iRacing Acquires NASCAR Team Properties’ Exclusive Simulation-Style Console Racing Game License

iRacing Acquires NASCAR Team Properties’ Exclusive Simulation-Style Console Racing Game License

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 5, 2023) – NASCAR®, iRacing and Motorsport Games Inc. (NASDAQ: MSGM) (“Motorsport Games”) announced today that iRacing has acquired NASCAR Team Properties’ (NTP) exclusive simulation-style console racing games license from Motorsport Games.

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NASCAR Cup Series: Kansas Speedway Marks The Midway Point Of The Playoffs’ Round Of 16

NASCAR Cup Series:  Kansas Speedway Marks The Midway Point Of The Playoffs’ Round Of 16

After an eventful NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs opener at the historic Darlington Raceway, the 16 postseason contenders turn their attention to the only 1.5-mile track in the round – Kansas Speedway – for the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, September 10 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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eNASCAR iRacing Driver Ryan Doucette Looking to Make First Career NAPA Spring Sizzler Start

eNASCAR iRacing Driver Ryan Doucette Looking to Make First Career NAPA Spring Sizzler Start

(Stafford Springs, CT)—When Stafford Speedway drops the green flag on the 51st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler®, scheduled for April 29-30, Framingham, MA native Ryan Doucette will be looking to qualify for “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” with the #55 All Phases Renovations team owned by his father, Joe.

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2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Season Kicks Off Tuesday at Daytona

2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Season Kicks Off Tuesday at Daytona

The premier stock car sim racing series in the world gets underway for its 14th season on Tuesday night, as the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series heads to Daytona International Speedway to kick off the chase for a more than $330,000 prize pool. The green flag flies at www.eNASCAR.com/live at 9 p.m. ET on February 14, with Countdown to Green coverage immediately preceding the race. (more…)

2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Season Kicks Off Tuesday at Daytona Read More

fgrACCEL Launches eRacing Division to Compete in eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series

fgrACCEL Launches eRacing Division to Compete in eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series

MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Get ready for some high-octane virtual racing action, as fgrACCEL, a full-service sports marketing and management agency, launches their official eRacing team – fgrACCEL eRacing! The team will be participating in the entire 2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series with a two-car team, starting with the virtual season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14, 2023. (more…)

fgrACCEL Launches eRacing Division to Compete in eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Read More

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Championship Held Live at NASCAR Hall of Fame

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Championship Held Live at NASCAR Hall of Fame

Daytona Beach, FL (October 6, 2022) – NASCAR and iRacing announced the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series will stage an in-person event for the first time in series history as part of its 2022 season finale on Tuesday, October 25. The series’ Championship 4 drivers will compete live at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte for the rights to take home the series title and $100,000. The 36 remaining drivers in the field will compete from their homes.

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eNASCAR College iRacing Series Back in Session with Four-Race Fall Schedule

eNASCAR College iRacing Series Back in Session with Four-Race Fall Schedule

Daytona Beach, FL (July 20, 2022) – NASCAR continues to expand into the fast-growing world of college esports, announcing the fall season of its eNASCAR College iRacing Series. The four-race schedule kicks off at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday, September 20 with students eligible to qualify for the season-opener through a 10-day time attack window. (more…)

eNASCAR College iRacing Series Back in Session with Four-Race Fall Schedule Read More

Keegan Leahy and Mitchell deJong Return to 23XI Racing

Keegan Leahy and Mitchell deJong Return to 23XI Racing

Leahy Set to Defend 2021 eNASCAR iRacing Series Title

Mooresville, NC (Jan. 31, 2022) – Ahead of the 2022 eNASCAR iRacing Series season, 23XI Racing announced today that defending champion Keegan Leahy and Mitchell deJong will return to the team for their second season of competition. In 2021, 23XI Racing captured the team championship in its first year with each driver winning during the season and Leahy earning the driver championship. (more…)

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eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Returns with New Tracks in 2022

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Returns with New Tracks in 2022

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 13, 2022) – New tracks are set to debut in the 13th season of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series with drivers competing on virtual circuits that more closely mirror the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Six tracks make a first-time appearance on the 19-race calendar, including the much-anticipated Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which opens the season with an exhibition race on Tuesday, February 1. (more…)

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Keegan Leahy Clinches 2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Championship

Keegan Leahy Clinches 2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 13, 2021) – Keegan Leahy outlasted the Championship 4 field at virtual Texas Motor Speedway on Tuesday night, clinching his first eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series championship in a thrilling close to the 2021 season. With a total purse of more than $300,000 in play for the season, Leahy took home the champion’s share of $100,000 by taking the checkered flag.

