While the IceBox Pickup Throwdown Series played host to a bevy of NASCAR’s young guns from the XFINITY and Gander RV and Outdoor Truck Series, Friday night’s IceBox 100 at the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway belonged to a pair of NTT IndyCar Series racers.

As the focus was on the tight championship points battle, the Pickup Throwdown field had their sights set on winning the season finale. Stefan Wilson, an open-wheel racer, drove from his fourth starting spot to the win with a move that was quintessential NASCAR Truck racing.

“I had a helluva good time,” Wilson said. “I enjoyed driving the trucks with this great group of guys. I had a good run through one and two, had the momentum, and I knew I had to get it done right there. I took it in real deep – apologies to Tyler (Hill) for that but it was enough to get me into the lead and I had one lap to not mess up and bring it home for the win.”

Wilson piloted his Toyota Tundra to a memorable victory over Josh Reaume, open-wheel comrade Santino Ferrucci, and NASCAR competitors Ryan Truex and Anthony Alfredo. Certainly, Wilson was impressed by the close action in the Pickup Throwdown Series.

“The realism and progress that iRacing and sim racing has made in the last five years – I haven’t raced since 2015 – that five year period being out of sim racing, I’m blown away by the progress it’s made and how many drivers from the real world are getting involved,” Wilson observed. “It’s such a blast to jump on and drive NASCAR trucks at Homestead in the evening.”

While Wilson won the race, Ferrucci won the Pickup Throwdown championship by six points over Harrison Burton, Ryan Truex, and Tyler Hill.