MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Ryan Preece and Landon Cassill became the final two drivers to advance to the NBC eSports Short Track iRacing Challenge finale Wednesday thanks to victories at virtual Myrtle Beach Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Briscoe and Parker Kligerman were granted provisionals for Thursday’s 90-lap finale at virtual Martinsville Speedway, bringing the field for the race to 10 competitors.
William Byron, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin had previously earned starting positions in Thursday’s finale.
In the first race on Wednesday, Preece took the lead with 17 laps left and held off Earnhardt to pick up the victory and advance to Thursday’s finale.
The second raw saw the field inverted, with Myatt Snider starting on the pole. In a strategic move Snider dropped to the rear of the field as soon as the green flag was waved, giving the lead to Cassill.
That proved to be the wrong move as Cassill would lead the rest of the way to collect the victory and advance to the finale over Timmy Hill.