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Keegan Leahy Clinches 2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Championship Read More

NASCAR Cup Series News & Notes – Richmond Raceway

NASCAR Cup Series News & Notes – Richmond Raceway

Richmond Raceway has been known by several different names and has been reconfigured several times over the years of its existence, but all the while it has been a staple on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule since 1953. This weekend’s race, the TOYOTA OWNERS 400 (April 18 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is looking to add the historic prestige that Richmond has built over the decades of great on-track competition and with how this season has been shaking out it shouldn’t disappoint. (more…)

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Stewart-Haas eSports Announces Drivers for 2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series

Stewart-Haas eSports Announces Drivers for  2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Jan. 12, 2021) – Stewart-Haas eSports, the simracing extension of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), has named its two drivers for the 2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series – Dylan Duval and Graham Bowlin.

Duval returns to Stewart-Haas eSports for a second straight season. The 25-year-old from Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the first Canadian iRacing winner in series history, taking the checkered flag at virtual Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2016. Duval has made 93 starts in his eight-year career, scoring nine top-five and 25 top-10 finishes while earning a best points result of fifth in 2016.

“I’m extremely proud to be back with Stewart-Haas eSports,” said Duval, who is a graphic designer when not competing in iRacing events. “It meant the world when they picked me last year and it’s really encouraging to know that this team has my back. They believe in my ability to run up front and I’m ready to show they made the right decision in having me return for a second season.”

New to Stewart-Haas eSports is Bowlin, a Texas native who was a rookie in the 2020 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. The 18-year-old from Houston finished 11th in the championship standings for Joe Gibbs Racing. He earned two poles and notched two top-fives and six top-10s with 90 laps led. Bowlin also scored a non-points victory in the All-Star Race at virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway.

“I’m genuinely excited to join Stewart-Haas eSports,” said Bowlin, a senior in high school. “I have high expectations for this season and I think that being paired with Dylan makes our team really strong.”

Bowlin will race Stewart-Haas eSports’ No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang and Duval will pilot the team’s No. 41 Ford Mustang.

Smithfield has increased its involvement with Stewart-Haas eSports in 2021. The American food company with a global reach will be prominently featured on Bowlin’s No. 10 Ford Mustang for every race and will be the presenting sponsor of Stewart-Haas eSports LIVE, the team’s exclusive, in-race onboard stream. Smithfield will also present a weekly track overview that will be shared across the Stewart-Haas Racing and Stewart-Haas eSports social media accounts.

“To amplify our 10th consecutive year of sponsorship within the sport, Smithfield is expanding its involvement by becoming more active in the esports space through our overall partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Tim Zimmer, Chief Marketing Officer, Smithfield. “We’re proud to support the emerging esports initiative within the industry and are thrilled to take this next step with Stewart-Haas eSports and Graham Bowlin.”

The 2021 season marks the 12th year of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and it is the only officially sanctioned esports series of NASCAR. The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series features the top-40 paved oval simracers in the world competing in racecar replicas engineered from the ground up in cooperation with real-world race teams, applying accurate mechanical and dynamic models on exact copies of NASCAR’s greatest venues.

The schedule for the 2021 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series will be released at a later date.

