PGRL S6 W26 Recap

09 April 2024
Pretty Good Racing League | Season 6 | Week 26
Premier Series | Darlington Raceway

The Pretty Good Racing League (PGRL) delivered a thrilling doubleheader at Darlington Raceway for the second week of the playoff season, presenting The Joy of Driving at Darlington 200. Scott Eckrich kicked off the action by securing the pole position for the first race, setting the stage for an intense showdown.

As the green flag waved, Eckrich found himself under immediate pressure from Mike Rasimas in the opening laps. Despite Eckrich’s best efforts to defend his position, Rasimas managed to snatch the lead on lap 6, prompting Eckrich to shift his focus to conserving his equipment for the later stages of the race. Meanwhile, Michael Chrobok stayed within striking distance of Eckrich as Rasimas surged ahead at the front of the pack.

Opting for a two-stop strategy, the majority of the field split the race into thirds, making their pit stops around laps 25 and 50 for fuel and tires. Eckrich executed a strategic move to reclaim the lead from Rasimas on lap 21, just before the first pit cycle began. Chrobok, aiming to undercut Eckrich, led the charge down pit road but found himself unable to gain a significant advantage as Eckrich chased him down before the second pit cycle.

In the closing laps, Chrobok pushed hard to maintain his lead over Eckrich. However, Eckrich demonstrated his prowess, closing in on Chrobok’s rear bumper and ultimately reclaiming the lead with just five laps remaining. With a masterful display of skill, Eckrich surged across the finish line to clinch the checkered flag, securing a stunning victory.

In the second race, with the finishing order inverted, Matt Taylor led the field from the pole position. Despite starting from the back, Eckrich and Chrobok wasted no time making their way through the field as Jeff Ward seized the lead from Rasimas on lap 10. Eckrich, determined to dominate once again, quickly ascended to third place and set his sights on the leaders.

As the laps unfolded, Eckrich continued his relentless pursuit, ultimately wresting the lead from Ward on lap 45. Meanwhile, Chrobok adjusted his pit strategy to mirror Eckrich’s moves, staying within striking distance but unable to challenge for the lead. In a mirror image of the first race, Eckrich stormed across the finish line to complete a perfect sweep at Darlington Raceway.

Despite Eckrich’s dominant performance, Chrobok maintained his firm grip on the points lead, boasting a 54-point advantage over Rasimas. With his two wins, Eckrich climbed to fifth in the standings, setting his sights on closing the 82-point gap to Chrobok.

The excitement continues as PGRL heads to Sonoma Raceway for the next round of the playoffs on Tuesday, April 16th. Fans can catch all the action live at 8:50 PM ET exclusively on the Virtual Grip Network!