In what looked like a Rick Ware Racing domination day ended with the Ford Mustang of Brad Keselowski taking the checkered flag in Wednesday’s GEICO 70.
Keselowski made a late race pass on RWR’s James Davison to claim his first Pro Invitational iRacing Series win, with Christopher Bell coming home in the second position.
Thanks to the win, Keselowski will receive a $5,000 donation to his Checkered Flag Foundation.
As for the entire race, the first half was not the wild, three-wide pack racing that fans are likely accustomed to. Much of the opening half of the race featured single file racing with James Davison holding a steady hand with teammate Garrett Smithley.
Austin Dillon and William Byron ended up tangling up in the the opening laps, sending the Bass Pro Shops Camaro spinning towards the infield.
Putting @iRacing's damage model to the test early! #GEICO70 pic.twitter.com/xIqpqh9UQE
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 21, 2021
FOX’s Clint Bowyer even found himself in some of the mixture after being turned off the front bumper of Daniel Suarez. The former Stewart-Haas drover jokingly said that Suarez was the newest name on “his list.”
.@Daniel_SuarezG might want to watch his firewall next time he's around @ClintBowyer ?. pic.twitter.com/c1pfBaNgwX
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 21, 2021
As the race progressed past the halfway point, it wasn’t long before the infamous “Big One” would strike, thanks to contact between Corey LaJoie and Denny Hamlin.
Is there a reset for feelings, @iRacing?
Wrecking everywhere in the #GEICO70! pic.twitter.com/0LC5WgC3sm
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 22, 2021
Kyle Larson, fan vote winner Jesse Iwuji, Quin Houff, and Matt DiBenedetto were among those involved.
It wasn’t long for the next wreck was trigged, this time involving fellow FOX Sports in-race reporter Joey Logano. Chase Briscoe got loose in between Hamlin and Larson and an on-rushing Logano frisbeed into the outside retaining wall in Turn three.
Tell us what the moon is like when you come back, @joeylogano. pic.twitter.com/kfXoA2IzcS
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 22, 2021
A late race restart with two laps to go saw Davison fighting off Keselowski, but ultimately the glass slipper would break as the Australian driver fell out on contention in the closing moments. A late race charge from the Joe Gibbs Racing duo of Kyle Busch and Bell wasn’t enough to topple the Team Penske driver. Davison, who led 61 laps, would finish eighth.
CHECKERED FLAG: @keselowski survives and claims the #GEICO70 ?!@GEICO | #ProInvitationalSeries pic.twitter.com/5gKPWPpmnB
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 22, 2021
Next up, the Pro Invitational Series will visit the Darlington Raceway on May 5th.
