VLR'S CHAMPIONSHIP COMES DOWN TO THE WIRE AT ELDORA!
New Weston, OH (6/28/15): 23 cars hauled to the world famous Eldora speedway for VLRs version of the Dirt Late Model Dream held annually at Eldora. There was a tight points battle between SKM_18 and XCR_Orso , two DTR2 veterans, with literally one point separating the two contenders. Orso had never won a VLR championship, but Wheel (SKM_18) has won many in the past (including twelve in a row coming into the latest season). Will we be adding a jewel to a crown tonight, or making a new crown? We'll see as the "Dream 75" qualifying kicks off.
In Qualifying session 1 we saw a VLR member, VLR_JW, winning the pole for the first time this season. The West Point, MS driver was followed by Herrin, Illinois' Orso (X89). Another Illinois driver, rookie ICE_KK, of Chebanse rounded out the top three with an impressive run. Wheel qualified fourth as he looked to turn his one point lead over Orso into his 14th championship at VLR.
In the first qualifying session we saw home-state driver Goldfish, the love him or hate him racer. The racers gathered around the time board and when Goldfish saw his stunning time of 14.018941 (the best qualifying time was 14.035034) wasn't there, he was furious and tried to rally the hometown crowd to his aid. Unfortunately for him, the entire crowd was hammered due to nothing at the concession stand costing over $3.50.
The only thing they were trying to fight was the line at the beer concession trying to buy more Pabst Blue Ribbon. Furthur investigation revealed that Fish actually tried to alter the transponder using his elite hacking skills. It was eventually revealed that his qualifying time was a 27.33 instead of a 14.01. We asked him for a statement, but all he said was the following: "anarchy lol". Yes, he verbally said "lol." After the qualifying drama was over, heats would finally start.
V70, X89, and, ICE_KK were on pole for heats 1, 2, and, 3 respectively. In heat one points competitor SKM_18 won his heat after getting past V70. In heat two, the other points competitor X89 won his heat. And in heat three JFR_Duster won. It's good to see JFR still winning after the team has started to dwindle after a large meth raid took out their fearless leader in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. So now we have the top two points competitors locked in the Amain. They won't start on pole however, due to VLR's reverse average finish format designed to screw over the top performers in the series while giving backmarker cars a chance to raise hell at the front of the field. This should create some interesting racing. After the heats, it was now time for B-Main "action."
We had ICE_KG, and ICE_MB winning the secondaries. After B-Mains were done, the A-Main lineup was announced, and it was an interesting mixture of good ole southern confederates, and rainbow flag loving fairies. On the pole we had the "Illinois Idiot," door-happy ICE_MB. Next was the good ole southern boy "Hickory Hammer" JFR_Duster, then was the Moyer Jr. fanboy and damn Illinois Yankee, ICE_KK.
Next was ICE team leader, and the worst kind of human on the planet, a red headed Illinois Yankee, KingGinger. Following him was the always complaining (even when he wins, and yes, he's killin us) SKM_Smallz, another DAMN YANKEE from the methed up state of Pennsylvania. Next was a Yankee from Michigan, but with the grace and charm of a southern gentleman, BLS_BW (Yes, he was there. Credits to you if you get the reference). After BW was one of the baddest confederate flag waving, tank top wearing, 275 pounds of pure awesomeness that you've ever seen, VLR_JW, the Mississippi Missle. Rolling off 8th was VLR owner and handsome southern sweetheart from Tennessee, VLR_Shock. The final row for the A main comprised the top two drivers in points, and confirmed Rainbow Flag supporting Yankees, Illinois driver XCR_Orso, and Brookfield, Wisconsin's SKM_18. What kind of pitfalls would these two championship contenders run into as they tried to get to the front?
At the start of the 75 lap race MB did a good job of holding off the racers on his spoiler behind him. Twenty laps in Orso battled through traffic and swiped the lead from MB. They battled for a few laps but eventually Orso overtook him using the speedy top line as MB tried unsuccessfully to take the fellow Illinois driver out of the race. Another 15 laps later Wheel took second place from MB, with the two rivals in places one and two. Wheel was closing in on XCR_Orso for the top spot, and this points battle was shaping up to come right down to the final lap.
After Wheel had gained on the leader Orso for a few laps, he began to sputter and fall back from the 89 car. With 15 laps to go Orso had stretched his lead out to a full second, and seemed well on his way to ending Wheel's streak of 12 straight VLR championships dating back all the way to 2009. With every lap it seemed Orso would gain a half-tenth on his already comfortable advantage. Some of the large crowd was already waiting at the top of the grandstands ready to walk out since the race was all but over.
The rest of the racing back in the field had calmed down except for a battle for third place. The race ran caution free until lap 63 of 75, and that is when pole sitter MB slammed the inside retaining wall and spun around. Suddenly Orso's lead evaporated, and he now he had the one guy he needed to beat restarting right next to him. So at the restart the lineup was as follows: 89, 18, KK, V70, BW, KG, Smallz, 97, V0, and MB. Wheel and Orso continued to battle for the entire shootout, the fans were on their feet, even the handicapped ones (kek).
With two to go 18 got a run on Orso on the high side. Orso squeezed up the track trying to give Wheel as little room as possible, but while still being respectable. It didn't work and the white flag flew next corner as SKM_18 had now powered to the lead thanks to the late caution. Orso was within striking distance in turn one but couldn't get it to stick. Orso is riding Wheel's spoiler into 3 trying to pass on the low side, pleasing the people in the pits as he was close the the lower fence while giving it everything he had to not only win the race, but also the championship, all in one swoop.
Coming out of turn four for the final time, Orso couldn't make the pass and Wheel won the Dream 75 and his 14th VLR Championship! The top ten of the amazing race that was a catalysm of the entire season was: 18, 89, V70, KK, KG, BW, Smallz, MB, V0, 97
The fans were eager to hear what the winner and the runner-up wanted to say. Wheel said he wasn't expecting to win, but came out to. About the caution: Wheel said he was lucky to get the caution and not cause it. On the restart he saw Orso take the bottom and was glad of it because he [18] prefers the top, but he said that orso and him can work all lines. He had no fear of slower cars holding up the first row because "there's no place where you can fall off the track". He talked about nerves, and admitted he was a little nervous before the race and the restart, but more excited due to the weight of the situation.
Out of all of Wheel's 14 VLR championships, he said that this season's was the most difficult, and gratifying in his ten year sim racing career. He was down 20 points from the lead earlier in the year, and managed to get his equipment up to part to make an impressive run in the last 6 races, as he won 4 of them. He thanked Buffalo Wild Wings, his teamate Jared Kane (Smallz), and his brother/teamate Dillon. Clearly a humble person and a good sport. Now Orso's turn.
Orso knew that he had to win to secure the championship, and he knew that everyone was worried about lap traffic/slower cars. He was eager to hold on the draft and get up the field ASAP. Near the restart he said that when 18 is in your mirror, you never have it locked up. He was trying to hit good lap times. He mentioned that he wasn't feeling nervous, but he said if he had more practice, and had showed up at one more race he could have had a better chance at winning the championship. He wasn't happy about the caution, but he said that racing is racing and all competitors have to deal with the same issues. Yes, racing is racing. A car flying thorugh the infield fence, then doing 25 donuts in the pits. He was very tempted to pop a tire on purpose so he would win due to VLR's sketchy rules. He had the following people to thank: Scuf Gaming, Main Performance PC, his partner Jason Monchino, and VLR for the racing. We'll see you back next season!