iRacing - Stout Wins, Dalton Captures Series Title!

[Troy Dalton]

iRacing News - Lime Rock Park 50

This week the Champion Motorsports iRacing Series headed to Lime Rock Park for the final race of the Late Model Tour. Four weeks ago, Mike Swanson was atop the Championship standings and he held a fairly commanding thirteen point lead over Troy Dalton. Unfortunately for Swanson, he contracted a serious case of Triskaidekaphobia (Fear of the #13) and Dalton took full advantage of Swanson's absence at Martinsville. Dalton's outstanding performance at Martinsville earned him his second win of the season and he left the track with a slim one point lead.


Mike Swanson on the pole, leading field to the green flag.


Martinsville was indeed a major turning point, but the following race at Summit Point would play a significant role in determining the series champion. The turn one crash involving Swanson and pole sitter Charles Stout, would be prove to be very costly for Swanson and not even Stout's heroic victory could prevent Dalton from improving his point lead. When the series left Summit Point, Dalton had increased his lead to six points over Swanson. Not an insurmountable lead by any stretch, but Dalton's consistent top three finishes would require a nearly perfect weekend from Swanson in the final event of the season.


Eventual winner Charles Stout lurks in the background as Mike Swanson leads the field.


As the field lined up for qualifying, it was clear that Swanson, Stout, and Dalton would all have a shot at the pole and the valuable two points that went along with it. However, armed with the knowledge that the math was on his side and having never won a pole in the series, Dalton decided to play a little strategy. By not qualifying, Dalton would have to start from the back of the grid, but this would set him up to earn a point for the "Hard Charger" award. When Swanson took the pole by a slim one one-hundreth of a second over Stout, Dalton's strategy seemed well founded. However, there is a price to be paid when you start from the back of the grid and Dalton would soon find out what that cost would be.


Troy Dalton in the #4 and Scott Bennett tangle early.


When the green flag fell, Swanson held the lead, but on the subsequent lap, Stout made a great pass heading into turn one and took over the point. At the time, the pass seemed inconsequential, but Stout...and if you'll pardon the pun...was indeed "Stout" all race long. The always consistent Stout laid down one quick lap after another and eventually went on to capture his third win of the season. Meanwhile, further back on the grid, Dalton was busy dodging flying sheet metal, as John Hyatt crashed hard climbing the hill up from West Bend. Shortly thereafter, Dalton would once again find himself behind a spinning Monte Carlo, but this time he wouldn't be so lucky. Scott Bennett lost control on the exit of "Diving Turn" and Dalton inexplicably collected him as he came back across the track.


Dalton working hard to stay on the lead lap.


Luckily for Dalton, he was very near the pit entrance and after some quick repairs, he was able to rejoin the fray just ahead of Stout on the tail end of the lead lap. Desperate to stay on the lead lap, Dalton pushed the Monte Carlo hard, but Stout was quicker and Dalton was eventually forced to let him by. John Hyatt suffered another crash, as did Bennett and when Scott Bennett was forced to retire on "Lucky" lap thirteen, Dalton was assured of the Late Model Series Title. With two laps remaining, Stout let Dalton get his lap back and the final running order was Stout, Swanson, Dalton, Bennett, and Hyatt.


Official Results


It was an exciting and entertaining end of the series! Thanks to all the competitors that competed in the Late Model Series and we look forward to seeing everyone in two weeks, when the V8 Supercar Series kicks off on Wednesday the 5th of May.


OFFICIAL RESULTS


CURRENT SEASON STANDINGS



Note: All photo's curtousy of Mike Swanson.