The pressure’s on. Michigan International Speedway hosts the regular-season finale for the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Tuesday night, and with an anything-but-clear playoff picture, we have no doubt this year’s race will be one for the history books. Here’s what to watch for during the Logitech G Challenge 100:
Race Info
Aug. 17, 2021
Race 14 of 18
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Michigan
2.0-mile oval
100 laps
Previous winners at Michigan
Just one driver has won multiple times in the 12 races in the Irish Hills, and there’s little surprise it’s series G.O.A.T. Ray Alfalla — though he won’t make the playoffs to race for his fifth championship this year.
2020: Casey Kirwan
2019: Garrett Lowe
2018: Ryan Luza
2017: Michael Conti
2016: Ray Alfalla
2015: Kenny Humpe
2014: Chad J. Laughton
2013: Ray Alfalla
2012: Jason Karlavige
2011: Steve Sheehan
2010-2: Derek Wood
2010-1: Richard Towler
Last year at Michigan: Kirwan wins in double overtime
Casey Kirwan grabbed his second-career victory in last season’s visit to Michigan after a host of late-race restarts pushed the race into double overtime.
Yes! Finally! Kid really deserved it. Perfect driving those last 10 laps. After terrible luck to start the season he’s finally seeing some results. Way to go @CaseyKirwan23! https://t.co/XMnCTGwxXq
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) July 29, 2020
Last race: Bowlin grabs his first at The Glen
Two weeks ago at Watkins Glen International, second-year driver Graham Bowlin held off the two dominant road-course experts, Bobby Zalenski and Mitchell deJong, to grab his first-ever win in his 33rd start. The victory gave Bowlin command of the regular-season points lead, setting the Stewart-Haas eSports driver up to ride a wave of momentum into the playoffs.
HE DID IT! @BowlinGraham wins at @WGI and earns his spot in the iRacing Series playoffs. 🎳🏁
It's his first career points-paying series victory in his second full-time season and the first win for #SHReSports. #GoBOWLINg // #eNASCAR pic.twitter.com/R9cogaE1h0
— Stewart-Haas eSports (@SHR_eSports) August 4, 2021
Points picture after 13 races (with lowest finish dropped):
1) Graham Bowlin (1 win)
2) Keegan Leahy -1 (1 win)
3) Steven Wilson -15
4) Mitchell deJong -18 (2 wins)
5) Bobby Zalenski -19 (1 win)
6) Michael Conti -30 (1 win)
7) Corey Vincent -32
8) Michael Guest -41
9) Casey Kirwan -43
10) Vicente Salas -48 (1 win)
Other playoff-eligible drivers:
12) Logan Clampitt (1 win)
13) Jimmy Mullis (1 win)
14) Ryan Luza (1 win)
15) Bob Bryant (1 win)
Other winners outside playoff eligibility:
21) Chris Shearburn (1 win; -9 from 20th; -33 from Bryant)
24) Ray Alfalla (1 win; -31 from 20th; -55 from Bryant)
Ten drivers will compete in the playoffs for a championship beginning after Michigan. Priority is given to race winners who finish the regular season top 20 in points.
What to expect at Michigan
This trip to Michigan will be unlike any other before it.
While a visit to the Irish Hills usually lends itself to pack-filled racing action with methodically-calculated passes and pit strategy, we expect this year’s visit to have a different feel to it — of course, that’s because it’s the final race of the regular season.
An unprecedented 12 winners in 13 races, combined with a 10-driver win-and-in playoff system, has made for a truly maximum-chaos scenario. It means the model of consistency, veteran driver Michael Guest, who has hung around the top of the standings much of the season, won’t race for a championship unless he wins Tuesday. It means drivers like third-ranked Steven Wilson, Roush Fenway Racing rookie standout, won’t race for a championship — unless he wins Tuesday. It means 2020 series champion Nick Ottinger won’t have a shot to defend his title — all together now — unless he wins Tuesday.
A host of drivers who have yet to win this year could potentially knock out a race-winning competitor with a victory. A win by Wilson, Guest, Ottinger, Corey Vincent or Casey Kirwan would knock out the current 10th-ranked driver; right now, that’s Auto Club Speedway winner Bob Bryant, who loses a tie with Ryan Luza. Dylan Duval, Zack Novak, Matt Bussa, Garrett Manes or Garrett Lowe could make it with a win, too, though they’ll need a little misfortune from other contenders.
All this to say, this trip to Michigan will come with pressure in a way we’ve never seen before. If you like high-stakes racing drama, here’s some don’t-miss viewing.
How to watch
Round 14 of the season airs live at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 17.
Catch the racing action streamed live:
— eNASCAR.com/live
— Facebook.com/NASCAR
— YouTube.com/NASCAR
— Twitch.tv/iRacing