The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series crunch has begun. There’s one spot left in the playoffs with one race left. Drivers have been more aggressive than ever in pursuit of the golden ticket, a win that could get them a shot at a championship. While some knock on the door of the playoffs, others have had their expectations and goals humbled with their eyes now aimed toward survival rather than titles.
This year has been a tale of rookies against veterans. Former champions Michael Conti and Nick Ottinger, the latter being locked in on points after going winless thus far, currently lead Jordy Lopez and Tucker Minter, a pair of rookies from Team Dillon eSports. Reigning champion Casey Kirwan completes the rookie sandwich in fifth and locked in with his two wins.
One of the more interesting stories involves Malik Ray. The Jim Beaver eSports driver is well beyond rookie status but has not reached the upper echelon of eNASCAR with his best finish in the standings being eighteenth four years ago. Back-to-back-to-back years of relegation concluded with him barely eking his way into the 2023 season last winter.
This year, however, he’s driving like a different person. Ray is firmly in the playoff picture with five top 10 finishes and an additional two top 10s combined with an average finish of 15th, which is tied for fifth-best in the series. He’ll need things to fall his way at Pocono tomorrow night. It’s a track that he enjoys, though, as it emphasizes the need for drivers to hit their lines at each corner of the unique triangle.
One way for Ray to make the playoffs is for him to find his first career win – easier said than done in such a competitive field, but he’s closer than ever in his five-year eNASCAR career. If he can’t find victory lane, he’ll need help. Graham Bowlin, also winless, is 24 points ahead of Ray while Parker White, Michael Cosey Jr., and Matt Bussa are within five points of Ray.
All of them will be hoping for no new winners unless it’s them in victory lane. A new winner, provided they are in the top 20 in points, would take the last unclaimed spot. Bowlin, with his 24-point lead on Ray and others is the best-positioned should there be a repeat winner. In that case, Bowlin would need a decent enough finish, likely no worse than 20 spots behind the top finisher in the contingency of Ray, White, Cosey Jr, and Bussa who lurk on the edge of the top 10.
The one spot that is open in the playoffs could become two, however. Jimmy Mullis is provisionally in the playoff with his race win but he’s 19th