Bobby Zalenski wins the Chicago Street Course of the Coke Series again

Brian Mercurio finished 18th in the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, replacing Collin Bowden.

TONIGHT’S ACTION

For the second time this season, series officials have split the race into two sections: a 15-lap sprint race and a 30-lap main race. This format was previously used at Brands Hatch in England, the other street circuit on the 2024 eNCCiS calendar.

The top eight drivers in qualifying before the sprint race earned points for the series, with Salas receiving eight points for the fastest time, down to one point for White in eighth place. The top eight’s places were then swapped for the sprint race, meaning White started from pole.

SPRINT RACING

White led the field until the green flag, but didn’t stay there long as Zalenski passed and led the first lap. Behind him, several multi-car crashes on Lap 1 shook up the order in the midfield.

Zalenski and White quickly emerged as the riders to beat, outpacing third-place Wilson by over two seconds and losing another four seconds to Dylan Duval in fourth.

With White close behind, Zalenski led the entire lap and secured the best starting position for the main race. White remained second, followed by Wilson, Duval and Kirwan.

Main race

Zalenski and White started the 30-lap race on the front row. They stayed side-by-side for the first half of the opening lap until Zalenski passed White in Turn 6 to take the lead.

Meanwhile, both Darik Bourdeau and Timmy Holmes ran into trouble early on and had to be virtually towed back to the pit lane.

As the drivers passed the halfway mark, Zalenski remained in the lead with White just a few car lengths behind. Wilson was within striking distance in third place, just 1.5 seconds behind the two leaders.

Since everyone could complete the course on one tank of fuel, pit strategy was crucial throughout the evening.

Thanks to these precautions and no full-course cautions, the race ran under green until the finish. White stayed close to Zalenski the entire time, but was unable to find a way past as Zalenski led every lap on his way to the win.

POINTS STANDING (TWO RACES LEFT IN THE REGULAR SEASON)

Malik Ray and Keegan Leahy have both won this season but are currently outside the top 20 in points.

NEXTUP

The eNCCiS returns in two weeks on Tuesday, July 16 for 60 laps of the virtual Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Race coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. with “Countdown to Green,” followed by the green flag from The Brickyard shortly after 8 p.m. on enascar.com/live, youtube.com/iracingofficial and twitch.tv/iracing.