Mar 23, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Vicente Salas (20) during driver introductions before the XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images Vicente Salas became the fifth different driver to win a race this season in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, celebrating in victory lane Tuesday at a virtual Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
Salas, 22, edged Ryan Luza by 0.720 seconds to earn his first win of the year. A part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, Salas thanked his team and was grateful to finally get his car over the line first.
It was his first win since Darlington early in the 2024 season.
“To put ourselves in the playoffs here and kind of relieve that stress is huge,” Salas said after the race.
Salas drove his No. 11 Kanaan Esports Toyota efficiently, as the race became a tire-saving duel by the end. Steven Wilson, who won the previous two races in the series, battled with Luza down the stretch but finished in 29th place, a lap down, as his tires did not hold on.
Kollin Keister instead finished third, with Dylan Duval and Casey Kirwan rounding out the top five.
Salas led the final 93 laps, taking over the front spot about a quarter of the way into the 120-lap race and never relinquishing it.
“I was driving super, super hard at the end there,” Salas said. “I think Ryan kind of saved his tires a little bit, so he was coming at the end.”
The series continues on July 1 at a virtual Chicago Street Course.
–Field Level Media
