We’re previewing each team competing in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series before the 2021 season.
William Byron eSports
Owner: William Byron, iRacing whiz. (Oh, and NASCAR Cup Series winner.)
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Twitter: @WBeSports_
2021 drivers
No. 25: Nick Ottinger
Age: 26
Hometown: Claremont, NC
Twitter: @NickOttinger
First season: 2012
2020 rank: 1st
Staying home!!!
Super excited to represent @WilliamByron and @WBeSports_ again. Looking forward to continue building from a great 2020 season.
Pumped to have a great teammate in @Logan_Clampitt! I know he is going to ready for this season!
Let's go battle for some 🏁's! https://t.co/f3JeorcVIQ
— Nick Ottinger (@NickOttinger) January 22, 2021
No. 97: Logan Clampitt
Age: 20
Hometown: Trabuco Canyon, CA
Twitter: @Logan_Clampitt
First season: 2016
2020 rank: 10th
Beyond excited and grateful for this opportunity! Super pumped to be joining my good friend and defending series champion @NickOttinger. Can't wait to get the season started with @WBeSports_!!@iRacing | @eNASCARCocaCola | @LogitechGesport | @WilliamByron https://t.co/xOPFFmD4g8 pic.twitter.com/AgXstonk6D
— Logan Clampitt (@Logan_Clampitt) January 22, 2021
2020 highlights
Oh, highlights for William Byron eSports’ debut season? Well, let’s see … ah, right! With Nick Ottinger, the team has a champion in its first time competing. The series veteran put together a terrific season that made him $100,000 richer. We should have known 2020 would stand out for Byron’s team when Ottinger nearly won the Daytona International Speedway season opener in a thrilling photo finish with Keegan Leahy.
John Gorlinsky piloted the No. 97 entry in his Coca-Cola iRacing Series comeback tour, starting off the season with a pair of sixth-place finishes, settling eventually into a 19th-place points effort.
Logan Clampitt put together a solid season driving for Kligerman Sport, falling just short of making the playoffs.
2021 outlook
For Clampitt, there have been too many heartbreaks when it comes to fighting for the top eight, most notably last year when Talladega Superspeedway did Talladega things, causing him to lose what looked like a surefire playoff spot at the last minute. Then, in the three playoff races, Clampitt posted excellent top-five finishes — he would have easily made the Championship 4 had the regular season gone just a bit differently. He’ll hope a new car number and a new team will give him that extra boost to compete for the big prize.
Nick Ottinger simply needs to repeat his 2020 season. A tough ask? Maybe, but he’s a pro — and the second-winningest driver in series history. There’s no reason to believe he won’t contend for plenty of wins in his title defense.
Steve’s bold prediction
I’ll keep it simple: Both Ottinger and Clampitt make the playoffs. Clampitt’s been so close, and Ottinger’s just so darn fast.
🚨 2021 @WilliamByron eSports 🚨@iRacing | @eNASCARCocaCola | @LogitechGesport | 🎵 https://t.co/DAkhUkg4q9 pic.twitter.com/2oTD0sB7G0
— William Byron eSports (@WBeSports_) January 22, 2021