McCandless, LaPradd Show Speed in Iowa eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Battle

June 18, 2025

Track Specs: 0.875-mile oval / 90 laps
McCandless’ finish: 23rd
LaPradd’s finish: 32nd

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 18, 2025) – Both Blake McCandless and Briar LaPradd entered Tuesday night’s eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series event at the virtual Iowa Speedway with strategies designed to put them near the front at the end of the 90-lap feature on the .875-mile oval. (Watch the full race.)

With heat-race starting positions based on qualifying times, the two-man JR Motorsports team had its work cut out for it in the two 30-lap heat races that would set the lineup for the 90-lap main event. LaPradd, driving the familiar No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet, started 31st in the main, while McCandless rolled off from 36th in the bright yellow C4 Energy Camaro.

Both drivers worked on saving tires for the 90-lap run on the racy short track and had solid runs going before the inevitable tight racing caught up to them.

LaPradd put together a solid run, rising to 15th by virtue of catching a caution flag at just the right time. Racing in the pack, LaPradd seemed destined to post his best finish of the season when he was tangled up in an incident and finished a disappointed 32nd.

McCandless had a similar strategy, saving tires for the later laps and waiting for his car’s handling to come in. He made it to 12th position before that same well-time yellow that LaPradd had used came out. Unfortunately, the new tires turned the C4 Energy Chevy to the loose side for the run to the finish and he dropped to 23rd at the checkered.

Steven Wilson won the race, his fifth win of the season, followed by Zack Novak, Seth Demerchant, Jordy Lopez and Taylor Hurst.

Next up on the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series schedule is the Monster Mile at the virtual Dover Motor Speedway on July 1.

Blake McCandless, driver No. 8 C4 Energy Chevrolet team

“We had a real strong car on the long runs, which was exactly what we needed with how this race played out early. It felt like we could just keep reeling people in after about 25 laps. The last stop kind of flipped the car on us in a way we didn’t expect. It was wrecking loose those final 10 laps. I was just hanging onto it trying not to throw it away. Lost a couple of spots at the end, but all things considered, we will take 23rd from where we started.”

Briar LaPradd, driver No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet:

“We are still searching for speed and trying to figure out where we’re missing it with our Ledford Billiard Supply Camaro. In the feature, I focused on saving tires early, which paid off when we caught that perfectly-timed yellow. I was racing up around 15th, but unfortunately got caught up in a racing deal and ended up 32nd. Frustrating result, but we’ll keep working.”