Track Specs: 2.5-mile oval / 60 laps
Lane’s finish: 19th
McCandless’ finish: 36th
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 23, 2025) – Briar LaPradd returned to the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series on Tuesday at the virtual Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was in contention in the late stages, only to fall victim to fuel strategy in the closing laps. Teammate Blake McCandless attempted to make it on gas at the end of the run, but ran out a lap short of the checkered flag. (Watch the full race.)
LaPradd, driving the familiar No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet, hit the wall on his qualifying lap and slotted in 38th for the start of the race. Undeterred, LaPradd played strategy as much as possible, utilizing cautions and optimizing his pace to advance up the order.
It worked, as LaPradd assumed the lead on the 43rd of 60 laps and pitted the next time by for fuel to the end. However, he was called for speeding on the entry to pit lane and had to serve a time penalty, which put him 38th in the order with 16 to go.
Shaking off the miscue, LaPradd reeled off several fast laps over the remaining distance, avoiding a couple of incidents and rising back to 19th position at the checkered flag.
McCandless, driving a throwback scheme to his grandfather and the Sox & Martin drag-racing car that competed in the annual U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1970, he ran earlier this season, qualified 36th for the event. When the green waved to start the race, McCandless avoided a crash on the opening lap and gained 10 positions in the aftermath.
A few laps after that, McCandless spun a few laps later to send him to the back again. Rejoining the field at the tail after pitting for fuel and to repair damage, he would rise up the order despite saving fuel from the beginning.
He took fourth position with around 15 laps remaining and was in the mix for a possible victory six laps later when he was swept up in a Turn-1 crash with nine laps to go. Staying on track despite a severely depleted fuel cell, McCandless finally ran out of gas on the second overtime restart, falling about a mile and a half from the checkered flag and finishing 36th.
Steven Wilson took the win in double-overtime, his sixth victory of the season, followed by Zack Novak, Jordy Lopez, Christopher Hill and Ryan Luza.
Next up on the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series schedule is the virtual Pocono Raceway on Aug. 5.
Briar LaPradd, driver No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet:
“It was a bit of a roller-coaster for the Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet and it wasn’t the finished we deserved or wanted, but we did the best we could under the circumstances. It was definitely a missed opportunity, but a solid recovery from the back. I’m ready to reset and go again at Pocono in two weeks. Hopefully, I’ll get another chance at a win this year. Thanks to JR Motorsports for allowing me the opportunity to race this fast Chevrolet and it certainly was a pleasure.”
Blake McCandless, driver No. 8 C4 Energy Chevrolet team
“I think we did a great job dealing with the cards that were dealt to us. We were in a great spot to stretch fuel about seven laps farther than it should, we just weren’t dealt any favors with all the late-race yellows. We managed to get 55 laps out of a 40-lap window, and honestly, I’m proud of that. I’m glad we went for it and had a chance to restart on the front row with under seven laps to go…not much more you can ask for in that situation. We’ll have to keep the same strategy-oriented mindset when we go to Pocono to close out the regular season.”