California’s Logan Seavey is considered one of the best up-and-coming young drivers in the world of Sprint Car racing.
The same could be said for his iRacing exploits, something he showed in Wednesday’s inaugural NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws iRacing Invitational.
Sprint Car and Late Model stars converged on their sims to compete at Volusia Speedway Park. In the end, it was the Californian against Pennsylvania Posse member Robbie Kendall, who is from Maryland, with Seavey taking advantage of a late restart to take the win in the 35-lap event and a $1,000 payday.
Seavey started on the pole of the main event and led the first three circuits before a charging Jamie Ball made contact with the leader. Ball took over the top spot, with Seavey falling to fifth.
The first caution came out on Lap 7, when Tony Gualda got into Kyle Larson and ran over his car multiple times. When the race went back to green on Lap 11, Robbie Kendall went from third to first and was cruising in front of the field.
But, Seavey wasn’t done. Instead of hitting the escape button, he went after the frontrunners. He got up to third and reeled in Chase Briscoe, who was running second.
While Kendall continued to lead, Seavey and Briscoe traded the second spot four times between laps 27 and 29. Seavey took the spot just before Mitchell Faccinto got upside down on the tricky Volusia surface.
The restart belonged to Seavey. Kendall went low on the restart, and the Golden State ace pulled a slide job entering Turn 1 and pulled in front. Kendall attempted to go to the outside of Turn 2, but the Posse driver was out of room and scraped the fence.
“It was tough,” Seavey said. “I figured Robbie was going to go block, and I think he made a mistake on the restart going so low.
“I was able to get enough of a run and get by, and it was for $1,000, and I knew he was going to try and get to the outside. It was a heck of a finish.”
Said Kendall, “I screwed up, and that’s what it came down to. I took less fuel and was saving it for the end, and I just saved enough.”
Pennsylvania Posse member Brett Michalski, who was flying Wicked Energy Gum colors, finished third. Knoxville Raceway regular Austin McCarl was fourth, followed by NASCAR star Christopher Bell.
“I can’t complain,” Michalski said. “This was a lot of fun. I’m happy to make the Pennsylvania Posse proud.
“I have a decent amount of laps. I mainly run 360s but when this came up, I figured why not run 410s. I have to thank Wicked Energy Gum and Wicked Cushion for sponsoring my car tonight.”
McCarl started 19th and finished fourth to earn $125 for being hard charger. Seavey set fast time for the night and won a heat race. Other heat winners were Chase Johnson, Jamie Ball, Robbie Kendall, and Bill Balog.
Trent Ivey won the E-Main, with Carson Macedo taking top honors in the D-Main. Parker Price-Miller won the C-Main, and Tony Gualda captured the B-Main.
Sprint Car Feature Finish, 35 Laps: 1. Logan Seavey; 2. Robbie Kendall; 3. Brett Michalski; 4. Austin McCarl; 5. Christopher Bell; 6. David Gravel; 7. Randy Hannagan; 8. Troy Wagaman Jr.; 9. Chase Briscoe; 10. Tony Gualda; 11. Jamie Ball; 12. Brian Brown; 13. Mitchell Faccinto; 14. Bill Balog; 15. Corey Gordon; 16. Kade Higday; 17. Chase Johnson; 18. Kevin Swindell; 19. Kyle Larson; 20. Aaron Reutzel.