It’s two to go for the 2023 season Regular Season in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. Next up on the calendar is a trip to New England, more so a trip to New Hampshire for the Maconi Setup Ship 101 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Jimmy Mullis (Rise Esports) was the most recent winner in the series, taking a controversial victory against Garrett Lowe (Jim Beaver Esports) in the closing moments at Nashville Superspeedway. With New Hampshire next on the docket, it could make two-in-a-row for Driver 46 in his push for the playoffs.
As it stands, Bobby Zalenski (Joe Gibbs Racing), Michael Conti (JR Motorsports), Tucker Minter (Team Dillon Esports), Jordy Lopez (Team Dillon Esports), Casey Kirwan (XSET) and Steven Wilson (Stewart-Haas Racing) as the winners locked in, while Nick Ottinger (William Byron Esports), Graham Bowlin (Charlotte Phoenix), Michael Cosey Jr (Front Row Motorsports) and Malik Ray (Jim Beaver Esports) are in as it stands for those on points.
Mullis has the win he needs, but he doesn’t have the points. He’s just five below 20th place, and will need to finish in the Top 20 by the end of the Regular Season to claim a spot.
Two weeks ago at Nashville SS
Controversial finishes have been a theme this season, and Nashville Superspeedway definitely fit that bill. On the final restart, Mullis led on the oldest tires. Back in sixth, Lowe was restarting with two fresh tires and a chance to pass everyone ahead.
As the field took the white flag, Lowe was already up to second and looking for a path around Mullis. Off of Turn 2, Lowe looked low but Mullis slammed that door shut. Into Turn 3, Lowe sent it high and it stuck. Mullis gave it some gas and the two made contact once, twice, and saved it.
Off of Turn 4, Mullis was on Lowe’s bumper and gave him one last shot. It sent the No. 15 into the outside wall and back to third as Mullis took his fist win of 2023 and first win since 2021. Dylan Duval (Stewart-Haas Racing) finished in second.
Race #12 at Nashville SS – Top 10 Results
| FIN | STA | CAR # | DRIVER | TEAM | INTERVAL | LED | PTS |
| 1 | 6 | 46 | Jimmy Mullis | Rise Esports | 104 LAPS | 26 | 40 |
| 2 | 24 | 41 | Dylan Duval | Stewart-Haas Racing | +0.125 secs | 0 | 35 |
| 3 | 14 | 15 | Garrett Lowe | Jim Beaver Esports | +0.158 secs | 0 | 34 |
| 4 | 3 | 7 | Malik Ray | Jim Beaver Esports | +0.319 secs | 9 | 33 |
| 5 | 9 | 55 | Vicente Salas | Williams Esports | +0.382 secs | 15 | 32 |
| 6 | 1 | 25 | Nick Ottinger | William Byron Esports | +0.507 secs | 22 | 31 |
| 7 | 34 | 12 | Garrett Manes | fgrAccel eRacing | +0.541 secs | 0 | 30 |
| 8 | 4 | 97 | Matt Bussa | William Byron Esports | +0.657 secs | 0 | 29 |
| 9 | 35 | 45 | Michael Guest | 23XI Racing | +0.684 secs | 0 | 28 |
| 10 | 5 | 18 | Bobby Zalenski | Joe Gibbs Racing | +0.705 secs | 0 | 27 |
Magic Mile… or Mullis Mile?
While Mullis was a past winner at Nashville SS with the All-Star race in 2021, New Hampshire is where Mullis has succeeded for the last three visits dating back to 2018.
It’s been three-in-a-row for Mullis at the Magic Mile. With a win in the back pocket and points to make up, New Hampshire could prove to be a great points day no matter how it slices.
Other winners at the track include Josh Berry back in 2010, Derek Wood in 2011, Michael Conti (JR Motorsports) with two-in-a-row in 2012 and 2013, Alex Warren in 2014, Logan Clampitt in 2016 and Ryan Luza (XSET) in 2017.
Who else to watch for
If you’re not keeping an eye on Mullis or Lowe for potential continuation of the Nashville feud as well as Jimmy’s quest for four-in-a-row at the track, Conti would be a safe bet as Mullis’s technical teammate at Team Conti.
Although, both Nick Ottinger and Matt Bussa at William Byron Esports and Team Conti will be needing their own wins to lock in their spots into the 2023 eNASCAR Playoffs, so I don’t think they can be counted out either.
Luza’s lone win in the Granite State came in his rookie season, and 2023 has not been kind to the former champion. I would think his XSET teammate Casey Kirwan might be a better shout, as would the other fast drivers at the flat tracks like Tucker Minter and Jordy Lopez at Team Dillon Esports.
Playoff Seeding after Race #12 at Nashville SS
| POS | # | DRIVER | TEAM | PTS | BEH | WINS | T5 | T10 |
| 1 | 18 | Bobby Zalenski | Joe Gibbs Racing | 265 | WIN | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | 8 | Michael Conti | JR Motorsports | 342 | WIN | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| 3 | 33 | Tucker Minter [R] | Team Dillon Esports | 293 | WIN | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | 95 | Casey Kirwan | XSET | 286 | WIN | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | 3 | Jordy Lopez Jr [R] | Team Dillon Esports | 305 | WIN | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | 10 | Steven Wilson | Stewart-Haas Racing | 259 | WIN | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | 25 | Nick Ottinger | William Byron Esports | 319 | +50 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| 8 | 48 | Graham A. Bowlin | Charlotte Phoenix | 283 | +14 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| 8 | 7 | Malik Ray | Jim Beaver Esports | 283 | +14 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| 10 | 38 | Michael Cosey Jr [R] | Front Row Motorsports | 278 | +9 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 11 | 97 | Matt Bussa | William Byron Esports | 269 | -9 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 12 | 12 | Garrett Manes | fgrAccel eRacing | 261 | -17 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 13 | 11 | Parker White [R] | Kanaan Esports | 256 | -22 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Where to Watch
The Countdown to Green, now sponsored by Wendy’s, starts at 8:30 p.m. EDT / 1:30 a.m. BST to bring you up to speed on everything you need to know going into the event. The racing will go green shortly after 9:00 p.m. EDT / 2:00 a.m. BST for the 101-lap event at New Hampshire.
The broadcast will be available at eNASCAR.com/live or on the iRacing social channels.
2023 ENASCAR COCA-COLA IRACING SERIES SCHEDULE
| RACE | DATE | TRACK | LAPS |
| 13 | 25-Jul | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | 101 |
| 14 | 1-Aug | Pocono Raceway | 60 |
| 15 – PO1 | 15-Aug | Michigan International Speedway | 60 |
| 16 – PO2 | 29-Aug | Dover Motor Speedway | 120 |
| 17 – PO3 | 12-Sep | Phoenix Raceway | 120 |
| 18 – C4 | 26-Sep | Homestead-Miami Speedway | 100 |
