Track Specs: 1.366-mile oval / 120 laps
Conti's finish: 3rd
King's finish: 33rd
Team Standings: 3rd (-53)
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 17, 2023) -- Michael Conti continued his string of stout finishes with a third-place effort with the No. 8 WR1 Sim Chassis Chevy in Tuesday night's eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series event at the virtual Darlington Raceway. Teammate Kevin King was on pace for a respectable top 20 in the No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevy but was swept up in a multi-car crash on the last lap that dropped him down the running order to 33rd.
Sporting a special scheme mirroring his early-career livery on board the No. 8 WR1 Sim Chassis Chevrolet, Conti fired off 10th and began an immediate march up the running order. He climbed seven positions to third during the opening run. Conti's speed was on display in the first half of the run with nearly a 0.100 advantage over the competition. However, as the green-flag laps went on, his advantage dwindled and he faded to fifth.
With varying pit strategies coming into play for track position during a late yellow flag, Conti played it smart and took four fresh tires. The decision saw him restart 11th but the fresh rubber allowed him mount a charge to third over the final laps.
King and partner Ledford Billiard Supply also joined in on the throwback trend with a scheme celebrating team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s green and white livery from 2008. King qualified 25th for the race but fought a tight chassis during the long run. Coupled with a challenging aero and draft package, King still had speed but lacked the track position to do much with it.
The California native was on pace for a top 20 when a late-race yellow flag slowed the field. Hoping to gain some much-needed track position, King opted for two tires but the call came in too late, and he spent additional time on pit road taking the customary four. That left King stuck in the melee that ensued on the last lap where he was caught up in a multi-car crash that relegated the No. 88 team to a 33rd-place finish.
The JR Motorsports duo and the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series will return to the track on May 30 at the virtual Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Michael Conti, driver No. 8 WR1 Sim Chassis JR Motorsports Chevrolet team
"Darlington has been a fantastic track for me over the course of my career and tonight proved no different. We had a super fast WR1 Sim Chassis Camaro which made the night much easier from the driver's seat. Our long-run pace left a little to be desired versus some of the other front-running cars, but in the end a 15-lap sprint to the finish played into our hands perfectly. The #ItsBeenGr8 tour notches another top five finish and rolls into Charlotte firing on all virtual cylinders."
Kevin King, driver No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet team
"I think we had a top 15 car on pace, it was just really difficult to pass with the dirty air and draft aspect. A lot of these guys have a hard time getting passed, which makes it even harder when you have a pace advantage at times. Not much we could do about the last lap wreck, again, but our luck has to turn around eventually."