By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
Subbing for World of Outlaws Late Model regular Chris Madden, Corey ‘Flash’ Gordon took full advantage of the opportunity.
At the drop of the green flag of FS1’s World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Invitational Late Model race, Gordon jumped to the lead. After making quick work of pole sitter Bobby Pierce, the No. 0m Drydene Performance Lubricants machine never looked back. Gordon extended the lead to nearly two seconds before a late-race caution forced an overtime finish.
Despite the pressure, the Charlotte, N.C. native kept his composure at the virtual Knoxville Raceway. Gordon held off Nick Stroupe and Kaeden Cornell to take the checkered flag with just car lengths to spare. The victory netted the 25-year-old $1,000.
“My heart’s racing, I’m sweating, worn out,” admitted Gordon. “This iRacing’s stuff’s no joke. I hated seeing all of those cautions there at the end, but it was a great race. I got out front, set my own pace, and showed that I like these slick tracks.”
Cornell finished third despite being a part of the final caution that forced the green-white-checkered. Contact with the slower car of Cruz Pedregon forced the late yellow flag with five laps to go.
Ashton Winger and last week’s eNASCAR Saturday Night Thunder winner Logan Seavey rounded out the top-five. Chase Briscoe, Ricky Thornton Jr., Pierce, Sprint Car winner Kevin Swindell, and Kyle Larson rounded out the top-10.
Last week’s Late Model winner Trent Ivey finished 12th. Bubba Wallace, who was a guest in the World of Outlaws iRacing Pro Invitational, finished 16th. Fellow NASCAR Cup Series Austin Dillon, who made his first start in the FS1 Pro Invitational, finished 13th.
Stroupe was the biggest mover of the race, climbing from the 10th starting spot to finish runner-up. Meanwhile Mike McKinney was on the other end of the spectrum, finishing 19th after starting fifth.
The Finish
1. 0m-Corey Gordon [3] ($1,000), 2. 45-Nick Stroupe [10], 3. 50-Kaeden Cornell [4], 4. 12-Ashton Winger [7], 5. 1-Logan Seavey [6], 6. 5-Chase Briscoe [8], 7. 20rt-Ricky Thornton Jr. [11], 8. 32-Bobby Pierce [1], 9. 39-Kevin Swindell [12], 10. 57-Kyle Larson [2], 11. 99-Matty Watkins [17], 12. 88-Trent Ivey [9], 13. 3-Austin Dillon [16], 14. 66-Matt Cosner [19], 15. 9-Devin Moran [14], 16. 76-Bubba Wallace [20], 17. 0-Scott Bloomquist [18], 18. 71-Cruz Pedregon [21], 19. 96-Mike McKinney [5], 20. 2m-Carson Macedo [13], 21. 2h-Nick Hoffman [15].
Lead Changes: One between two drivers.
Lap Leader(s): Bobby Pierce Grid, Corey Gordon 1-41.
Laps Led: Corey Gordon 41.
Hard Charger: 45 – Nick Stroupe (+8).
Cautions: Two for eight laps.
Margin of Victory: 0.235 seconds.
Tim of Race: 16 minutes, 19.173 seconds.
Average Speed: 75.370 mph.