eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Race Preview: Michigan
August 14th, 2023 by Chris Leone
The 2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series playoff field is set, and their first of three shots to secure a Championship 4 berth will come at Michigan International Speedway. As always, race coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET at eNASCAR.com/live and across iRacing social media channels, while Countdown to Green will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET to preview the action.
Last Race: As far as dramatic finishes to eNASCAR races go, you couldn’t ask for much better than the last lap of double overtime at Pocono Raceway. Four winless drivers entered the final corner hungry for a playoff berth, but only one—William Byron eSports’ Nick Ottinger—had enough points to take one of the last two spots no matter what. When Ottinger took contact from teammate Matt Bussa in the final corner, it gave 23XI’s Michael Guest the space he needed to pull through and finally earn his first career win in 106 starts. Guest’s win left his friend Malik Ray of Jim Beaver eSports out of the playoffs, as his six top-five finishes—second-most of anyone in the series—just weren’t quite enough to move on without a win.
Early on, Bussa had been the dominant driver, leading through a bevy of early cautions, but a two-tire strategy allowed top 20 drivers like Guest and Tony Kanaan eSports’ Parker White to put themselves in position to get a win and advance. Ray recovered from an early connection issue to make up a lap and dart through the field on four tires, while his teammate Garrett Lowe was one of a handful of drivers to skip the pits and hang onto track position. In the end, an intense battle between Ottinger and Guest on the final lap allowed Ray and Bussa to move into position, but the contact between Bussa and Ottinger gave Guest the space he needed.
Last Year: Michigan wasn’t a part of the 2022 eNASCAR schedule, but it was a part of the 2021 campaign. In that race, Bussa came out victorious to secure his playoff berth, but a repeat win would merely guarantee more drivers advancing to the Championship 4 on points. Of the current playoff field, JR Motorsports’ Michael Conti was the top finisher from 2021 in fourth.
Track Facts: Breaking ground in September 1967 and opening just over a year later, Michigan International Speedway is one of the fastest ovals in America. The 2.0-mile D-shaped track hosts the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series, as well as the ARCA Menards Series, and has welcomed many other top-level series over the past half century. David Pearson’s nine Cup wins are the most all-time, while Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers with six wins and 23 top-10s.
Next Up: Following Michigan, the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series playoffs continue at Dover Motor Speedway on Tuesday, August 29 at 9 p.m. ET. Dover is one of two one-mile tracks in the playoffs, but with its high-banked corners and narrow backstretch, couldn’t be much more different from the other, Phoenix Raceway. Ottinger won the most recent eNASCAR race at Dover last spring.
For more information on the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, visit www.enascar.com or www.iracing.com/enascar. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iracing.com.
Image via Justin Melillo
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