BROOKLYN, Mich. – Bobby Labonte edged Santino Ferrucci to win the IROC Super Late Model Invitational at Michigan Int’l Speedway during week five of Wednesday Night iRacing on FS1.
In a wild, three-wide photo finish, Labonte came from third at the white flag to nip both Ferrucci and Elliott Sadler at the stripe, with a final margin of victory of just .007 seconds.
Labonte got to Ferrucci’s inside in turns three and four and dipped two wheels into the infield grass coming down the frontstretch to the finish line, but managed to maintain control for the victory.
It was Labonte’s first Wednesday Night iRacing win during the fifth week of the series on FS1.
“Man, I was really worried all the way up until I crashed in turn one after the (checkered) flag,” Labonte said. “I didn’t know what had happened or if we had won the race, but that was a ton of fun. It was a close call at the end, for sure, but glad to get this one and it was a wild last few laps.”
Ferrucci just edged Sadler for the runner-up spot, with the top three finishers covered by a scant .017 seconds at the finish.
Scott Speed was fourth and two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch crossed fifth.
Polesitter Juan Pablo Montoya, Kevin Harvick, Ron Capps, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Cruz Pedregon filled out the top 10 in an 18-lap sprint that featured nine lead changes among seven different drivers.
In true, parity-filled IROC fashion, six of the 16 starters led at least one lap during the event.
Chase Briscoe, who led the first three laps and appeared to have the fastest car in the field, was turned off the front bumper of Ford teammate Kevin Harvick and crashed in turn one to bring out the only caution flag of the race. Briscoe ultimately finished 11th.
The results:
1. 44-Bobby Labonte [4], 2. 18-Santino Ferrucci [14], 3. 10-Elliott Sadler [6], 4. 41-Scott Speed [15], 5. 51-Kyle Busch [13], 6. 6-Juan Pablo Montoya [1], 7. 4-Kevin Harvick [3], 8. 29-Ron Capps [9], 9. 28-Ryan Hunter-Reay [7], 10. 71-Cruz Pedregon [12], 11. 98-Chase Briscoe [2], 12. 24-David Gravel [8], 13. 45-Patrick Long [16], 14. 14-Tony Kanaan [5], 15. 16-Greg Biffle [10], 16. 12-Will Power [11].
Lead Changes: Nine among seven drivers
Lap Leaders: Juan Pablo Montoya Grid, Chase Briscoe 1-3, Elliott Sadler 4-7, Bobby Labonte 8-9, Elliott Sadler 10-11, Kyle Busch 12, Santino Ferrucci 13-14, Scott Speed 15, Santino Ferrucci 16-17, Bobby Labonte 18.
Laps Led: Elliott Sadler 6, Santino Ferrucci 4, Chase Briscoe 3, Bobby Labonte 3, Kyle Busch 1, Scott Speed 1
Caution Flags: One for four laps
Margin of Victory: .007 seconds
Time of Race: 15 minutes, 8.903 seconds
Average Speed: 142.589 mph