Virtual Racing Series Charlotte Enduro

by Chris Cunningham on September 2nd, 2010

The Virtual Racing Series league is a unique addition to the fleet of leagues that have been developed on iRacing. Enduro racing, a form of long distance sim racing with no cautions, has a stoppage in action only if there is a dangerous situation present.  The strategy and the sheer motivation of the drivers combines for exciting online racing action. In the series, crashes are far from uncommon, and the sim racers are far from cordial. Some drivers are determined to win at all costs, while others are determined to prevent that from happening. A few of the drivers have created alliances with each other that will allow them to shatter through the field. When the Virtual Racing Series drivers congregated at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the season finale, to put it simply, they didn’t disappoint.

Mix COTs, trucks and Late Models at Charlotte and there's bound to be plenty of action.

Intensity filled the air as drivers prepared their race cars in practice. With a wide selection of mixed class vehicles to chose from, drivers could elect to use the Car of Tomorrow (Chevrolet Impala SS Class A), the Chevy Silverado or Chevy Monte Carlo Late Model.  With one final race left, five drivers all had a mathematical possibility of being crowned champion at the end of the race. Almost all eyes were on Stephen Moore, who has won three out of his last five races to move within striking distance from points leader Matt Bussa.  Other eyes were on Thomas Warnick, who took the effort to repainting his car and proclaimed himself “The Moore-a-nator.”

Unphased, Moore duly won the pole and figured to be the favorite to overtake Bussa’s points lead.  But not before a first lap crash in Turn One saw four cars hurtle out of control, including those of Matt Campbell, Anita Frederiksen, Stephen Duke and Mike King.  On the restart, Warnick consistently provided trouble for Moore.  Although Moore was able to lead the first seven laps of the 50 lap event, he crashed his Impala and Bussa in his Silverado  inherited the lead on Lap Eight. Series rival Justin Crider, going into the race second in points, provided Bussa with a lot of pressure. King was able to sweep in for the assist and block Bussa’s racing line, sending Bussa careening into the inside wall by Turn Three. Jeremy Doll, another in the top five in points, gained the lead on Lap Nine. Shortly thereafter, Doll’s engine blew, forcing him to take his car back to the pits for repairs.

The momentum of the race started to shift, as a recovering Moore worked his way back into the top five and the lead shuffled between all five of the points contenders:  Bussa, Crider, Moore, Nathan Lyon, and Doll over the next 30 laps.  With 10 laps remaning, Lyon could see the the championship and the checkered flag were within reach.  At that point in time Lyon had an undamaged car and was able to get through trouble very easily. However, as Lyon entered Turn One he was clipped by Matt Campbell and spun into the retaining wall. If that wasn’t enough, as his crippled car slid down the track, Chris Cable and Nick Hulslander connected and sent themselves into Lyon, forcing him to head for the pits.

At least one Late Model "flew" at Charlotte!

With five laps to go, the five points contenders remained at the head of the field with Bussa first followed by Crider, Moore, a rejuvenated Lyon and Doll.  Although his car had sustained heavy damage, Bussa was able to keep the lead for the next three laps, until Campbell wanted some payback from an earlier altercation. Bussa and Campbell got together existing Turn Four, with both drivers winding up in the grass as a result. Bussa lost valuable time and was forced to get a tow-in as Doll regained the lead.

Although he was leaking fluid as the result of earlier contact with Ricky Clodfelter and Billy “Blitz” Litz, Doll was able to cross the line on Lap 50 for the win.  Bussa, Crider, Lyon, and Clodfelter rounded out the top five ahead of Moore.  Other notables in the field were Kevin Swindell (K&N and Nationwide driver) and JC Thompson (Volkswagen TDI Cup Driver) who finished seventeenth and twentieth respectively.

While Doll won the show, Moore’s bonus points enabled him to come out on top in the championship despite Bussa’s impressive performance. Moore had the edge going into the race because he had yet to have utilized any drop weeks, making his finish in this race much more valuable.

Season one for the Virtual Racing Series was a complete success. Drivers raved about how much fun Enduro racing can be in a controlled environment.  While there was chaos, there were great battles, countless lead changes, and wrecks of colossal proportions that will always be remembered.  All of the series’ regular drivers are expected to be in full swing next season in November for the second installment of the series: The Virtual Racing Series Turkey Bowl.