Shaw Survives Busy Week Under the Lights at Daytona

While Jason Shaw earned the most points at Daytona, Trent Ringler boosted his series lead with a narrow win over Chris Wright.

As with the season opener at Talladega, Week 10 of the NASCAR iRacing Class B Open Series was a busy one, as the big high-banked super speedways brings virtual racers out in droves.  With the season hitting the home stretch, the tenth round of the 12-week schedule brought the Impalas and Mustangs to the World Center of Speed, otherwise known as the Daytona International Speedway.  As expected, drivers who were not regulars to the series made their marks at Daytona as championship contenders scrambled for results while dodging the pitfalls that can accompany restrictor plate sim racing.

Only three of the series’ regulars who are fighting for their series or division championships finished in the top 10 for the week at Daytona.  While series points leader, Trent Ringler earned fourth place points for the week, Guelph, Ontario, Canada’s Dale Jason Shaw edged Parker Traves to earn the weekly top score of 231 points.  Galen Gidman, who leads Division 2, got eighth for the week while Matthew Davis rounded out the regulars with a 10th place showing.

Shaw earned his points in Tuesday night’s midnight event which sported a 3647 Strength of Field rating.  The 22-car field showed seven different leaders in the 60-lap event and as the race progressed, Shaw traded the lead with Connor Blaise.  Shaw was grabbed the lead for good with four laps to go as Blaise was sidelined by the last of three yellows in the race.  Shaw led 18 of the race’s 60 laps while Blaise led 14.  Traves finished runner-up while Logan Clampitt, Seth DeMerchant, and Mark Walz rounded out the top five.

“Thanks to Parker (Traves) for the pushes all race long.” — Jason Shaw

Shaw earned his points in Tuesday night’s midnight event which sported a 3647 Strength of Field rating.  The 22-car field showed seven different leaders in the 60-lap event and as the race progressed, Shaw traded the lead with Connor Blaise.  Shaw was grabbed the lead for good with four laps to go as Blaise was sidelined by the last of three yellows in the race.  Shaw led 18 of the race’s 60 laps while Blaise led 14.  Traves finished runner-up while Logan Clampitt, Seth DeMerchant, and Mark Walz rounded out the top five.

“I have to give thanks to Parker (Traves) for the pushes all race long,” said Shaw.  “Pit strategy was huge and we played it right and got the W.”

Shaw captured one win in three starts while earning the weekly high of 231 points.  Christian Pedersen won both races he entered, but it was not enough to overtake Shaw and took second for the week with 227 points.  Ryan A Hill grabbed a win in two starts to take third with 222 points which edged-out Ringler, who earned one win in four starts with three top-fives.  Traves’ lone start and runner-up finish to Shaw got him fifth place points with 221.

Big Ones happen. Just ask Seth DeMerchant (2), Timmy Logwood Jr. (18) and Johnny Reed Foley (9).

Mark Maffet started a whopping 38 races during Daytona week totaling 2210 laps.  Maffet picked up eight wins, 23 top fives and 20 poles for the week while leading 385 laps.

Ringler’s win allowed him to open up his championship points lead over Anthony Price by nine points.  Price, who finished 18th for the week at Daytona, now trails Ringler by 45 points with two races remaining.  Johnny Reed Foley finished 13th at Daytona and still remains in the hunt in third place overall, 78 points adrift of the leader.  Brian Ammerman still holds down fourth place trailing by 145 points.  Jeff Dukehart jumped back into the top five over Brian Lovingood and is 232 points out of first.

Division winners for Daytona week were: 1 – Dale Jason Shaw 231 (Canada).  2 – Chris Wright 212 (Ohio).  3 – Josh Dorman 192 (California).  4 – Danny McCune Jr. 145 (Virginias).  5 – Travis Browder 133 (Carolina).  6 – Tanner Bryant 118 (Florida).  7 – Adam Gowitzka 144 (Ohio).  8 – Marc Nichols Jr. 84 (Mid-South).  9 – Christian J Pitman 115 (Mid-South).  10 – Kelly Gilmore 74 (West).

Shannon Segler wins with a push from Brian Lovingood (2) ahead of Christian Ingram (15),Brian Tate (4) and Chris Frost (9).

With two races remaining, here is the status of the division battles:

Division 1 – It looks to be a three horse race between Ringler, Price, and Foley with the points being stated as above.

Division 2 – Galen Gidman holds an 89 point lead over Shannon Segler.  However, a pack of drivers are right there with Segler including Timmy Logwood Jr., Stacy Adams and Roger Wagner.

Division 3 – Joshua D Baker holds an 85 point lead over Randall Drake with Chris Frost still in the hunt, 97 points back.

Division 4 – Danny McCune Jr. is in control with only Thomas Conheady to contend with, 93 points behind.

Division 5 – One of the closest battles is shaping-up here as Loren Arden holds a 14 point lead over Trey Wagner.

Division 6 – This division is all but decided as Justin Hirst has run-off with the championship already.

Division 7 – David Isaac holds a 77 point lead over Richard Stallings with Jeremy Gannon a distant third, an even 100 back.

Division 8 – Another tight battle here as Dario Ricov holds a slim seven point lead over James Hollern.

Division 9 – Noel Koewers leads, but the title is up for grabs with several other drivers including Christian J. Pitman, Jackie Stovall, Lyle Wright, and Ted Ruminski.

Division 10 – Ken Wood holds a 21 point lead over Scott Martin.

The series regulars should have the track back to themselves in Week 11 as the schedule heads to the flat banks of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  The 1-mile oval in Loudon, New Hampshire will weed out the “pedal to the metal” types as heavy braking and driver skill take precedent for the week.  With smaller fields and participation, points chances will be at a premium as division leaders try to maintain their advantage.

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