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RCR Event Preview – Virtual Talladega Superspeedway

RCR Event Preview – Virtual Talladega Superspeedway
Richard Childress Racing at Talladega Superspeedway … Richard Childress began his driving career at Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 and is in a tie for the most all-time car owner victories at the storied Alabama-based race track with 12 NASCAR Cup Series wins. He also owns two additional wins at the track as a car owner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the ARCA Racing Series. This weekend marks a new chapter for RCR at Talladega Superspeedway with the organization’s first attempt at the track in a virtual race.
The Format … NASCAR, iRacing and FOX Sports are teaming up to deliver the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, a selection of simulation-style esports races that include NASCAR Cup Series drivers Austin Dillon (No. 3 Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Chevrolet) and Tyler Reddick (No. 31 Cat Realtree Chevrolet). The series heads to the virtual Talladega Superspeedway for a fixed set-up race this Sunday, April 26. Drivers will compete in a qualifying session to set the starting field for the 70-lap race.
But Wait, There’s More … In addition to Sunday’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race, RCR will compete in a special Saturday night race at virtual Talladega Superspeedway with our roster of NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers, including Anthony Alfredo (No. 33 DUDE Wipes Chevrolet), Myatt Snider (No. 93 TaxSlayer Chevrolet) and Kaz Grala (No. 29 HotScream Chevrolet). The race features NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series drivers competing within the iRacing platform, complete with qualifying times to set heat races and a last chance qualifier race to round out starting lineup. Fans can watch all the action at eNASCAR.com.
The Car Designs … Each RCR driver’s paint scheme was designed in-house by the RCR Graphics Center Powered by Roland, an in-house full-service design and production facility located on the Richard Childress Racing campus in Welcome, North Carolina. Local graphic artist John Dragonetti then rendered these designs for the iRacing platform. Learn more about Dragonetti’s designs at twitter.com/JohnRDragonetti.
COVID-19 Relief … Own a piece of history by participating in a recently launched auction and sale of Richard Childress’ personal collection of memorabilia. All proceeds will assist COVID-19 relief efforts. Thousands of rare, hard-to-find and exclusive items from Richard Childress’ 50+ years in NASCAR are up for bid or sale, including an original No. 3 Chevrolet once raced by Dale Earnhardt, complete with engine. To bid or purchase items from Childress’ personal collection, visit https://www.ebay.com/str/RichardChildresscollection. Bidders interested in the Dale Earnhardt racecar should contact RCR directly.
Did You Know … Talladega Superspeedway is the track where Richard Childress Racing claimed its 100th NASCAR Cup Series win when Clint Bowyer visited victory lane for the storied organization in October 2011.
Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s corporate Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR eSports Twitter page – @RCR_eSports, the RCR NASCAR Cup Series team Twitter page – @RCRCup and the RCR NASCAR Xfinity Series team Twitter page – @RCRNXS. Information about the 16-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and on Instagram at Instagram.com/rcrracing. Visit www.RCRracing.com.
Catch the Action … The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at the virtual Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live Sunday, April 26 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on the FOX broadcast network (where available), FS1 and the FOX Sports app. Races will be available in Canada through FOX Sports Racing. Catch our Xfinity Series drivers Saturday night by visiting eNASCAR.com.
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This Week’s Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Talladega Superspeedway … In 13 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Dillon’s best finish at the track is third (April 2016). He is also a former pole winner at the track (April 2019). This weekend marks the Welcome, North Carolina driver’s first virtual start at Talladega Superspeedway.
Welcome, Coca-Cola … The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to the company’s Coca-Cola brands, our portfolio includes some of the world’s most valuable beverage brands, such as AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Costa coffee, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, innocent smoothies and juices, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater and ZICO coconut water. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on TwitterInstagramFacebook and LinkedIn.
A Commitment to eSports … Dillon is a long-time iRacing team owner. For the past two years, he has fielded two cars in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, which is a $300,000 eSport World Championship series officially sanctioned by NASCAR featuring the world’s most elite oval simracers. Dillon’s two drivers, Blake Reynolds (No. 30) and Michael Guest (No. 33) compete on simulated versions of the actual real-world NASCAR tracks and Gen6 cars available on iRacing. The rounds run every other Tuesday night and is broadcast live on Twitch, Facebook and YouTube.
The Crew … Dillon will be competing in a rig provided by Sim Seats and will have a talented support system on Sunday, including his eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series driver, Blake Reynolds (@breynolds_66). Reynolds was a Champ 4 contender in 2019.
 
