Kotska Cruises at the Concrete Jungle

Chicago, IL – Week 19, July 6, 2025
The OBRL YesterYear Racing Cup Series rolled into the virtual streets of Chicago for Round 19 of the season, and what followed was one of the most technically demanding, physically punishing, and mentally exhausting races of the year. With no runoff, no full-course cautions, and no margin for error, the Chicago Street Course turned the field into survivalists — and when the dust settled, Andrew Kotska stood tall, returning from a brief hiatus to dominate the race and claim his fourth win of the season.

From the drop of the green flag, it was clear that racing the track, not the competition, would define this event. The Chicago layout, with its tight turns and relentless concrete barriers, punished every misstep. As one commentator aptly put it, “If you lock the brakes, you’re probably in the wall” — a reality that came true repeatedly over the 90-minute feature.

There were no full-course cautions, meaning every mistake came with full consequence. Those who clipped a wall or spun had to limp around the entire circuit or make a quick pit stop under green, knowing they’d fall multiple positions without the field ever bunching back up.

Among those who felt the sting of the street course early was Daniel Hill, nicknamed “the Trash Man,” who found himself sweeping his own race away after a spin on lap 9 and another costly incident later on. The damage eventually forced him off the track before the checkered flag.

Meanwhile, other drivers took a more cautious approach. Christian Loschen and Daryl Wineinger emerged as consistent podium threats, each navigating the narrow city circuit with grit and discipline. Their duel for second place was among the most exciting elements of the race’s second half, with Weininger eventually settling into third.

Several contenders succeeded in making it to the end without pitting, and their ability to do so while navigating the trickiest corners in sim racing — particularly Turn 1, the fountain complex, and the tight carousel — was a true test of patience and focus. Over-driving any of these sections often led to instant disaster. As fatigue set in, cars became more erratic, the rear ends lively, and tire falloff increasingly punishing.

At the front of it all was Andrew Kotska, who returned to the series with a purpose. His performance at Chicago was nothing short of surgical. After taking the lead early, he methodically built and maintained a gap, avoiding incidents and keeping his marks clean through each of the 12 turns lap after lap. While others scraped the walls or gambled with grip, Kotska managed the new tire model brilliantly, keeping the rear tires underneath him and executing a near-perfect race en route to the win.

“He just didn’t put a wheel wrong all night,” said one of the commentators. “You have to be precise and calm out there, and Kotska made it look easy.”

Behind him, Christian Loschen came home in second after a quiet but consistent run, followed by Daryl Wineinger in third. Tom Ogle and Jerry Isaacs rounded out the top five after solid efforts on one of the series’ most punishing tracks.

With Chicago in the rearview, the series heads to another road course — the sweeping hills of Sonoma Raceway. While not as punishing as Chicago, the track is expected to serve as a wild card round, potentially shaking up the standings with elevation changes, tire wear challenges, and limited passing zones.

The big question: Can anyone stop Kotska’s momentum? Or will Sonoma deliver another unexpected twist in this late-season stretch?