NASCAR: iRacing is a pleasant surprise, leaving me wanting more

By James Dunn | Mar 30, 2020

(Editors note: This image was computer generated in-game) William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, Timmy Hill, MBM Motorsports, iRacing, NASCAR (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

I’ve never been a big fan of iRacing, or esports all together. But watching the NASCAR Pro Invitational Series has got me second-guessing my opinions.

Esports is a niche product; it takes a serious person passionate about video games to follow it intensely. But it has exploded in just the last three years. Predictions suggest revenues will hit over a billion dollars. Major sporting networks such as ESPN have invested in esports of every genre. You bet this is hitting the NASCAR scene too.

The NASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and the eNASCAR Heat Pro League are the two biggest series on the market, with loads of other smaller leagues. But there is one more that came out of nowhere in response to the coronavirus pandemic: the eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series

The eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series has actually been a nice replacement to the real thing as the season is on pause due to the threat of COVID-19. I argue that it might even be better.

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Let’s start with the obvious: the playing field is actually even. iRacing officials give the drivers the same setups, and no one has a technology or a software advantage.

For example, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the same car as Timmy Hill, and it all comes down to talent and strategy. That’s why Hill, of all drivers, won this past Sunday’s race at virtual Texas Motor Speedway after placing third in last Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Seeing him win put a smile on my face. He is someone who hasn’t had a ton of success at any of NASCAR’s national series. But he is a big iRacing driver, even placing first in the world at one point.

Hill wasn’t the only surprise frontrunner: Ryan Preece placed second, Garrett Smithley placed third and Landon Cassill placed fourth. These four drivers are drivers who you wouldn’t expect to be up front, which is why this new series is so rejuvenating for us fans.

The way FOX has broadcasted the races has also been spectacular. They have done it just like a real-life race. The one thing that has put it over the top is the fact that the broadcast team gets even closer to the drivers.

As viewers, we are being invited into their homes, and Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon, and Larry McReynolds are having a lot of fun with them (especially Clint Bowyer).

But the biggest difference I saw in this past Sunday’s race was the actual racing. Since this is virtual racing and there are no money payouts or points on the line, drivers are taking far more risks and constantly beating and banging on the track. To me, this is the definition of NASCAR racing, and I want this to continue on the real race track.

If there’s one thing that can be improved or at least considered, it would be to make the races longer. These drivers can handle it. If they can drive 600 miles in a real-life Cup car, they can handle 250 or 300 miles in iRacing.

I think this series is something that NASCAR fans should see more of in the offseason, even if just for one race. The fans could decide what track they go to and how many laps they run. They could even add some charitable cause behind it.

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Esports is only going to get more and more popular. NASCAR has made enormous investments in their esports leagues. It’s time for everyone to take a long look at this form of racing, including but not limited to broadcasting executives, racing analysts, and entrepreneurs — but most of all, the traditional NASCAR fans afraid of the changing world of auto racing.

The way I describe it is like this: cross your arms your usual way — easy, right? Then switch arms and cross them the opposite way. Feels weird, right? But once you settle in and get used to it, it’s just crossing your arms.

So watch a virtual race. It might give you a new perspective on what racing actually is.