In what many in the sim-racing community are calling the final competitive run on the original
two-mile Auto Club Speedway layout after its IRL counterparts demolition, Tommy Gossett
delivered one of the most impressive drives of the season—only to see it end in disappointment.

Running in the O’Reilly Auto Parts livery for Round 2 of Segment 2 (Race 6 overall) of the
eNASCAR Coca-Cola Qualifying Series, Gossett started 28th after failing to set a qualifying time
due to a last-minute technical hiccup in the garage. What followed was a textbook charge
through the field on the high-speed California oval. Using the draft and clean air to his
advantage, the Florida driver methodically picked off positions lap after lap. By the time the field
approached the scheduled green-flag pit stops, Gossett had climbed all the way to fourth place,
running in the lead pack and looking like a legitimate threat for his first top-five of the segment.
“The car was absolutely hooked up,” Gossett said immediately after the race. “We were passing
guys on the high side, low side—wherever we needed to go. It felt like we were going to have
something special once the cycle shook out.”

The complexion of the race changed with a late caution just after the pit stops cycled through.
On the ensuing restart with 18 laps to go, chaos erupted in Turn 3. Another driver, frustrated
after being pinched entering the corner, deliberately turned a competitor, triggering a massive
12-car pileup that collected several frontrunners. Gossett, running in the top 10 on the restart,
had nowhere to go. He was turned sideways in the melee and sustained heavy right-rear
damage. “It’s tough, man,” Gossett later said, “We had a car that could maybe contend for the
win tonight. To get taken out like that on a restart because of someone else’s temper… it stings.
Proud of the effort from the team, though. We’ll be back stronger next race.”

Despite the disappointing finish, Gossett’s early-race pace and ability to advance 24 positions
before the caution drew praise from broadcasters and fellow competitors alike. With Segment 2
still in its early stages, the O’Reilly driver remains firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth when the
Qualifying Series concludes.

Auto Club Speedway, once a staple on the NASCAR Cup schedule and later a favorite among
iRacers for its sweeping turns and high banking, is now considered “extinct” following its
real-world demolition and redevelopment. Tonight’s race served as an unofficial farewell to the
classic configuration that produced countless memorable battles in both real and virtual
stock-car racing.Next up for the eNASCAR Coca-Cola Qualifying Series is Round 3 of Segment
2 on March 25 at Darlington. Gossett and the Ryco sponsored team will look to turn this
heartbreak into momentum as the battle for the playoffs heats up at Darlington.