Bobby Zalenski claims eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series win at Pocono; 2025 Playoff Grid set

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series playoffs are set. Five drivers claimed tickets through winning one of the 14 Regular Season events. The other five claimed their ticket based on their points performance over the same period.

ERA eSports’ Bobby Zalenski claimed his second win of the 2025 season on Tuesday night at Pocono Raceway. Zalenski claimed the lead during the pit cycle on Lap 17 and held on through the 60-lap Regular Season finale. The final two spots, that were not completely locked entering, belonged to Jordy Lopez (BS+COMPETITION) and Dylan Duval (Channel 199 Sim Racing).

The PLAYOFFS ARE SET!@bobbyzalenski takes the checkers at Pocono Raceway!

The final two Playoff spots belong to @JordyL0pez and @DDuval42!

POST RACE: https://t.co/tOOewu4MBi@ENASCARGG | @CocaColaRacing pic.twitter.com/t2AnzXLZzz

— iRacing (@iRacing) August 6, 2025

“It’s just lovely to win a race,” Zalenski said post-race. “Even in dominant ones like that, where you lead the most laps, you’ve got to have luck on your side. Part of my luck was having friends up there, with Chris (Hill), and Seth (DeMerchant), and Tucker (Minter), and (Michael) Cosey at one point too. The guys I work with behind the scenes. The caution that came out around Lap 15, that really helped because that made it pretty simple. I had to save a little bit of fuel on that first run after that pit stop. We were going to make it because of those cautions.

“Even when you’re really fast, and you’ve got everything clicking, and everyone’s working well, you’re just so grateful that it can go your way. Last year I think I was in a pretty good position to win this race at Pocono, and it didn’t go my way. But yeah, it’s great momentum for the playoffs. It’s an extra five points, but I just love winning races. It’s what I’m here to do. I’m happy.”

The victory breaks Zalenski out of a tie with Ryan Luza and moves him solely into third place on the all-time winners list, now with 18 victories on his career, only two behind Nick Ottinger for second all-time. The 2025 eNASCAR Playoffs begin in two weeks at Michigan International Speedway on August 19th.

THE EVENT

Originally scheduled to end at Echo Park Speedway, the 2025 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Regular Season finale was moved to Pocono Raceway this week, the site of the last two Regular Season finales that saw both Michael Guest (Vegas Inferno) and Graham Bowlin (Kansas City Pioneers) win their place in the playoffs in walk-off fashion.

Guest and Bowlin were among a group of 13 drivers from 11th on back that could simply win and get into the playoffs. Some drivers could point their way in. One of the spots was a guarantee for either Jordy Lopez or Dylan Duval, should there be a new winner.

Tucker Minter (William Byron eSports) claimed the pole position and led the field to the green. Minter led the opening 17 laps before the caution flew and forced the field down pit road for what might be many drivers’ only trip down for service. Bobby Zalenski managed to win the race off of pit road, which meant that two spots were still up for grabs on points should nothing change.

Michael Cosey Jr (ERA eSports) was in position to steal the 10th and final spot from Duval, as the former ran second early on. Duval, meanwhile, was mired back in the 30s after qualifying 37th. If there were no new winners, Duval could lock no matter what with a finish of 11th or better.

Unfortunately for Cosey Jr, his luck came to a screeching halt as he went around following contact with Malik Ray. The crash also collected hopefuls such as Ryan Luza and Donovan Strauss. Lopez also caught a significant piece, but as long as there wasn’t a new winner, he wouldn’t have anything to worry about, even in finishing 36th or worse.

The stars nearly aligned against Lopez as the race went on. At one point, Duval managed to get his way into the top-10, gaining spot after spot. Ahead of him, Christopher Hill (Apex Racing Team) was running in second, and was among the group of drivers that could win and get in. If Duval could get to fifth, and Hill could manage to get his first win, Lopez would be the odd man out.

A caution with 20 laps to go set the stage for a potential final pit stop. Zalenski stayed out, while Minter opted to pit. Minter only was able to recover to finish 21st. Zalenski held off the charge in the closing laps to claim the win over Hill and Zack Novak (Channel 199 Sim Racing), who finished third.

With no new winner, the final two spots went to Lopez and Duval. Dylan Ault (Hyak Motorsports) was the first driver out, 23 points behind.

Channel 199 Sim Racing, with both drivers entering the playoffs this season, also reclaims the Team Championship lead by two points over Spire Motorsports. In the Rookie of the Year battle, Connor Yeroschak (Letarte Esports) leads the way over Hill by 23 points.

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series results from Race #14 at Pocono were as follows:

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series SEGMENT 3 Final Standings after Pocono are as follows:

1. #77 Steven Wilson | Spire Motorsports, 167 points
2. #2 Zack Novak | Channel 199 Sim Racing, -9
3. #22 Bobby Zalenski | ERA eSports, -16
4. #11 Vicente Salas | Kanaan Esports, -18
5. #89 Jordy Lopez | BS+COMPETITION, -34
6. #24 Casey Kirwan | Kansas City Pioneers, -39
7. #96 Christopher Hill | Apex Racing Team, -42
8. #199 Dylan Duval | Channel 199 Sim Racing, -42
9. #14 Seth DeMerchant | fgrAccel, -46
10. #40 Connor Yeroschak | Letarte Esports, -49

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Team Standings after Race #14 at Pocono are as follows:

1. Channel 199 Sim Racing (#2/#199), 714 points
2. Spire Motorsports (#7/#77), -2
3. ERA eSports (#22, #34), -85
4. Atlassian Williams Sim Racing (#4/#95), -110
5. Kansas City Pioneers (#24, #48), -130

