Matt Wagner Dominates Iowa, Holds Off Forsythe and Herrick in Round 12

Newton, IA — The 12th round of the Sim Gaming Expo’s ISR Retro Series took the Lotus 79s to Iowa Speedway for a 75-minute battle on the 7/8-mile oval. Known for its progressive banking, bumpy surface and ground-effect aerodynamics, Iowa presented a unique challenge for the field as the drivers battled to keep the high-powered open-wheel machines planted while managing tire wear. With David Sirois entering the event with the championship title nearly certain, the fight for the race victory remained wide open.

Matt Taylor led the field to the green flag, but David Sirois quickly established himself as the dominant force in the opening stages. The Quebec road racer adapted once again to the oval and proceeded to lead the first 49 laps, with a strong front group forming behind him that included Matt Wagner, Craig Forsythe, Taylor and Michael Goodman. The racing was fast and physical over Iowa’s bumps, forcing drivers to be careful about bottoming out the Lotus 79s. Vern Hawkins produced one of the more impressive early saves after a violent wiggle following contact with Christopher Ragan, while Lionel Calisto began another trademark charge from the back of the field after failing to set a qualifying time.

As the race approached the halfway point, pit strategy became increasingly important. The combination of high speeds and heavy right-front tire wear suggested that three stops would likely be necessary, although some drivers hoped they could stretch their fuel and tires enough to make a two-stop strategy work. Sirois was the first of the leaders to make his way onto pit road, prompting speculation from the broadcast team that he was either attempting to save fuel or had simply used too much while leading the field. As the various pit cycles unfolded, Garry Lovern and Lionel Calisto briefly moved into contention by extending their fuel runs, but the final strategy cycles eventually put Matt Wagner and Craig Forsythe at the head of the field.

Wagner’s advantage grew once he found himself in clean air. Rather than having to follow another car and deal with the turbulent air that could cause the Lotus 79 to push and chew through its right-front tire, Wagner was able to run his preferred line and carefully manage the car. The strategy paid enormous dividends as he eventually stretched his advantage to roughly seven seconds over the chasing pack. Behind him, the battle for the remaining podium positions remained much closer, with Forsythe trying to maintain his position while Jim Herrick began putting together an impressive late-race charge.

The race took another turn when Mike Rigney endured a lengthy pit stop that effectively removed him from contention. Herrick, meanwhile, had successfully double-stinted his tires and was able to use the fresher track conditions and his preserved rubber to move through the field. As the 75-minute clock wound down, Wagner remained comfortably in control, eventually taking the white flag after leading 116 laps. The fight for second, however, went right down to the final corner as Forsythe fought to keep Herrick behind him.

Matt Wagner crossed the finish line to secure the Round 12 victory, capping a dominant performance built around clean air, tire conservation and consistency. Craig Forsythe held on for second, while Jim Herrick completed the podium with a strong third-place finish after his late charge. Chris Stofer finished fourth, with Lionel Calisto rounding out the top five after his impressive drive from the back of the field.

In the post-race interviews, Wagner credited Forsythe with providing the clean-air opportunity that allowed him to control the race, noting that he did not even need to change his tires during the second half of the event. Forsythe admitted that tire wear had been his biggest challenge throughout the race and that he was changing his right-front tire at nearly every stop. Herrick was delighted with his podium result, pointing to the cooler track temperatures as a major factor in allowing him to preserve his tires and make his late push toward second. The ISR Retro Series now turns its attention toward Long Beach, where the Lotus 79s will trade Iowa’s short oval for the very different challenge of a street circuit.