Wyatt Tinsley wins eNASCAR iRacing’s opening exhibition

Wyatt Tinsley emerged with a victory in his heat and then captured the Clash at a virtual Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday as the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series season got underway.

The event was an exhibition, with the season set to officially begin on Feb. 13, again at a virtual Daytona.

A multicar wreck occurred just behind the top three cars as they headed to the final turn before the checkered flag.

Tinsley, in the No. 20 Toyota, crossed the finish line 0.111 second ahead of Jordy Lopez in the No. 90 Ford. Malik Ray took third in the No. 7 Ford. Ryan Doucette came in fourth in the No. 55 Toyota, and Bobby Zalenski rounded out the top five in the No. 18 Toyota.

Tinsley, from Hampton, Va., is starting his second season on the circuit.

Asked how he held off Ray, Tinsley said, “We were just trying to maneuver everything and trying to get by. I don’t know. I’m still in shock. … I had to throw some big, meaty blocks.”

Ray said of the wild finish, “A lot of people can’t drive. They need to go back to driving school. Everyone’s pushing each other entirely too hard, and I think all of that should hopefully change before the season opener.”

Lopez added, “People (are) just causing mayhem on the outside lines, so that needs to be cleaned up in two weeks because that was ridiculous, honestly.”

In the first heat of the night, Parker White prevailed in the No. 53 Chevrolet, beating runner-up Michael Cosey Jr.’s No. 38 Ford by 0.085 second.

Tinsley took the second heat by 0.104 second over runner-up Daniel Faulkingham in the No. 54 Toyota.

Results