NASCAR invites drivers to new iRacing series in response to Coronavirus

NASCAR

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NASCAR has launched a new iRacing championship featuring some of the sport’s top drivers to “provide much needed racing entertainment for sports fans” during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The popular American stock car racing series has already called off seven rounds of its 2020 season due to the Coronavirus, beginning with last weekend’s race at Atlanta.

Competitors for the new eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series will include entrants from the NASCAR Cup series, XS and Trucks championships plus “NASCAR dignitaries”, said the organisers.

Reigning champion Kyle Busch is among the roster of drivers who have been confirmed for the series. Dale Earnhardt Jnr, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell will also compete.

The series will begin this Sunday with a race on the Homestead-Miami speedway. Details of the race format and further events in the series are yet to be confirmed.

“Until we have cars back on track, the entire NASCAR community has aligned to provide our passionate fans with a unique, fun and competitive experience on race day,” said NASCAR’s vice president of racing development Ben Kennedy.

“Our long-time partners at iRacing offer an incredible product and we are excited to see how many of our best drivers will stack up in the virtual domain of competitive racing.”

The championship said yesterday it intends to hold its full, 36-race calendar despite the disruption caused by Coronavirus.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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10 comments on “NASCAR invites drivers to new iRacing series in response to Coronavirus”

  1. The raise of the eSports.

    How I wish I had my rig right now, and a subscription to iRacing. I’ve been missing it for a while, and these two weeks would make a purrrrrrrfect racing holiday!

  2. It’s not good when the premium race series use a non-premium product for their e-series, and vice versa.

    1. Magnus Rubensson (@)
      18th March 2020, 10:11

      As an old Grand Prix Legends (and iRacing) fan I find this very interesting.
      Will NASCAR’s iRacing races be broadcast live – if so, how will they be broadcast? Twitch…?

      1. (@magnusrubensson) iracing usually broadcasts from their own Facebook or YouTube pages. Not sure if they do twitch too.

    2. Paul Williams
      18th March 2020, 12:48

      Haha. So in this case a non-premium real life series using a premium product?

  3. José Lopes da Silva
    18th March 2020, 10:43

    I just can’t understand why the American marketing-oriented Liberty Media isn’t doing the same.

    Unless they’re concerned with old-timers complaining that this is not racing.

    1. Probably because F1 has aligned itself with a video game, whereas NASCAR has a partnership with a proper simulation. One is much more enticing to real drivers than the other.

      Plus most F1 drivers are too precious for this sort of thing (a few younger notable exceptions aside).

      1. José Lopes da Silva
        18th March 2020, 14:42

        A sensible and logical explanation. Thanks

  4. imagine having the while f1 grid doing an e-race with all drivers bantering ala youtuber Championship-
    actually, i’ve been thinking for years it would be a massive Boost to the show to have all drivers on the same radio
    this could be THE chance!!

  5. I watched 2 cracking live Sim Races last night featuring both Lando Norris & Max Verstappen… I wont spoil them for you but if you haven’t seen this already it is well worth watching

    https://youtu.be/X70yWVT0Usc

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