Race Report: SlamDraftin Radio 150
by Chris Cunningham, July 25th, 2010 02:30 PM
Vidane Racing's Exlander Pro Series traveled to Speedway, Indiana last night as 18 of the top sim racers battled it out at the Brickyard.Jon Adams, the favorite, prevailed in victorious fashion as he hunted down seventeen other power hungry drivers, three of which whom are competing in the iRacing Drivers World Championship.
The drivers were far from cordial, and often left themselves in situations that were too close for comfort.
Adam's iRacing Bombs did the trick once again, as the Chief himself was in the zone for the duration of the race. Adams outlasted not only his 17 competitors, but 8 cautions that lasted for 32 laps. A mid race wreck could not even stop Adams. Despite the fact that the racetrack was actually a warzone, the finish of the Slam Draftin Radio 150 will arguably go down in Vidane's record books as one of the most insane, exciting, and entertaining races ever sanctioned by the league, as well as the most entertaining iRacing broadcast to date.
The Brickyard 400 and the DWC Road race had nothing on the Exlander Pro Series broadcast.
The race started with Josh Parker, a World Championship driver, on the pole leading the field to the green. Entering turn 3, Will Bell drifted up the track and collected Chris Cunningham, who luckily saved his car; however, Bell was not so lucky, and unfortunately collected Dennis Taylor into the mix. Both drivers would continue to go on in the race unscathed.
Jon Adams inherited the lead on lap 3 as Josh Parker pitted. Adams took the green and lead for one of the few green flag runs the race had in the early stage of the race. Adams car was strong in front, but for Doug Caddick, his car was loose and on lap 15 he spun his car bringing out the second caution of the race. If that wasn't enough, Chris Cunningham, driving under the weather, hit Caddick after he spun out, launching Caddick nearly into the infield. Caddick sustained some heavy damage, and Cunningham was lucky again not to have inflicted any damage on his car.
As a result of pit strategy, Jason Gaboury inherited the lead from Jon Adams on lap 15, Gaboury only had a short stint as the leader, leading a mere 3 laps. Adams regained the lead, and drivers in the main pack could feel a trend emerging. The wrecks were gradually getting bigger, and more painful for the drivers to endure. Connor Mackenzie and Josh Parker decided to play it safe in the back, waiting cautiously for the big one to happen right in front of them.
On lap 23, the big one happened. Jory Fleischauer was launched into space by Ian Plasch. Jason Gaboury and Josh Parker were also involved and many drivers sustained heavy damage. With one reset, all four drivers were able to continue the race, despite sustaining heavy damage. Now that the big one has come and gone, what would the Exlander drivers be facing next?
Exlander brainchild Paul Strickland Jr. led the field back to green on lap 28. Before the field could reach the bricks, all hell broke loose yet again. Unlike the wreck 4 laps prior, this wreck was colossal, and mammoth in size. Saying that this wreck was "the big one" seemed like an understatement. The #12 car of Bruce Saltzman got lose in the main pack, collecting Josh Parker. The domino effect ensued, because Parker hit Gaboury. Gaboury hit Caddick. Caddick hit Plasch. By the time this was happening, out of control Saltzman had also collected other cars, including Chris Cunningham who just got his lap back.
Josh Batista believed he was in the right place at the right time. Being the leader, he avoided the two largest wrecks that crippled a majority of the fleet of drivers that started the race. An eight car pileup? Nothing can beat that. Batista led the field to green on lap 33, and for the third time, before they hit the bricks, Batista and Adams connected, collecting nearly the whole field. Derek Cash, Allen Krier, Jory Fleischauer, Paul Strickland Jr, Steve Luvender, Will Bell, Shawn Brant, Connor Mackenzie, and Doug Caddick all were wiped out. It seemed that each wreck seemed to multiply in size. Cars were launched in mid-air, Batista was spinning all over the place, and the fans were on their feet, hoping that their favorite driver would be able to make it through. The only drivers that were able to make it through this 10 car pileup were drivers that had sustained damaged from earlier wrecks and were off the pace.
The tempo of the race shifted as drivers had to vigorously repair their machines and get their car back on the track. With 5 laps to go, the three contenders that emerged were Jon Adams, Allen Krier, and Connor Mackenzie.
Krier led the crippled field to the green with five to go, and before they could make it back to the stripe (I know what your'e thinking), Adams and Mackenzie charged to go three wide. Krier was lifted up, and sent high up the track, forfeiting the lead to Adams and 2nd place to Mackenzie. Despite being involved in several wrecks, Plasch rebounded to reach 4th place, and Mr. "Where did he come from" Chris Swett, who avoided every wreck, was able to solidify 5th place.
Jon Adams continued to lay the blocks on Connor Mackenzie. With one lap to go, Mackenzie tried to dive bomb Adams low, but Adams was ready for the move, and blocked Mackenzie. Connor Mackenzie then hesitated, and almost drove onto the grass on the backstraight. That ruined Mackenzie's run and allowed Jon Adams to take the checkers in the Slam Draftin Radio 150. Allen Krier finished 3rd, Ian Plasch finished 4th, and Christopher Swett rounded out the top 5.
The final five laps provided fans with action that could never be forgotten. Drivers were racing three or four wide. Ten of the eighteen drivers managed to finish the race on the lead lap. The others had to retire as result of the mayhem that ensued over the course of the race. Jon Adams did not win the race easily, but he is surely happy to be the points leader.
Krier, Adams' partnered teammate, who finished in 3rd place behind Connor Mackenzie, stated, "I thought I had the win in hand on that last restart but unfortunately i missed the entry on of turn 1, thus moving me back to 4th but luckily i was able to get past Ian but just ran out of laps in the end to seal the deal".
After the race I was able to catch up to Jon and ask him what lead to his success in winning this prestigious race:
"Yeah, I [drank] plenty of iRacing Bombs before the race went underway, and I just had a feeling I would finish top 3 no matter what".
Adams hopes to continue his success next week at Richmond International Raceway. From Dive bombs to iRacing bombs, stay tuned for next week's race report at Richmond in the Exlander Pro Series.
The only issue for Adams is that there is a bit of a role reversal. His epic win last night turns him from being the hunter, into the hunted.
