MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Topping a field of 50 competitors in the inaugural event of the Lucas Oil ASCS eSport Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network, Colton Hardy charged from seventh to win the Virtual 11 Oaks Farm Battle at the Grove in the ASCS iRacing Invitational event on Friday.
Scoring a win for Swindell Speedlab, Hardy gave a tip of the cap to the team for all of their support in getting him ready.
“We have a great group of guys over at the Swindell Speedlab eSports Team and everyone who’s come on like iRacing and Bell Helmets, they’ve really helped me be able to get in this and be competitive.”
Giving chase the first 16 trips around the Williams Grove Speedway, Hardy steadily applied pressure to early race leader Justyn Cox.
Several times held off by the Bearco Redwood No. 7, Colton was able to take over the position off the second turn working lap 17 with Cox reclaiming the advantage down the back straightaway the following lap. Able to slide back to the point off the fourth turn, Tony Gualda followed the No. 41 to take over second.
Steadily putting distance on the No. 99, Gualda had Tanner Holmes in pursuit, as well. Caution lights flashing with five to go, Hardy’s night nearly ended as a trio of cars tangled directly in front of the leaders.
Restarting with fuel running light on the Swindell Speedlab/Bell Helmet No. 41, Hardy kept pace over the race for second as Holmes and Gualda traded the position and began their pursuit of Hardy with the No. 99 steering back into the runner-up spot with three laps to run.
To the white flag, the race for the lead was on.
Diving to the bottom off the second turn, Gualda pulled even with the No. 41 in a drag race down the back straightaway. Still wheel-to-wheel into the final two turns, the Modesto, Cali. shoe drifted towards the No. 41 hoping to force Hardy on the brakes, but the pressure was not enough as Hardy buried the throttle off the cushion to win by 0.239 seconds.
“With the iRacing deal, you’re able to check and see how much fuel you have throughout the race and I kind of got nervous with the yellow came out here with five to go,” stated Hardy of the final dash to the finish.
“I was really trying to save a little bit and barely crossed with just enough so it worked out, but Tony [Gualda], Tanner [Holmes], and Justyn [Cox]…they made me work for it.”
Tony Gualda crossed second with Tanner Holmes completing the night’s podium. Justyn Cox slipped to fourth with Washington’s Chance Crum completing the top five.
The finish:
1. 41-Colton Hardy [7]; 2. 99-Tony Gualda Jr. [5]; 3. 18-Tanner Holmes [8]; 4. 7-Justyn Cox [1]; 5. 83-Chance Crum [15]; 6. 022-Randy Hannagan [17]; 7. 39-Kevin Swindell [19]; 8. 9-Chase Randall [13]; 9. 024-Garet Williamson [22]; 10. 008-Matthew Howard [18]; 11. 011-Austin O’Neal [14]; 12. 211-Kameron Key [12]; 13. 06-Jett Carney [10]; 14. 1-Kelby Watt [11]; 15. 86-Timothy Smith [21]; 16. 10-Kyle Miller [2]; 17. 25-Kyle Spence [16]; 18. 88-Garrett Hulsey [6]; 19. 80-Devon Borden [20]; 20. 79-Billy Rowlee [3]; 21. 881-Joey Ancona [9]; 22. 009-Daison Pursley [4].