Parker White became an eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series champion for the first time on Tuesday night, taking the checkered flag at a virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The race was held in front of a live audience at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. Racing legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. presented White with a massive trophy — and a bottle of Coke — following his victory.
At the beginning of the final lap, White, in his No. 53 Chevrolet, joined Steven Wilson, Bobby Zalenski and Tucker Minter in the lead. White pulled away from the pack on the back straightaway, and in a last-ditch effort to gain ground on him, Zalenski tapped him from behind.
White briefly drifted into the outside wall but recovered, while Zalenski lost control of his No. 18 Toyota to fall well out of contention. Wilson managed to get back into the mix, but he came nowhere close to threatening White for the title.
White immediately celebrated, and his mother was seemingly in disbelief when she was shown on the race broadcast.
Seven different drivers have come away with a championship over the past seven years. The past six all won the title for the first time.
“Man, Parker did a great job,” Earnhardt said. “He’s racing the greatest sim racers … on iRacing right now, and that was intense. All those guys put it on the line, and he was in a good spot — made some good moves and good choices to take care of himself in those final few corners and was able to pull it out.
“But a great effort by Bobby and the rest of the drivers. They gave it all they had tonight.”
Wilson, in the No. 10 Ford, finished in second, 0.168 seconds behind White. Graham Bowlin (No. 48 Toyota), Wyatt Tinsley (No. 20 Toyota) and Minter (No. 97 Chevrolet) rounded out the top five.
Zalenski settled for 14th.
Williams Esports, led by White, won the team championship, with Joe Gibbs Racing finishing as runner-up.
–Field Level Media
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