Engelhart in at Irwindale

They say one race could change the complexion of a season long championship. The top split race of Week One in 2011 Season Four on the iRacing.com Tour Modified Series (iTMS) may very well be looked back upon in 12 weeks as that online race. The series visited Toyota Speedway at Irwindale for Round One of the 12 round tour and it was two former series champions showing the way in California.

The Tour Mods opened Season 4 with a memorable week at Irwindale.

Herb Engelhart was the winner when the drivers took to the track for Thursday’s 3641 Strength of Field (sof) race. Engelhart led 51 of the 100 laps in the event to take the win over teammate and reigning Tour Modified champion Brandon Salvatore. The one lead change happened between the two when Salvatore lost the lead he enjoyed for the first 49 circuits to Engelhart. Taylor Meyn was third in the race, followed by Ray Farlow and Kevin Walker. The race featured two caution periods, totaling nine laps. The strength of field was so stiff in this event that the top five from this event exited Irwindale with the top five positions in points! Engelhart earned 228 points for the win with Salvatore starting-off his championship defense with 210 points in Week One. Meyn scored 192 markers in this event with Farlow pocketing 175 points and Walker ending-up with 157 counters.

Paul Wisniewski was sixth overall for the week after scoring one win in the first round of the series, joining Engelhart, Brett Osborn, Jeffrey Haddock, Trevor Edwards, Jamie Damgar, Joe Gauthier, Jamie Collier, Mitch Miller and Levin Poland in victory lane at Toyota Speedway. William Stone2 and Derrick Cormier2 made the most starts of any of the 98 sim racers to attack the track at five each. Nathan McGee set fast time in qualifying with a 16.680 second lap around Irwindale. Salvatore was second quick, followed by Engelhart, Collier and Jason Brown2. McGee was also tops in the Time Trial competition for the week, besting Marc Piloon, Farlow, Osborn and Curt Hunter in the ten lap, beat the clock contest.

Next up for the NASCAR iRacing.com Tour Modified Series is the Richmond International Raceway. Can Wide Open Racing keep the rapid pace they set in Week One or will another driver and team combination rise up to challenge the team who owns the last two Tour Modified crowns? Find out here, next week at inRacingNews!

Until then, keep the hammer down and we’ll see you at the track!

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