VRW S2: Season Two Rolls Into Chicagoland
- NR2k2
- Published ()
- Virtual Racing World
Last week's VRW races at Lowe's showed that a great pit strategy is often needed to win in the VRW. This week's races at Chicagoland proved that a little luck and timing is needed too.
Chew Benefits From Correndino's Misfortune in GN
Scott Chew took his first VRW victory after Angelo Corredino was booted from the race server while leading in the closing laps of the 161 lap event. The disconnection was brutal for Correndino, a veteran VRW driver who had led a total of 44 laps in the event. Correndino started in the 19th position and had steadily moved up in the order to take the lead on lap 102.
In a clean race that had only 6 caution flags thrown, Chew started in 10th place and drove consistently to stay in the top ten all race. On lap 104 Chew drove took the lead from Correndino and led until lap 117 when Correndino took the lead back. Chew appeared to relegated to holding off Al Sena when he inherited the lead in the closing laps.
Tony LaGrene led early, taking the lead from pole sitter Joao Vaz on lap 13. LaGrene ran up front for the first 100 laps of the race, leading the most laps of any driver with a total of 46 laps at the front. Green flag stops in the closing laps would see LaGrene nearly go a lap down until he got back on the lead lap when Correndino lost his connection.
The final 60 laps of the event were run without a caution period.
Morse Breaks Through Sportsman Ranks
Nick Morse used a consistent strategy to move from the tenth starting position to the lead and battled for the win with Shawn Kimball, Jim Painter, and Steve Tanner in the final 60 laps to win the 161 lap event. Lanny Sledge took the pole for the event and led early but fell out of the event with 60 laps to go. Tanner took second and Jason Manes rounded out the top three.
The sportsman event featured 20 lead changes among 8 drivers. Drivers who also led at least on lap was Jeff Czupta, Charlotte winner Keith Welch, and Lonnie Larkin. Welch started the event in second but ultimately fell behind and retired from the event at the halfway point.
Smather's Edges Team Cyclone At the Line In Cup
The cup event was one of the most competitive of the year, with an astounding 40 official lead changes among 16 of the 32 car field. Literally half the field was at the front at some point during the 200 lap event. It just goes to show how tough the VRW's top division has become. Unlike the GN event, the Cup event proved to be a tough time for the team owners as many cars were behind the wall by the end of the event.
Josh Smather's made a late charge in the Chicagoland Cup event and beat out both Team Cyclone driver Dustin McGrew and Mike Ramsden by .007 seconds and .009 seconds respectively at the finish line. Smathers backed up his strong second place finish the previous week where he followed his DeadWrinkle Racing teamate Jeff Fritscher to the checkered flag. At Chicagoland, after starting 21st, Smathers remained in the tail of the pack, avoiding trouble and made good pit stops to maintain his track position. In the final 10 laps Smathers moved from 6th place managed to lead the most important lap of them all: the last one.
Dustin McGrew had another strong showing and emerged in second place when the checkered fell. McGrew led 22 laps in his Team Cyclone #4 entry after starting in the fourth spot with another strong qualifying performance. McGrew definitely looks to be on track to take a VRW win soon. McGrew's teammate, also known as VRW Champion Mike Ramsden, led the most laps of anyone in the race and moved to the front several times over the course of the event. Ramsden showed true determination as he overcame a damaged rear bumper to pull back the front at the end of the race.
Richmond winner Shannon Whitmore looked to be the man to beat in the closing laps but fell back to 7th in the final two laps of the event. Joel Putty and newly crowned JustRacin League Modified Champion Jeff Shell rounded out the top 5.
The event had 13 cautions flags. The .009 second margin of victory from first to third is closest first to third place margin in VRW history.