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
Do you look forward to superspeedway races like Talladega Superspeedway?
“Yeah, I really enjoy superspeedway races like Talladega. I feel like as a whole at Richard Childress Racing, we’ve been really close to winning. It’s a very cool track so it will be interesting to experience it virtually. The key is going to be avoiding the melee. I’m looking forward to representing Coca-Cola Zero Sugar on the virtual track.”
This Week’s Realtree Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Talladega Superspeedway … Tyler Reddick is a former race winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway. The two-time Xfinity Series champion will make his first virtual start at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series on Sunday.
Realtree … Realtree is the world’s leading camouflage designer, marketer, and licensor with over 2,000 licensees utilizing the Realtree camouflage brand. Thousands of outdoor and lifestyle products are available in Realtree camouflage patterns. In addition, Realtree is committed to supporting individuals and groups that work to ensure our outdoor heritage, the conservation of natural places, and the wildlife that resides there. Realtree promotes its products and relationships widely on television, as well as through Realtree.com and many other outlets.
The Crew … From his home in North Carolina, Reddick will be competing in Sunday’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro invitational Series race in a rig provided by Sim Seats. His spotter, Derek Kneeland, will be assisting Reddick during the race. Joey Stone, who competes under the RCR eSports banner in the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, will also be assisting Reddick during the race.
TYLER REDDICK QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on virtual racing at Talladega Superspeedway?
“Talladega Superspeedway is wild, both in real life and virtually. It’s a big, wide track that lends itself to being a little bit more aggressive than you can be at Daytona International Speedway. I’m excited to race there for Realtree.”
This Week’s DUDE Wipes Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Talladega Superspeedway … Anthony Alfredo has one real-world start at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Truck Series and is an experienced competitor at the track competing in virtual conditions.
Welcome, DUDE Wipes …The DUDE Wipes revolution was born one fateful day in our Chicago apartment, when we switched from toilet paper to baby wipes and were forever changed. Today we make self-care products for DUDES that get the job done and leave you feeling refreshed, from our original flushable DUDE Wipes to face & shower wipes, and deodorant body powders & body sprays to DUDE performance underwear.
The Crew … From his home in North Carolina, Alfredo will be competing in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Saturday Night Thunder race in a rig provided by Sim Seats. Alfredo has a talented support system on Sunday, including Zack Novak and his teammate Jimmy Mullis, who will serve as crew chief and spotter, respectively. The duo race for Richmond Raceway eSports in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and won the championship last year. Alfredo’s spotter, Derek Kneeland, will also be assisting this weekend.
ANTHONY ALFREDO QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on virtual racing at Talladega Superspeedway?
“I love superspeedway racing on iRacing so I am very excited for this weekend. That being said, it should be interesting since there are a lot of drivers still new to iRacing, which could make it eventful since it is some of the most difficult type of racing on the sim, much like it is in real life. I will have Zack Novak and Jimmy Mullis helping me on the pit box again, but this time I will have my real life spotter, Derek Kneeland, on the spotter stand. That will definitely give me some extra confidence! I have been practicing in online races this week and am looking forward to focusing on parking my No. 33 DUDE Wipes Camaro in Victory Lane!”
This Week’s TaxSlayer Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Talladega Superspeedway … Snider has never finished worse than third in two career starts at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Truck Series. This weekend marks his first attempt at the virtual version of the track.
About TaxSlayer … TaxSlayer makes online tax filing accessible for millions of Americans, with an easy-to-use platform and unlimited support at a fraction of the cost of the competition. Trusted for over 50 years, the Augusta-based tech company successfully completed more than 10 million state and federal e-filed tax returns in 2019 and processed $12 billion in refunds. TaxSlayer achieved a 4.6/5 TrustScore on consumer review site Trustpilot, with 85% of its customers rating the tax filing platform Great or Excellent. For more information, visit www.TaxSlayer.com.
Tax Day … The IRS has extended the federal tax filing deadline for 2020. Tax Day is now July 15, 2020. This extension is automatic and applies to all taxpayers. For up-to-date information and advice, check out TaxSlayer.com/blog.
Save Now … When you file with TaxSlayer, the savings are around every turn. All the deductions, all the credits, and all the money you deserve comes back to you in your refund. Plus, when you enter promo code MYATT21 at checkout, you’ll save 21% off the cost of your federal return. Start for free at TaxSlayer.com
MYATT SNIDER QUOTE:
You’ve been very successful at Talladega Superspeedway in the past. How do you feel about transferring that success to the virtual version of the track?
“Talladega Superspeedway is so much of a wildcard. You never truly know what’s going to happen one minute to the next. But that chaos is what makes it so much fun. I’ve always enjoyed Talladega and have run really well there so I’m hoping to continue that streak of slaying it in my TaxSlayer Chevy Camaro this weekend.”
This Week’s HotScream Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the virtual Richmond Raceway … Grala has two starts at Talladega Superspeedway spread out among the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series. He will add the virtual version of the track to his resume this Saturday.
HotScream … HotScream takes two concepts, dessert and spicy food, and combines them to form a product that can only be described as ‘HotScream The Spicy Ice Cream’. By taking ice cream with its cool creaminess and incorporating a spicy swirl, HotScream has created a new taste sensation, one that almost defies one’s own senses. At first, you taste the pureness of the vanilla, followed quickly by the sweetness of one of seven flavor swirls. As you continue to enjoy HotScream, things change: You feel a warming sensation that starts in the back of your mouth, creating a rush that only can come from spicy foods. The warming continues to linger but doesn’t engulf your mouth with fire. Taking another bite, you again taste the cool, creamy vanilla and the respective flavor profile while the heat dissipates, only to come back time and time again. HotScream is currently available at ACME Markets, Big Y, select ShopRites, Stop & Shop and 400 Walmart locations from Maine to Texas. For more information, visit HotScream.com.
KAZ GRALA QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on virtual racing at Talladega Superspeedway this Saturday?
“Virtual Talladega this weekend should be a lot of fun. I have absolutely no idea what a plate race will be like on iRacing. I’ve never done one! But I know I love real plate races so I’m ready for it and looking forward to the opportunity. Some of my career highlights have come on superspeedway in the past, and I’m hoping some of my luck and experience will carry over into the virtual world. Let’s park the No. 29 HotScream Camaro ZL1 in Victory Lane on Saturday!”
RCR Event Preview – Virtual Talladega Superspeedway Read More

