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iRacing Virtual Frontstretch

Photo by Justin Melillo via iRacing.com

The Virtual Frontstretch: Issue 12

by

It was a pretty big week in the iRacing community. There was a surprise NASCAR Next Gen release on Wednesday night (May 5) during the eNASCAR Pro Invitational Series race at Darlington Raceway as they were trying it out for the first time.

Erik Jones took that victory in a wild pass with two laps to go. As everyone continues to speculate if it drives realistically or not, here’s what we’ve got in store for this week’s Virtual Frontstretch, which we are still deciding a new name for.

The 100% Cup Series returned to 3 Wide TV for their Kansas Speedway race; FTF mixed it up and went to Iowa Speedway; Monday Night Racing returned at Daytona International Speedway for Season 3; Mooncar Premier wrapped up and declared a champion; and Road To Pro went to Darlington Raceway.

100% CUP SERIES: Kansas 400, May 1

The 100% Cup Series went to Kansas last week and Jon Dulaney swept the night, winning both stages and taking the win after leading 154 of the 267 laps on the night.

With the win, Dulaney moves back into second in the standings, now only seven points behind points leader Bryson Hixenbaugh. Their next race at Darlington Raceway will have happened before this article is posted.

KANSAS 400 TOP 5

  1. Jon Dulaney
  2. Bryan Branham
  3. Cameron Stone
  4. Adam Benefiel
  5. Kevin Steele

RESULTS | STANDINGS | SCHEDULE

Watch the full race replay on 3 Wide TV.

FTF CUP SERIES: ExWife 300k, May 2

FTF Memeweeks ended on Sunday night at Iowa Speedway after a dominating performance from Kevin King. King took the pole, won both stages and claimed victory after 217 laps. King led 181 of those laps and played the right pit strategy around the five cautions on the night.

Brian Mercurio finished second and continues to lead the standings. Next up is Darlington for FTF as well, but they won’t be running throwbacks until later in the season.

EXWIFE 300K TOP 5

  1. Kevin King
  2. Brian Mercurio
  3. Kenny Brady
  4. Michael P. Frisch
  5. Michael Cosey Jr.

RESULTS | STANDINGS | SCHEDULE

Watch the full race replay on BottomSplit.

MONDAY NIGHT RACING: Sim Seats 250, May 3

The opening race to the third season of Monday Night Racing kicked off in the NASCAR Xfinity Series cars at Daytona. Gary Sexton took the pole position in what was originally scheduled for a 90-lap contest, but the race took an extra three laps in overtime after the ninth caution of the night between Ryan Vargas, Parker Kligerman and more.

On the final lap, Rajah Caruth had the lead. Justin Melillo and Ruben Garcia made contact racing for second and the field got jumbled heading into turn 3. Robby Lyons took over the lead with a push, but as they entered the tri-oval, he made contact with Caruth, and as they slid across the line five wide, Matt Stallknecht squeezed by up high for the win.

SIM SEATS 250 TOP 5

  1. Matt Stallknecht
  2. Robby Lyons
  3. DJ Cummings
  4. Rajah Caruth
  5. Joshua Slate

Watch the full race replay on Podium eSports.

Also, check out the post-race rundown with Frontstretch’s own writers and competitors Melillo and Michael Massie:

MOONCAR PREMIER SERIES: CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK

Michael P. Frisch won this championship.

“Only in Mooncar can you flip and still somehow win the race and championship,” Frisch said post-race. The four remaining drivers wrecked across the line, and it was Frisch who crossed first.

After Daytona and Martinsville on Monday, Tyler Oneal and Spencer Prete were eliminated from the championship run.

The finale, between Frisch, Kevin Champagne, Rudy Valentin, David Schildhouse, Tyler Garey and Presley Sorah was a wild one.

The end of the series means the end of Mooncar recaps here, but stay tuned to MoonVision for all the randomness that will still be going on.

RACE 11 –  NASCAR TRUCKS AT DAYTONA TOP 3 (REPLAY)

  1. Colin Bauer
  2. Michael Cosey Jr.
  3. Matthew Zwack

RACE 12 – x TOP 3 (REPLAY)

  1. Ricky Hardin
  2. Michael Cosey Jr.
  3. Max Kennon

RACE 13 – ARCA AT TALLADEGA TOP 3 (REPLAY)

  1. Michael P. Frisch
  2. Will Black
  3. Presley Sorah

SCHEDULE | STANDINGS

All future Moonhead events can be seen over on MoonVision.

ROAD TO PRO – Race 5 at Darlington, May 6

Finally, the Road to Pro series returned for the second half of the first round of the Qualifying Series, this time at Darlington after a couple of weeks off.

Donovan Strauss took home a convincing win in the top split, leading 86 of 140 laps in the race. Now only three races remain and the Top 70 picture is getting set. About 229 drivers still remain eligible per the John Gorlinsky Google sheet, and nine of those drivers are all but locked in based on the math.

TOP 5 SPLIT WINNERS

  • Donovan Strauss
  • Collin Bowden
  • Ethan Lane
  • Daniel E Eberhardt
  • Austin J Yarbrough

COMING UP

100% Cup Series will be racing at Darlington on Saturday night (May 8) at 8:30 p.m. ET. The replay will be available on 3 Wide TV as the race will already be completed by the time this article is posted.

FTF Racing will also be at Darlington, going live at 8 p.m. ET on BottomSplit.

Monday Night Racing will race the Pro 2 Off Road Trucks at Watkins Glen International on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on Podium eSports.

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