McCandless Gets First Career Top-10, LaPradd Rallies to 15th in eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Playoff Race at Texas

September 3, 2025

Track Specs: 1.5-mile quad oval / 100 laps
McCandless’ finish: 8th
LaPradd’s finish: 15th

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 2, 2025) – JR Motorsports drivers Blake McCandless and Briar LaPradd showed strength on Tuesday night when the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series visited Texas Motor Speedway. McCandless put together a strong effort to wind up eighth at the checkered flag, while LaPradd shook off the gremlins that had plagued him all season with a solid 15th-place result. (Watch the full race.)

McCandless, battling food poisoning when the race began, got more bad news when he drew the 36th starting position. Taking it easy from the opening green, McCandless took advantage of an early caution at lap 7 to pit for four tires and fuel. Missing a huge crash on the backstretch a few laps later, he moved to the top 25 and kept it wound up, utilizing his fresher tires.

The C4 Ultimate Energy Chevrolet kept coming, rising to 16th in the order during a green-flag stint. Pitting at lap 63 for four tires and fuel, he rejoined in 20th and raced in the pack until just eight laps remained in the event. At that point, he hit pit road again for a set of right-side tires.

A caution for a crash allowed McCandless to move to 15th for the first overtime attempt, and used the bottom line on the white-flag lap to pass his way up to a career-best eighth-place finish at the checkered. That result made him the highest-finishing rookie in the field.

LaPradd, who was forced to exit the previous race with connectivity issues, got a solid start from 22nd on the grid and was aggressive from the green flag onward. In the second half of the race, the Tennessee native had to nurse a worn-out right rear tire that sent him slowly down the running order.

The late-race caution that allowed McCandless to move up also helped LaPradd, giving him the opportunity to take fresh rubber and move up the order. Over the final handful of laps, LaPradd drove up to 15th at the checkered flag.

Zack Novak won the race, slotting into the Championship 4 in the process. Tucker Minter came home second, with Championship 4 qualifier Steven Wilson third. Parker White and Dylan Duval rounded out the top five.

Malik Ray led the second five, with Ryan Luza, McCandless, Casey Kirwan and Kollin Leister the remainder of the top 10.

Next up on the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series schedule is the virtual Phoenix Raceway on Sept. 16th for the third round of the eNCCiRS Playoffs.

Blake McCandless, driver No. 8 C4 Energy Chevrolet team

“This was one of the most miserably sick days of my life. I honestly wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to make it all the way through 100 laps tonight. Luckily the sickness showed up about 45 seconds after we took the checkered flag! Can’t remember the last time I got food poisoning, but fortunately for me it might be the good luck charm we needed. Man, does it feel good to finally deliver a Top 10 effort to JR Motorsports, C4 Energy, and to see both JRM cars in the top 15. We’ve deserved it so many times this year. Hopefully we continue to close out strong these final two races. I already got some good strategy ideas cooking up for Phoenix here in a few weeks, so we’ll see how it shakes out in the desert!”

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

“Tonight was solid for us in the Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet. Given the year we’ve had, it’s a great feeling. Coming back from nearly running myself out of tires, it was a good step forward and I can’t wait to get to Phoenix and keep the performance on an upward swing.”