ROSSBURG, Ohio – Cannon McIntosh survived a final-lap slider from a hard-charging Daison Pursley to win Thursday night’s AMSOIL USAC iRacing Challenge presented by NOS Energy Drink finale at Eldora Speedway.
McIntosh led late as Pursley, the winner of each of the last three USAC-sanctioned iRacing events, made a beeline to the front from the 21st starting position.
Pursley was one of four individuals opting to take on the Back Row Challenge sponsored by The Frolic and Rattlesnake Paint & Beer Disposal. He, Logan Seavey, Tony Gualda and Aiden Purdue, were each after a $500 bonus in addition to the $500 top prize.
Initially, second-running Kaidon Brown wadded it up in turn one on the first attempt coming to the white flag.
Under the ensuing yellow, mayhem ensued as now second-running Pursley spun on the back straightaway when his steering wheel disconnected.
He gathered it up and kept on going, however.
On the final attempt on the final lap, McIntosh changed it up by going topside. Pursley took the opportunity to throw the slider on McIntosh in turn one. McIntosh responded by turning down back under Pursley, went down the hill in turn two and retook the top spot.
Meanwhile, Zeb Wise got underneath Pursley on the bottom of turn three for the runner-up spot as McIntosh picked up the victory ahead of Wise and Pursley, making it an all Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports top three.
Seavey and Gualda rounded out the top-five.
McIntosh collected a $500 top prize, Wise claimed $300 for second, Pursley took $200 for third and Seavey scored $100 for fourth, while Pursley added another $100 for being the night’s hard charger.
All prize money was courtesy of Baldwin Brothers Racing, Hayward Motorsports, Petry Motorsports, TOPP Motorsports and Flowdynamics.
The finish:
1. Cannon McIntosh, 2. Zeb Wise, 3. Daison Pursley, 4. Logan Seavey, 5. Tony Gualda, 6. Anton Hernandez, 7. Carson Sousa, 8. Brady Bacon, 9. Aiden Purdue, 10. Justin Grant, 11. Isaac Chapple, 12. Evan Mosley, 13. Colby Johnson, 14. Ryan Bernal, 15. Kaidon Brown, 16. Mario Clouser, 17. Robert Dalby, 18. Jake Neuman, 19. Kevin Thomas Jr., 20. Joe Wirth, 21. Chase Johnson, 22. Korbyn Hayslett, 23. Tyler Courtney, 24. Clinton Boyles.