Sim As It Ever Was: Harvick, Almirola, Bowyer and Custer Together Again On Track at Virtual Talladega

Sim As It Ever Was: Harvick, Almirola, Bowyer and Custer  Together Again On Track at Virtual Talladega
Details:
 

• Race:  GEICO 70 (Round 5)

• Series:  eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series

• Time/Date:  1 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 26

• Location:  Virtual Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile oval)

• Distance:  70 laps (186.2 miles)

 

Where to Watch:
 

• FOX network

• Announcers: Jeff Gordon, Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds, with in-race commentary from Clint Bowyer.

• FS1 (DIRECTV Channel 219 and Dish Channel 150)

• FOX Sports app

• FOX Sports Racing for fans in Canada

• Twitch.tv/StewartHaaseSports

 

DYK?:
 

• We Need a Bigger Podium: Last Sunday’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race from virtual Richmond Raceway had 971,000 viewers tune in to the simulcast on FOX and FS1, making it the third-most watched esports event in U.S. television history. The March 29 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race from virtual Texas Motor Speedway remains on the podium’s top step with 1.34 million viewers. The April 5 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race from virtual Bristol Motor Speedway takes the second step with 1.179 million viewers. The first eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race March 22 at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway earned 903,000 viewers on FS1 alone. And while the Texas race dwarfed that number by 47 percent, the Homestead race was, for at least one week, the most watched esports event in U.S. television history, having bested the previous record of 770,000 viewers when Mortal Kombat aired on The CW in 2016.

 

• iRacing’s Real-World Context: Last Sunday’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race from Richmond was the second-most watched sports event of the weekend. The most-watched sports event? Michael Jordan ‘The Last Dance’ documentary on ESPN.

 

• New Viewers Assimilate to Sim Racing: According to Nielsen, one million unique viewers who did not watch any of the four real-life NASCAR Cup Series races prior to the sports industry’s necessary hiatus to combat the spread of the coronavirus did tune in to one of the four eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series races held thus far.

 

• Kind of a Big Deal: A total of 5.4 million unique viewers have watched at least one eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race via FOX, FS1 and the FOX Sports app.

