SMASH HQ iRacing Truck Series: Justin Michael Dominates Las Vegas
- SMASH
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 28
By SMASH HQ — March 28, 2026
Las Vegas delivered — and one driver made it clear he wasn’t there to mess around.
Justin Michael (#87) put on a statement drive Friday night, taking control early and never giving it back, leading the majority of the race and securing a decisive win in the SMASH HQ Truck Series, broadcast live on Slingshot TV.
In a field packed with 29 drivers, this wasn’t just a win — it was a separation moment.
A Race Controlled from the Front
Starting from the pole, Justin Michael wasted no time setting the tone.
Led 76 laps
Maintained consistent pace throughout long green flag runs
Managed traffic cleanly in one of the most crowded races of the season
Las Vegas is known for exposing weaknesses — tire wear, discipline, and decision-making all come into play.
Justin Michael showed strength in all three.
Cautions, Pressure, and Race Control Review
The race wasn’t without its moments.
Several yellow flags throughout the night tightened the field and created high-pressure restarts — where races are often won or lost.
With a large field and aggressive racing in the pack, there were multiple on-track incidents that impacted positioning across the grid.
SMASH HQ Race Control will be reviewing these incidents post-race.
This includes:
Restart behavior
Contact in traffic
Situational awareness in multi-truck battles
The goal is simple — maintain the standard.
SMASH HQ is not built on chaos or guesswork.
It’s built on accountability, clean racecraft, and consistency.
Drivers can expect that standard to be enforced as the season progresses.
Battle Behind the Leader
While the lead was controlled, the fight behind him stayed tight all race long.
Top 5 Finishers:
Justin Michael (#87)
Jonny Rapp (#52)
Randy Bechedel (#51)
Jeffrey Parker (#19)
Jeffrey Stanton (#61)
From P2 through P10, the field was separated by seconds — not laps — showing just how competitive this league is getting early in the season.
Midfield Chaos and Survival
With 38 trucks on track, traffic was constant.
Drivers were forced to:
Navigate tight racing lines
Manage tire falloff under pressure
Avoid mistakes that could end their race instantly
Some drivers moved forward.Some struggled to keep pace.Others simply fought to survive.
Broadcast Spotlight: Slingshot TV
Friday night’s race was brought to life by Slingshot TV, delivering a clean, professional broadcast that captured the intensity of the Truck Series from start to finish.
From the opening green flag to the checkered, the coverage highlighted:
Key battles throughout the field
Strategic moments during long runs
The dominance of the race leader
As the season continues, Slingshot TV remains a major part of showcasing SMASH HQ competition at the highest level.
Watch the Full Replay
Think the results tell the story?
They don’t.
👉 Watch the full race on Slingshot TV:
A Statement Early in Season 1
Two races in, and the standard is already taking shape.
This wasn’t a wreck-filled lottery.This was a race that rewarded:
Consistency
Control
Execution
And that’s exactly what SMASH HQ is built on.
Final Word
Las Vegas didn’t just give us a winner — it gave us a benchmark.
Justin Michael didn’t steal this race.He owned it.
But behind the scenes, the standard is still being defined — and enforced.
As SMASH HQ continues to grow, so does the expectation.
Race hard. Race clean. Earn your spot.
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