PASS THROUGH THE GRASS: Jackson makes wild pass for DIRTcar eSports Street Stock win
Tuesday’s race at Lernerville Speedway was one of the closest finish in the history of the Series
CONCORD, NC – April 27, 2021 – Tyler Jackson wrote a new definition for the term “go where they aren’t” during Tuesday night’s DIRTcar eSports Chevrolet Performance Street Stock race at Lernerville Speedway.
With nine laps to go, Carl Kilgore left a crack in the doorway to the lead with a patch of grass in the opening. For Jackson, that was good enough. He tossed his #25 underneath Kilgore in Turn 3 and ran his way through the grass to complete the pass off Turn 4.
His daring move secured him the win and the $100 check that comes with it.
Before then, Jackson and Kilgore put on a barnburner throughout the 30-lap iRacing event. Jackson got the early lead and held it for the early portion of the race, but 21 never let him out of his sight.
By the halfway point, Kilgore scared Jackson into moving his line. The #25 ripped the top for the majority of the race, but after Kilgore snuck underneath him the lap prior, Jackson dove to the bottom in Turns 1 and 2 to block Kilgore’s momentum. That moved hindered his run off the corner, though, and gave Kilgore another opportunity to pounce.
When they entered Turn 3, Kilgore dove underneath Jackson and claimed the lead. On the next lap, Jackson’s loss of momentum continued as Payton Gries also dove underneath him and stole second. However, Jackson wasn’t willing to lay down.
He dove underneath Gries in Turns 1 and 2, and the two slammed doors all the way down the backstretch. Jackson’s relentless drive won the battle as he drove back by Gries for second.
The hunt was on. Jackson got his feet back underneath him and began running Kilgore down. A caution with nine laps to go further assisted with his efforts.
When the green flag initiated the continuation of the race, Jackson found the crack in the doorway and went where Kilgore wasn’t – further than anyone had gone. But he wasn’t going to let the win slip through his fingers.
Kilgore fought back, staying on Jackson’s bumper on the final lap and attempting a slide job in Turns 3 and 4 with the checkered flag in the air. Jackson was able to get the better run off the turn and edge Kilgore at the line by 0.097 sec. – one of the closest finishes in DIRTcar eSports Street Stock history.
Due to unfortunate technical difficulties, the winner was unable to be interviewed.
The DIRTcar eSports Street Stock action continues next Wednesday, May 5, with the Chevrolet Performance Street Stocks at Limaland Motorsports Park.
Check out the entire race broadcast livestream for FREE on DIRTVision presented by Drydene or on the DIRTcar Facebook page at 7pm ET.
DIRTcar Racing is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: DIRTVision (Official Live Broadcast Partner), Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game), Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, and NAPA Auto Parts (SDS). Contingency sponsors include: ARP (Automotive Racing Products), ASI Race Wear (SDS), Bassett, Bicknell Racing Products, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux (SDS), Cometic Gasket (SDS), COMP Cams, Drydene, Fast Shafts, Fox Factory (SDS), Arizona Sport Shirts/Gotta Race, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, KSE Racing Products, MSD, Quarter Master, Schoenfeld Headers, Summit Racing Equipment, and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum) (SDS); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Beyea Headers, FireAde, Intercomp, K1 Race Gear, Racing Electronics and Velocita USA.
Sources: Jordan DeLucia, DIRTcar Racing PR