 

• Bet On It: The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series has been cleared and approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board for wagering. Two types of bets are allowed for the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series: winner of the race and head-to-head winner between drivers. Provisions for licensing the event includes a posting of the official rules for the tournament organizer and that all bets must cease once a race has started. Additionally, each bookmaker is allowed to create its own odds.

 

Overview:
 

• The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series is an exhibition esports series featuring a collection of past and present racecar drivers from the NASCAR Cup Series.

 

• The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series is a multi-week series emulating the original 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

 

• With the sports world on hiatus due to the coronavirus, the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series exists in place of actual NASCAR events.

 

• The iRacing undercard event the day prior to Sunday’s headlining eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race is the Saturday Night Thunder race where 40 drivers will compete in virtual NASCAR Xfinity Series cars. The Thunder event complements the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Xfinity Series driver, Chase Briscoe, will compete in Saturday Night Thunder.

 

• The livestream of Saturday Night Thunder begins at 8 p.m. EDT on eNASCAR.com/live. Single-car qualifying begins at 8:05 p.m., which sets the lineup for two, 10-lap heat races. Twenty car cars will advance from each heat to compete in the 57-lap feature (151.62 miles).

 

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Busch Beer Flannel Ford Mustang:          
 

“The whole iRacing process is sort of overwhelming for me. I finally just said, ‘The heck with it. I’m going to go race.’ And it’s just like racing anything else – if you don’t go race, you just get further behind, because everyone is getting better. So, I decided to dive in at Richmond. I actually qualified in the middle of the pack and was running fine, but you’ve got your spotter in one ear, and you’ve also got the engine noise from the car. Plus, I was on Skype because the team was broadcasting on Twitch. So, I’ve got my laptop on my left, my iPad on my right, and my phone on the floor, and I’ve got all this stuff going on in my ear. I’m at the point in my iRacing career where if something flashes on the screen or something is in my ear, it distracts me because I have to be so focused on what I’m doing because I don’t really know what I’m doing. So, I’m running along there and have passed a couple of cars and all of a sudden we’re having trouble with the laptop with FOX connecting. Before the race, I sent them my other Skype account and said use this one because it’s on my iPad. Then in the race, I hit the car on the left side of me, and then I hit the guy on the right side of me and I brake checked the guy behind me. Well, it was because my iPad rings into my headset, so I don’t hear the engine noise, my spotter, nothing, because it’s that crazy Skype ring. I jerk the wheel to the right and to the left. I’m reaching over trying to shut the iPad off. I’m trying to hit end, but the facial recognition says use your passcode. So, I’m trying to reach over to grab the iPad and, meanwhile, I’m hitting everyone who is around me. From that point, it kind of spiraled out of control. But I still had fun. I was way more competitive than I thought I would be. I’ve learned a lot, too. I feel like I’m going to do a little bit better as we get to Talladega with our Busch Flannel Ford Mustang. The short tracks are hard. I should have started at Texas, because I was fine in practice at Texas. If it wasn’t for Ryan Preece, I wouldn’t even be close. He was kind enough to help me on a daily basis.”

 

 

• This is Harvick’s second eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race.

 

• Harvick started 17th and finished 29th in the previous eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race at Richmond.

 

• In actual NASCAR Cup Series racing at Talladega, Harvick has one win, seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes with 260 laps led in 38 career starts.

 

• Harvick’s Talladega victory came in April 2010.

 

Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang:
 

“Well, I’ve won at Talladega before, so it shouldn’t be that hard, right? In all seriousness, I’ve seen these veteran drivers and champions of the sport practice for hours and still struggle to finish the race, so the expectation for myself is low. It’ll be interesting to make my Pro Invitational debut at Talladega where we’ll just have to survive. Who knows, maybe I’ll be one of the last guys standing and have a shot at it. Whether we wreck on the first lap or have a decent day, this is just a lot of fun for race fans, my fans, and to get back on track – even a virtual track – with Smithfield on our Ford Mustang.”

 

 

• This is Almirola’s first eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race.

 

• In actual NASCAR Cup Series racing at Talladega, Almirola has one win, four top-five and eight top-10 finishes with 46 laps led in 20 career starts.

