Zack Novak victorious in penultimate eNASCAR Contender iRacing Series race at Dover

It’s been more than four years since Zack Novak has visited an official eNASCAR victory lane, the last time being his eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series championship-winning night in 2019. In Tuesday night’s eNASCAR Contender iRacing Series race at Dover Motor Speedway, that streak ended with the former champion victorious and all but locked into the Coke Series roster for 2024.

The 2018 eNASCAR IGNITE Series Champion and 2019 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Champion has flirted with victory lane over the last few years at the top level, but after a dismal 2023, Novak found himself fighting in the Contender Series once again. Now he’s proven to be a series winner with momentum on his side ahead of the next chapter in 2024.

Novak started in the 23rd spot, working his way up as high as 17th in the early stages of the event. Up front, Cody Byus had taken the pole, but Wyatt Tinsley took control from the drop of the green flag. The field paraded around the 1-mile concrete oval up until pit stops were due, just around halfway in the 120-lap event.

A caution in the middle of the cycle would change the complexion of the race on the 70th lap. Not only was Tinsley involved in the incident that brought out the caution with Daniel Faulkingham, but he and most of the field were also trapped a lap down due to about a dozen cars still yet to pit. Agnel Philip was the biggest beneficiary of the moment, cycling to the lead, but Novak, Brandon McKissic, Ray Alfalla and a half dozen more drivers would get to flip their races to a positive light for the second half.

Philip led with Novak in tow, but another caution with just over 10 laps remaining set up differing pit strategies for the finish. Alfalla and Christopher Pfeffer opted for two fresh tires, along with a few others, while Philip and Novak took four. Behind them, chaos ensued with drivers trying to get every possible position on the restarts. It set up for a date with eNASCAR Overtime, which saw Alfalla alongside Novak for the final restart.

The two former Coke Series champions went to work, Alfalla leading at the white flag, but Novak had the tire advantage, passing for the lead before the backstretch enroute to the victory. Kaden Honeycutt snook by Alfalla for second as the four-time eNCIS champion settled for third. The dominant Tinsley had to take a 16th place result after the mid-cycle caution changed his day. Pole sitter Byus wasn’t as lucky, getting caught up in multiple incidents late as he finished in 26th. On the flip side, Philip scored a much-needed fourth place finish.

eNASCAR Contender iRacing Series results from Dover Motor Speedway were as follows:

2023 eNASCAR Contender iRacing Series points following Round 6 (not factoring in the drop) are as follows:

1. Vicente Salas, 212
2. Ryan Luza, 202
3. Zack Novak, 168
4. Taylor Hurst, 158
5. Kaden Honeycutt, 144
6. Darik Bourdeau, 139
7. Seth DeMerchant, 136
8. Jonathon Dulaney, 133
9. Kollin Keister, 125
10. Briar LaPradd, 123
11. Timmy Holmes, 123
12. Wyatt Tinsley, 120
13. Femi Olatunbosun, 116
14. Collin Bowden, 115
15. Ryan Doucette, 109
16. Ray Alfalla, 109
17. Daniel Smallwood, 109
18. Daniel Faulkingham, 103
19. Matthew Zwack, 103
20. Dylan Ault, 102
    —————————-
21. Agnel Philip, 101
22. Quami Scott, 101
23. Daniel Buttafuoco, 98
24. Christopher M. Hill, 97
25. Michael P Frisch, 97

Only one race remains to determine who finishes inside the top 20 and has a chance to race in the 2024 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. There will be one drop week to account for in the final standings. Most drivers in the splash zone, such as Ryan Doucette, Alfalla, Daniel Smallwood, Daniel Faulkingham, Dylan Ault, Christopher Hill, and Daniel Buttafuoco, all have drop races of one or two points, which means they don’t have anything to fall back on. Quami Scott, Philip, and Matthew Zwack currently would drop point amounts of seven, eight and 13, which makes their situations a little more difficult going into Texas. Zwack, in particular, sits above the cut before the drop, and after would be seven points out in 25th.

The final venue on the 2023 eNASCAR Contender iRacing Series schedule is Texas Motor Speedway. Last season, Byus was victorious over Vicente Salas and Seth DeMerchant. DeMerchant enters this season in a much better position to advance to the top level than he did last year. While Salas and Ryan Luza will be fighting for the season championship, all eyes will be around the top 20 battle to see who might have a chance to compete in the 2024 Coke Series season. 

Tune in for the Texas action on November 28, live at 8 p.m. ET on eNASCAR.com/live and across iRacing social media channels. Once again, Contender will coincide with the eNASCAR College iRacing Series event taking place at Watkins Glen. The official broadcast will be covering both events.

The eNASCAR Contender iRacing Series is the final step on the Road to Pro ladder before becoming eligible to race in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. For more information on this series, visit www.iracing.com/enascar/rtp/. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iracing.com.

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