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Rookie Standings after Race #14 at Pocono are as follows:

1. #40 Connor Yeroschak | LETARTE eSports, 272 points
2. #96 Christopher M. Hill | Apex Racing Team, -23
3. #3 Blaze Crawford | Team Dillon Esports, -32
4. #50 Quentin Warman | HYAK Motorsports, -50
5. #8 Blake McCandless | JR Motorsports, -113
6. #5 Nate Stewart | Jim Beaver eSports, -133
7. #66 Alexander L Russell | Kanaan Esports, -141
8. #19 Eddie Kerner | Six Karma, -149

PLAYOFFS SET, BEGIN AT MICHIGAN IN TWO WEEKS

The 10 drivers that will fight for the 2025 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Championship were confirmed on Tuesday night. Those drivers are Steven Wilson (Spire Motorsports), Tucker Minter (William Byron eSports), Bobby Zalenski (ERA eSports), Vicente Salas (Kanaan Esports), Kollin Keister (Jim Beaver eSports), Zack Novak (Channel 199 Sim Racing), Parker White (Atlassian Williams Sim Racing), Casey Kirwan (Kansas City Pioneers), Jordy Lopez (BS+COMPETITION), and Dylan Duval (Channel 199 Sim Racing).

2025 was a record-low season in the playoff era, in terms of winners during the regular season, the previous record set in 2017 and 2018 with eight winners through 12 and 13 races, respectively. 2025 only had five different winners in 14 races, with all but Kollin Keister claiming multiple wins, Wilson, of course, collecting a record-tying six of them. Novak didn’t win a race, but did win the opening Segment, claiming five Playoff Points. The other two Segments were won by Wilson, adding 10 more points to his already massive total of 30 points from his six wins.

Wilson, Novak, White, and Kirwan will all be gunning for their second career championships this season. Should all four make this year’s Championship 4, that would guarantee our first multi-time champion of the series other than 4-Time Ray Alfalla. Minter and Zalenski will be aiming to return to the Championship 4, Minter looking to return for the first time since 2023 and Zalenski looking to extend his record, currently at six appearances in eight years, twice in the live-championship finale era.

Salas, Keister (making his Playoff debut), Lopez, and Duval have all never qualified for the Championship 4. The 10 drivers remaining will have Michigan, Texas, and Phoenix to grab a win and qualify for the Championship 4. Without a win, they’ll have to make sure they have enough points to advance. At least one driver will advance on points, and if Wilson isn’t one of those winners, there’s a good chance he’ll be the driver making it on points.

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Playoff Seeding following Regular Season finale at Pocono:

1. #77 Steven Wilson | Spire Motorsports, 6 WINS (40 Playoff Points)
2. #97 Tucker Minter | William Byron eSports, 3 WINS (15 Playoff Points)
3. #22 Bobby Zalenski | ERA eSports, 2 WINS (10 Playoff Points)
4. #11 Vicente Salas | Kanaan Esports, 2 WINS (10 Playoff Points)
5. #15 Kollin Keister | Jim Beaver eSports, 1 WIN (5 Playoff Points)
6. #2 Zack Novak | Channel 199 Sim Racing, +131 points (5 Playoff Points)
7. #95 Parker White | Atlassian Williams, +68 points
8. #24 Casey Kirwan | Kansas City Pioneers, +68 points
9. #89 Jordy Lopez | BS+COMPETITION, +23 points
10. #199 Dylan Duval | Channel 199 Sim Racing, +23 points

RELEGATION OUTLOOK

For the 30 drivers that did not make the 2025 eNASCAR Playoffs, their final four races will focus on staying inside the top-20 in the standings. Dylan Ault will enter the playoffs as the first driver outside the playoffs, but only 40 points ahead of 21st, Blaze Crawford. With four races to go, only Briar LaPradd cannot mathematically break back into the top-20. However, everyone from 26th on back is already a race or more in points behind 20th, which is good news for those already above the cut.

Drivers currently below 20th include Graham Bowlin, Malik Ray, Matt Bussa, Daniel Faulkingham, Nick Ottinger, and Jimmy Mullis. There are a handful of rookies currently above the top-20 cut line, including Connor Yeroschak in 13th and Christopher Hill in 19th.

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Relegation Line standings following Race #14 at Pocono:

11. #47 Dylan Ault | Hyak Motorsports, +40
12. #21 Michael Guest | Vegas Inferno, +37
13. #40 Connor Yeroschak | Letarte Esports, +32
14. #14 Seth DeMerchant | fgrAccel, +31
15. #12 Ryan Luza | fgrAccel, +29
16. #34 Michael Cosey Jr | ERA eSports, +23
17. #7 Femi Olatunbosun | Spire Motorsports, +22
18. #4 Donovan Strauss | Atlassian Williams, +16
19. #96 Christopher Hill | Apex Racing Team, +9
20. #99 Garrett Lowe | BS+COMPETITION, +7
——————————————————-
21. #3 Blaze Crawford | Team Dillon Esports, -7
22. #48 Graham Bowlin | Kansas City Pioneers, -11
23. #1 Malik Ray | Vegas Inferno, -20
24. #50 Quentin Warman | Hyak Motorsports, -25
25. #69 Tyler Garey | eRacr, -31

The Playoffs begin with the 15th round of the 2025 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, scheduled for Tuesday, August 19th, at Michigan International Speedway. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. ET for the Countdown to Green. Race coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET at eNASCAR.com/live and across iRacing social media channels.

For more information on the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, visit eNASCAR.com or iRacing.com/eNASCAR.
For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit iRacing.com.­­

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