 

• Almirola’s Talladega victory came in October 2018.

 

Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 14 Barstool Sports Ford Mustang:
 

“I finished last Sunday at Richmond, so I can only get better this week at Talladega. We have to do better, especially since we’ve got Barstool Sports on the car and Dave Portnoy (Barstool Sports founder) will never let me hear the end of it if we don’t. Did I mention that I finished last? These races are fun, but the competition is tough. You have to give credit where credit is due, because the guys having success are the ones that are always on iRacing putting in the time. You go to these practice races during the week and you see guys like William Byron logging the laps and putting in the practice time. That shows up during the race. These guys are really good at what they do, so it’s hard for us to come in and compete with them. That’s OK, though. This is just a fun way to get together on a Sunday afternoon. I’m enjoying the heck out of all this but, truthfully, I can’t wait to get back to real racing.”

 

 

• Bowyer has competed in all four eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series races. His best finish is 11th, earned twice (March 29 at Texas and April 5 at Bristol).

 

• Bowyer started 30th and finished 30th in the previous eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race at Richmond.

 

• Bowyer’s eponymous iRacing team competes in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series with drivers Brandon Kettelle and Brian Schoenberg, and Bowyer’s dirt late model team has been sponsored by iRacing for several years.

 

• In actual NASCAR Cup Series racing at Talladega, Bowyer has two wins, seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes with 123 laps led in 28 career starts.

 

• Bowyer’s Talladega victories came in October 2010 and October 2011.

 

Cole Custer, driver of the No. 41 Autodesk Fusion 360/Haas Automation Ford Mustang:
 

“Going into Talladega, I’m hoping we can just get to the end of the race. I’m expecting that we’ll have a few big ones. Hopefully, we can stay out of them and get our Autodesk Fusion 360/Haas Automation Ford Mustang to the end. I haven’t done much drafting on iRacing, but I think the hardest thing will just be getting a feel for how hard you’re pushing someone because you won’t have the actual feel of hitting someone. But it will definitely help having all of my teammates in the race, especially because it’s a superspeedway where you can push each other. We haven’t talked too much about a strategy yet but, overall, the biggest thing you try and do with your teammates is just not leave each other out, and you try and push each other whenever you can.”

 

 

• Stewart-Haas eSports utilizes Autodesk 3ds Max software to create digital 3-D renderings of each of its virtual Ford Mustangs. The team’s graphic designers transfer their layouts into the program, wrapping the scheme onto the car. The team then creates a custom render scene in Autodesk 3ds Max that utilizes a floor and lighting effects, inducing the necessary reflective glare and shadows to provide a real-world look and feel to each design. Autodesk 3ds Max software allows users to render each car with any elements they desire, providing design freedom for any and all digital platforms.

 

• This is Custer’s first eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race.

 

• Custer made his iRacing debut last Saturday in the Saturday Night Thunder race at Richmond. He started 11th and finished 18th.

 

• In actual racing, Custer has made a total of three Xfinity Series starts at Talladega with a best finish of ninth (April 2018). He is a NASCAR Cup Series rookie and has yet to make a Cup Series start at Talladega.

 

Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 98 Ford Performance Racing School/HighPoint.com Ford Mustang:  
 

“I really don’t know what to expect in this weekend’s iRacing event at Talladega. I think the race will live up to the ‘anything can happen’ expectation that we all have when we go there normally. It’ll be interesting to see how everything plays out. Hopefully, I don’t get caught up in too big of a mess and I’ll be able to bring home a decent finish for Ford Performance Racing School and HighPoint.com.”

 

 

• This is Briscoe’s second Saturday Night Thunder race. He started seventh and finished 22nd in last Saturday’s race at Richmond.

 

• Briscoe is an iRacing regular, with most of his races coming in the Xfinity Series.

 

• In actual racing, Briscoe has never competed in the NASCAR Cup Series. He is currently in his second full season of Xfinity Series racing.

 

• Briscoe has made a total of four starts at Talladega – two in the Xfinity Series (best finish is fourth in April 2019), one in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors & RV Truck Series (finished 22nd in October 2017) and one in the ARCA Series (finished third in April 2016).

