ROSSBURG, OH (August 27, 2024) - The 17th Annual Schaeffer’s Oil VLR Spring Fling delivered a night of upsets and a historic finish Tuesday at the virtual Eldora Speedway. In a race that defied all expectations, Joey Lingron, a relative newcomer making his VLR debut, stunned the iRacing world, conquering a field of seasoned veterans with a smooth, calculated drive to claim the prestigious title and the $6,000 grand prize.
The 100-lap feature began as many predicted, with Logan Herbert, starting third, rocketing to the lead and building a commanding five-second advantage. The rest of the field seemed destined to battle for second. But a caution involving the leader on lap 30 changed everything.
As Herbert attempted to lap Dylan Wilson, the two cars made contact, sending Wilson hard into the wall and blowing his right front tire. The incident triggered a controversial end-of-line penalty for Herbert, sending the race-long leader to the back of the lead lap.
The call ignited a firestorm of debate. Opinions were split, with some arguing it was a racing incident while others believed Herbert deserved the penalty. Race director Stephen Kalivoda defended his decision after the race. “I have to maintain credibility being in charge of an $18,000 race,” Kalivoda stated. “If you break the rules, even unintentionally, there are consequences. In Logan's case, he made contact with a lap car. That’s part of the game.”
Herbert's misfortune, however, opened the door for an unlikely hero.
Joey Lingron, running a quiet second after starting sixth, suddenly found himself leading the biggest race of his iRacing career. The driver who had entered the night happy just to make the main event now faced down a field of iRacing's elite, a $6,000 prize, and the prestigious Spring Fling title hanging in the balance.
Lingron, unfazed by the pressure, revealed a driving style honed in the iRacing Sprint Car ranks. He carved a smooth, precise path along the high line, his car seemingly glued inches from the outside wall, without faltering.
While other drivers battled tire wear and inconsistency, Lingron's smooth, calculated approach allowed him to maintain both speed and tire life.
"My real-life racecraft kind of kicked in during those restarts," Lingron explained. "I just had to keep them guessing."
As the laps clicked away, the pre-race favorites faded in Lingron's wake. Two-time Spring Fling champion Blake Matjoulis, while running second, got caught up in a tangle with Koulten Herbert on a late restart, ending his hopes for a third title. Even Evan Seay, last years Fling champion and the dominant winner of prelim server one, fell victim to the chaos, ending his night in 20th place after taking contact from Caleb Durgan.
A Final Restart, a Gutsy Move, and a Cinderella Finish
With five laps to go, a caution set the stage for a final four-lap shootout. Lingron, facing a hard-charging Koulten Herbert and Hayden Tollison, knew this was his moment of truth.
Koulten Herbert, showing impressive speed, got a perfect start alongside Lingron, but Lingron, refusing to relinquish the position, made a daring move. He dove to the inside of Herbert in Turn 2, sliding just inches in front of Herbert, leaving Herbert and Tollison to battle it out for second.
Lingron never looked back. He crossed the finish line first, three car lengths ahead of Tollison, a champion in his first-ever VLR event, his name forever etched in sim racing history.
"I'm speechless," an overwhelmed Lingron declared in victory lane. "This is my biggest win ever, including real life races. Everything is a kudos to the Matjoulis-Seay Speed Shop setups."
Hayden Tollison, who started 20th, capped off a remarkable run with a second-place finish. "I was being patient early, trying to save my tires and be there at the end," Tollison said. "We got lucky with some cautions and made our way to the front. To finish second in the Spring Fling is a huge accomplishment for me."
Koulten Herbert, despite his valiant efforts on the final restart, settled for a strong third-place finish, proving that he continues to improve as one of the top drivers in sim racing.
The 17th Annual Schaeffer's Oil VLR Spring Fling was night of unexpected twists, thrilling battles, and a historic upset that will forever be remembered as the year Joey Lingron, the VLR Rookie, conquered the virtual Eldora Speedway for $6,000.