Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Flag to Flag at Iowa!

Sometimes everything goes right and allows a race to go caution free. The fact that it is a rarity in online racing just adds to the mystique of the caution free race. It takes a perfect track, with great drivers and patience by all in order to achieve it, but when it happens it is something truly special.

That exact scenario played out at Iowa Speedway, the 7/8th mile tri-oval in Newton, Iowa. In fact the caution free race has only occured three times in the history of the American Sim Racing Series. Let's take a look back at the three events that have gone green to checkered with no interruptions.

June 22, 2006: Craftsman Truck Series, Milwaukee, WI. Jim Foose led all 60 laps from the 2nd starting position after passing pole sitter Chuck Darling going into turn 1. Only three trucks remained on the lead lap at the finish of a race that saw Foose complete the entire event without making a pit stop.

June 5, 2008: Craftsman Truck Series, Fort Worth, TX. Nicholas Teto won the pole for the Texas event, but only led one lap before Jim Foose took the lead away, the only driver that challenged Foose was Skip Honaker, who led 12 laps around the race's mid point before relinquishing the lead to Foose again. Foose drove off with the win in that event as well. While the event did see one caution flag, it was after the white flag flew and did not slow the pace of the race whatsoever as the field raced back to the checkered flag. Again, Foose completed the event without making a pit stop.

July 22, 2008: Outlaw Paintshop All American Series, Newton, IA. Chad Williams won the pole and led the majority of the event, but was challenged by Nicholas Teto who led several times and EJ McDonell the only other driver to complete the entire 75 lap event and finish 2nd. Williams led 59 laps and took the win and for his 2nd in a row in Outlaw Paintshop All American Series.

The caution free racing shows the high quality drivers that flock to ASRS to get their racing fix and the respect that each has for the other competitors. It is simply amazing to see a race go caution free and a whole lot of fun for all. If you aren't signed up for ASRS, you should be!