Track Specs: 1.366-mile oval / 120 laps
Honeycutt's finish: 3^rd
LaPradd's finish: 18^th 
Team Standings: 7^th (-54)     

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 29, 2024) – Kaden Honeycutt played strategy to the hilt on the way to a season-best third-place finish on Tuesday night at the virtual Darlington Raceway, while teammate Brar LaPradd rallied to 18^th in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series event on the legendary track. (Watch the full race.)

Starting 12^th in the FilterTime Chevrolet, Honeycutt rode out the early stages of the opening segment of the race to save tires, as the teams had just three sets of Goodyear rubber to use over the 120-lap race. Picking his spots, the Texas driver rose to seventh by the time the lap counter clicked over to 45 and the first yellow of the race came out.

Hitting pit road for the first time, Honeycutt picked up two positions to fifth after taking four tires and fuel. On the restart, the FilterTime Chevrolet dropped to seventh and Honeycutt again saved his tires for later in the run. As the laps wound away, Honeycutt rose to third but did not have the tires to chase the leaders.

The final caution flag of the race waved at lap 114, and Honeycutt elected to put on two tires and take a splash of fuel for the run to the finish. The race would come down to a green-white-checkered finish, and Honeycutt challenged for second but fell just short at the finish to wind up third.

LaPradd, driving his No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply/Race Face Digital Chevrolet, qualified 26^th for the 120-lapper and played a similar strategy to his teammate by saving tires in the early going before scooting up to 23^rd by the time the caution waved at lap 45.

On pit road, LaPradd bolted on four fresh Goodyear tires and took fuel, gaining a position on pit road to 22^nd. Riding in the pack, LaPradd was 21^st for much of the run until his handling swung to the loose side at lap 90 and he dropped to 28^th. When the final caution waved at lap 114, LaPradd opted for four tires and splash of gas.

Over the final laps, the changes took hold and the Tennessee native drove from 24^th to 18^th in the remaining six laps.

Vicente Salas won the race in overtime, nipping Casey Kirwan at the checkered with Honeycutt third, Dylan Duval in fourth and polesitter Steven Wilson in fifth.  

The solid performances saw Honeycutt rise one spot in the driver points to fifth, while LaPradd maintained his hold on 16^th position with his finish. In the team standings, JR Motorsports sits seventh in the order, 54 points off the lead.

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series will return to action on June 11 on the tight confines of the virtual Iowa Speedway, which will see the series present its first points race on the tough little oval.

Kaden Honeycutt, driver No. 8 FilterTime JR Motorsports Chevrolet team

"A third-place run at Darlington! Unbelievable car by Deadzone Racing with the piece we brought tonight. I appreciate everyone for what they do, and thank you to Steven Steffen for the awesome job spotting as always. We have a lot of momentum with the FilterTime Chevrolet heading into Iowa in a few weeks. Let’s keep it rolling!"

Briar LaPradd, driver No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply/Race Face Digital JR Motorsports Chevrolet team

"It was a rough night for our Ledford Billiard Supply/Race Face Digital Camaro in Darlington. Always love racing this track but man, we just didn't have a good piece. We really didn't go anywhere the first run, struggling with front turn, and the adjustment we made on the pit stop helped. It also put us way loose later in the race. Luckily, we caught a caution towards the end. We took four tires while the entire field took just two and had the extra grip for a GWC. We'll take that after struggling all night. Probably could've been a lot worse. Looking forward to our first points race at Iowa in two weeks!"