Track Specs: 2.5-mile tri-oval / 80 laps
LaPradd’s finish: 26th
McCandless’ finish: 27th
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 12, 2025) – Briar LaPradd led 17 laps in the season-opening eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series race at the virtual Daytona International Speedway, but was caught in a late-race crash and had to settle for a 26th-place finish. Teammate Blake McCandless came from the tail of the field at the start to finish right behind his teammate in 27th. (Watch the full race.)
LaPradd, driving the No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet, started the 80-lap race from the inside of the ninth row and wasted little time moving up the order. Getting to the front of the field, the Tennessee driver paced the race for 17 laps and felt like he had a chance to take the victory.
Unfortunately, restrictor-plate racing means the field circulates in very close proximity, and LaPradd was caught in a crash that put him back in the field. After pitting to fix some damage, LaPradd rallied back to 26th at the checkered flag.
McCandless, making his first official start for JR Motorsports, started shotgun on the field when a rogue gust of headwind put him 40th in the starting order. That put him in the middle of the hurricane in the restrictor-plate event. A couple of well-timed caution flags allowed the driver of the C4 Energy Chevrolet to advance his way to the middle of the pack.
Taking fuel only on the first pit stop, McCandless rose up to third in the running order. Another caution shuffled him to 14th, still within reach of the lead. With less than 15 laps to go, McCandless was inside the top 10, battling with Tucker Minter, Vicente Salas and Matt Bussa, before a crash that caused significant damage to the C4 Energy Camaro sent him back in the field to finish 26th.
Steven Wilson won the race, with Parker White, Malik Ray, Zack Novak and Minter rounding out the top five.
The next event in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series will take place on Feb. 25 at the virtual Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Briar LaPradd, driver No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet team
“I knew we had a strong Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet. We worked our way through the field to the lead and led 17 laps, and I was feeling pretty good about the race. It’s a tough way to start the season in 26th, but we had a fast Ledford Chevrolet and there were plenty of positives to take away. We had speed, and I know we’ll bounce back when we take the Ledford Billiard Supply Camaro to Las Vegas in two weeks.”
Blake McCandless, driver No. 8 C4 Energy Chevrolet team
“Succeeding in this series is going to be all about maximizing each opportunity and driving with a lot of confidence, and although we didn’t have the result to show for it tonight, I can’t help but be proud of the fight we put up. The biggest thing for me about transitioning to being a driver in this series, was showing the rest of these competitors we belonged. I think we did just that and if we continue to execute like this, the finishing results will come with it.”