 

About Stewart-Haas eSports:
 

NASCAR is the ultimate test of driver acumen and mechanical know-how, where teams scrutinize every detail in a never-ending quest for speed. Stewart-Haas Racing has thrived in this environment, winning races and championships to firmly establish its presence in NASCAR. Stewart-Haas eSports emulates these efforts in the virtual world, where sim technology provides a visceral experience that amplifies the grit and determination of NASCAR drivers in the real world. Stewart-Haas eSports is a natural extension of Stewart-Haas Racing, where competition and simulation are one. For more information, please visit us online at www.StewartHaasRacing.com/esports and follow on Twitter @SHR_eSports.

 

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
 

Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 70 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at www.StewartHaasRacing.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/StewartHaasRacing, on Twitter @StewartHaasRcng and on Instagram @StewartHaasRacing.

Sim As It Ever Was: Harvick, Almirola, Bowyer and Custer Together Again On Track at Virtual Talladega Read More

Entry Lists and Statistics – Virtual Richmond Raceway

Entry Lists and Statistics – Virtual Richmond Raceway

Below are the entry lists (subject to change) and statistics for the Saturday Night Thunder and Sunday’s Toyota Owners 150 (1 p.m. ET on FOX – where available and subject to change, FS1 and the FOX Sports app) at virtual Richmond Raceway.

Note on iRacing stats below:

The stats are cumulative lifetime stats for each driver in public oval events in stock car disciplines (ranging from top-level Cup cars to Legends) on iRacing. It doesn’t include stats from private leagues. Statistics for drivers who have starts in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series include those races run.



Saturday Night Thunder

Click for statistics (Coming soon)

Entry list is subject to change and will be updated here.

#00    Angela Ruch
#015    Drew Dollar
#099    Josh Bilicki
#1    Michael Annett
#2    Spencer Boyd
#4    Chase Cabre
#5    Bayley Currey
#5    Matt Mills
#7    Justin Allgaier
#8    Jeb Burton
#9    Noah Gragson
#10    Justin Haley
#13    Chad Finchum
#15    Brennan Poole
#19    Derek Kraus
#20    Harrison Burton
#22    Austin Cindric
#25    Stephen Leicht
#27    Ruben Garcia
#33    Anthony Alfredo
#34    Michael McDowell
#35    Todd Gilliland
#36    Jesse Iwuji
#40    Ryan Truex
#41    Cole Custer
#45    Ty Majeski
#52    Stewart Friesen
#53    Joey Gase
#54    Kyle Weatherman
#55    Will Rodgers
#57    Blake Koch
#63    Scott Stenzel
#67    Logan Seavey
#75    Landon Huffman
#78    Ryan Ellis
#81    Christian Eckes
#85    JJ Yeley
#88    Josh Berry
#89    Landon Cassill
#90    Alex Labbe
#93    Myatt Snider
#98    Chase Briscoe
#99    Elliott Sadler

Toyota Owners 150

Click for statistics (Coming Soon)

Entry list is subject to change and will be updated here.

Invited Race Entries
#1 Kurt Busch
#2 Brad Keselowski
#3 Austin Dillon
#4 Kevin Harvick
#6 Ross Chastain
#9 Chase Elliott
#11 Denny Hamlin
#12 Ryan Blaney
#13 Ty Dillon
#14 Clint Bowyer
#17 Chris Buescher
#18 Kyle Busch
#20 Erik Jones
#21 Matt DiBennedetto
#22 Joey Logano
#24 William Byron
#31 Tyler Reddick
#37 Ryan Preece
#38 John Hunter Nemechek
#43 Bubba Wallace
#48 Jimmie Johnson
#51 Garrett Smithley
#66 Timmy Hill
#77 Parker Kligerman
#88 Alex Bowman
#95 Christopher Bell

Qualifer Race Entries
#00 Quin Houff
#8 Dale Earnhardt Jr
#15 Brennan Poole
#19 Bobby Labonte
#32 Corey LaJoie
#34 Michael McDowell
#41 Cole Custer
#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
#49 Chad Finchum
#52 JJ Yeley
#53 Joey Gase
#89 Landon Cassill
#96 Daniel Suarez

Entry Lists and Statistics – Virtual Richmond Raceway Read More