Class B Diversified Racing
September 3rd, 2014 by Jaime Baker
After spending Week Two in upstate New York, the NASCAR iRacing Class B Fixed Series spent the next three weeks journeying across the eastern portion of the United States. With trips to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Atlanta Motor Speedway to fill Weeks Three, Four, and Five, the series was truly a spectacle of driving ability.
Mid-Ohio
After leading 13 of the event’s 15 laps, NASCAR K&N East Series competitor Jay Beasley (West) drove the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro into victory lane at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course after starting from the second position. Pole sitter and top rated driver in the field Kyle Crump (Michigan) led the opening two laps, but relegated the lead to Beasley shortly thereafter and was never able to regain the top spot, falling almost eight seconds short of victory. Ian Hann (Mid-South) started from the fifth spot and worked his way into the top three by the fall of the checkered flag in the No. 2 Ford Mustang. The remainder of the top five was filled by Don Stephenson (Florida) and Tim Wick (Canada), who started from the sixth and four positions, respectively. The 3883 strength of field saw no cautions and one lead change.
With the victory in the week’s top strength of field event, Beasley was able to capture 240 championship points for his efforts during the week. Crump was the second top point earner for the week, adding 221 to his season total. Hann’s top five effort in the top strength of field event netted him a solid 203 points heading into Bristol. The final two positons in the top five were occupied by Cullen Brown (Texas) and Andre Castro (New York) who earned 182 and 176 points, respectively.
A driver who is no stranger to going fast on road courses was this week’s top overall qualifier. Madison Down (Australia/NZ) leads a group of four Australia/NZ Club members at the top of the qualifying chart with a time of 1:28.426. Zak Jones ended the week in the second positon overall with a time of 1:28.563. The third spot on the qualifying chart went to GP3 Series competitor Richie Stanaway who ended the week with a time of 1:28.825. The final two spots on the qualifying chart were held down by Jarrad Filsell and Rens Broekman (Benelux) with times of 1:28.995 and 1:29.217, respectively.
Bristol
As the old saying goes, it doesn’t matter how many laps you lead if you don’t lead the last one. By leading just three of the event’s 55 laps, Robert Padavich (Carolina) drove the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro into Bristol Motor Speedway’s victory lane. The second place driver, Thomas Brandner (Carolina), was a close second as he came up just 0.323 seconds short of the victory after started from the 13th spot in the No. 10 Camaro. After leading 41 of the event’s laps, Michael Bergh (California) had to settle for a third place finish in his No. 18 Ford Mustang. The final two spots in the top five were occupied by Michael Woolley (Illinois) and Dylan Ackart (New York). The 3356 strength of field was slowed seven times for caution for a total of 29 laps and saw two lead changes among three drivers.
With a second place finish in the top strength of field event, Brandner was able to net 199 championship points for his efforts during the week. Christian Pedersen (New England) capped off a successful week in the second position after earning 194 points for his efforts. The third place finisher for the week was Heath Hindman (Mid-South) who made just one start during the week which resulted in a victory. The final two spots in the top five were occupied by Padavich and Logan Seavey (California) who earned 188 and 184 points.
Navigating the 0.533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway in a quick fashion is no easy task, but that didn’t stop Ethan Lane (Carolina) from putting his car on top of the qualifying chart with a time of 15.786 seconds. The second place qualifier for the week was Stephenson, with a time of 15.787 seconds. The final three spots were held down by Jeremy Lukaszka (Midwest), CJ Cornacchio (New York), and David Geske (Indiana) with times of 15.815, 15.860, and 15.863 seconds.
Atlanta
When he’s not busy competing in the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series, Michael Conti (New Jersey) enjoys competing in other series throughout the iRacing service. Conti was able to lead 32 of the event’s 45 laps en route to a 0.352 second margin of victory over Logan Clampitt (California). The third place position was held down by Seth DeMerchant (New England) who started from the sixth spot. The final two spots in the top five were occupied by EJ O’Rourke (New England) and Robert Perles (Pennsylvania). The 3849 strength of field was slowed three times for caution for a total of 11 laps and saw two lead changes among three drivers.
After taking the victory in the week’s top strength of field event, Conti netted 243 points for his efforts. Brandon Buie (Atlantic), also a NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series competitor, ended the week in the second position with a total of 237 points. Michael Guest (Indiana), Keith Plaza (Carolina), and NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series competitor Alex Warren (Illinois) round out the top five.
Continuing the trend of NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series competitors competing at Atlanta, Matt Bussa (Illinois) was able to put his car in the top spot for qualifying during the week with a time of 30.103 seconds. Warren’s efforts during the week were good enough for the second place spot overall with a time of 30.113 seconds. Zack Novak (New England), Lukaszka, and Philip Kraus (Mid-South) filled the remaining spots in the top five.
After a tough three week stretch for some drivers, Week Six takes the drivers to another difficult circuit in Richmond International Raceway. Check back in a week’s time for a full recap of the action from Richmond!