack Novak – Roush Fenway Racing
18. 83 – Adam Benefiel – Independent
19. 33 – Benjamin W. Nelson – Team Dillon eSports
20. 31 – Logan Kress – Independent
21. 47 – Nick Ottinger – JTG Daugherty Racing
22. 88 – Brad Davies – JR Motorsports
23. 20 – Jake Nichols – Joe Gibbs Racing
24. 53 – Ryan Michael Luza – FlipSid3 Tactics
25. 36 – Chris Shearburn – Letarte eSports
26. 46 – Jimmy Mullis – Richmond Raceway eSports
27. 74 – Taylor Hurst – Independent
28. 99 – Logan Clampitt – Burton Kligerman eSports
29. 2 – Caine Cook – Independent
30. 8 – Michael Conti – JR Motorsports
31. 17 – Michael Guest – Roush Fenway Racing
32. 77 – Ashton Crowder – Burton Kligerman eSports
33. 37 – Christian Challiner – JTG Daugherty Racing
34. 51 – Eric J. Smith – Jim Beaver eSports
35. 19 – Casey Tucker – Independent
36. 18 – Bobby Zalenski – Joe Gibbs Racing
37. 63 – Timmy Hill – FlipSid3 Tactics
38. 79 – Nickolas Shelton – Clint Bowyer Racing
39. 55 – Brian Schoenburg – Williams eSports

DID NOT RACE: 24 – Cody Byus – Mode Motorsports