Tucker Minter Wins eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Debut at Daytona

Any time that a race car driver, whether in the real world or virtual one, can add their name to a list headlined by Dale Earnhardt Jr., it’s probably a good day for that driver. That’s something that Team Dillon eSports driver Tucker Minter can say after Tuesday night, as he joined Earnhardt Jr. as one of a select few drivers to win their eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series debut when he took the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway.

It took double eNASCAR Overtime for Minter to get the win, as multiple late-race incidents kept the field bunched up and cycled back some of the race-long front-runners. But it was also anything but a fluke: Minter led 14 laps on the night, third-most behind Front Row Motorsports’ Allen Boes and outside polesitter Bobby Zalenski of Joe Gibbs Racing, and joining Boes’ FRM teammate Michael Cosey Jr. as one of two rookies to lead more than 10 laps of the 87 that were completed.

Daytona is often known for its major multi-car accidents, especially late in the race as drivers go for the win. But the trouble started on Lap 1 on Tuesday night, when a check-up in the middle of the field gave some drivers early damage that would stick with them all race. After the restart, the field would settle in for a lengthy green flag run that included pit stops just after halfway. The yellow wouldn’t fly again until a wreck for Elliott Sadler eSports driver Cody Byus on Lap 57, bunching multiple packs back up for the 20-lap dash to the finish.

A multi-car wreck among the midfield on Lap 77 set up the first round of overtime, with defending eNASCAR champion Casey Kirwan taking the lead from Boes on the restart and almost getting to the white flag before another wreck. Kirwan would keep the point for the second overtime and hang on coming into the tri-oval, but he couldn’t quite finish the block as Minter got a run. The XSET driver would hook to the right and lose the top spot, and he’d be scored in fourth place across the line.

Completing the top three behind Minter were Jim Beaver eSports driver Malik Ray and Elliott Sadler eSports driver Darik Bourdeau, two series veterans in their first races with new teams. Well known for his superspeedway racing expertise, Ray diced his way through the field in the closing laps, coming from as far back as 27th place on Lap 70. Bourdeau, meanwhile, had been the most recent driver to win his first eNASCAR start back in 2016 until Minter’s victory.

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series results from Daytona International Speedway were as follows:

Fin.

St.

No.

Name

Team

Laps

Interval

Led

Best

Pts

1833Tucker MinterTeam Dillon eSports870.0001444.53540
2387Malik RayJim Beaver eSports87-0.056044.38535
3201Darik BourdeauElliott Sadler eSports87-0.201144.50834
41195Casey KirwanXSET87-0.218544.54433
5638Michael Cosey JrFront Row Motorsports87-0.4211144.55732
61025Nick OttingerWilliam Byron eSports87-0.513044.53131
73166Tyler GareyTony Kanaan Esports87-0.594144.54430
81248Graham A. BowlinCharlotte Phoenix87-0.820043.98629
91934Allen BoesFront Row Motorsports87-0.8542644.54428
10282Corey VincentPittsburgh Knights87-0.917044.53227
11723Keegan Leahy23XI87-1.804044.58126
12138Michael ContiJR Motorsports87-1.886044.56525
134075Zack NovakRise eSports87-1.894044.43524
142943Femi OlatunbosunCharlotte Phoenix87-1.915044.60423
15141Dylan DuvalStewart-Haas Racing87-1.987144.13722
163245Michael Guest23XI87-1.959044.57321
172731Derek JustisKansas City Pioneers87-2.362044.54420
181777Ryan DoucettePittsburgh Knights87-2.441044.13319
19342Kollin KeistereRacr87-2.470644.13818
20163Jordy Lopez JrTeam Dillon eSports87-2.530044.56317
213011Parker WhiteTony Kanaan Esports87-4.558044.10816
223497Matt BussaWilliam Byron eSports87-4.604044.17815
23218Bobby ZalenskiJoe Gibbs Racing87-4.7202244.66014
241446Jimmy MullisRise eSports87-4.817044.68813
25514Joey BrownfgrAccel87-4.879044.59312
262240Dylan AultLETARTE eSports87-4.862044.59311
27234Ryan LuzaXSET87-4.896045.05610
281510Steven WilsonStewart-Haas Racing87-4.955044.6099
293936Brandon McKissicLETARTE eSports87-5.199044.7378
302627Cody ByusElliott Sadler eSports87-5.233044.8897
31920Wyatt TinsleyKansas City Pioneers87-5.337044.1476
323655Vicente SalasWilliams eSports87-5.625044.5565
333317Kaden HoneycuttRFK Racing87-5.751044.1674
343754Daniel FaulkinghamJoe Gibbs Racing87-6.136044.7413
35469Collin BowdeneRacr87-6.452044.7572
362151Donovan StraussWilliams eSports87-10.626044.7061
37356Timmy HolmesRFK Racing87-34.653044.8821
381888Kevin KingJR Motorsports86-1L044.1781
392412Garrett ManesfgrAccel84-3L044.8781
402515Garrett LoweJim Beaver eSports78-9L044.2251

 

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series points through one round are as follows:

  1. Tucker Minter, 40
  2. Malik Ray, 35
  3. Darik Bourdeau, 34
  4. Casey Kirwan, 33
  5. Michael Cosey Jr., 32
  6. Nick Ottinger, 31
  7. Tyler Garey, 30
  8. Graham Bowlin, 29
  9. Allen Boes, 28
  10. Corey Vincent, 27

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series heads to the Milwaukee Mile next, as the historic Wisconsin oval becomes the first non-NASCAR Cup Series venue to host an eNASCAR points race in the same year that it celebrates the return of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Race coverage begins on Tuesday, February 28 at 9 p.m. ET at eNASCAR.com/live, with Countdown to Green kicking off at 8:30 to set the stage for the action.