NASCAR: 5 positive storylines nobody could have predicted
By Asher Fair
Timmy Hill is a fan-favorite
This slide ties in with the creation and introduction of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series. When NASCAR last held a real race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 8, how many fans knew the name Timmy Hill?
Now how many NASCAR fans don’t know the name Timmy Hill?
Several drivers in particular have benefited greatly from the introduction of the the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, and nobody has benefited more from it than Hill.
Hill, whose 96 Cup Series starts since he made his debut in 2012 have come at low-tier teams including MBM Motorsports, Rick Ware Racing, NEMCO Motorsports, FAS Lane Racing, Circle Sport, Identity Ventures Racing, Hillman Racing, Team Xtreme Racing, Premium Motorsports and Spire Motorsports, has an average finish of 2.0 in the first two races.
He placed third at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway behind Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. before winning the race at virtual Texas Motor Speedway ahead of Ryan Preece and Garrett Smithley. If points were kept for this series, Hill would be the championship leader.
Yet in real Cup Series action, he had to qualify for this year’s Daytona 500 just to keep his ride with the underfunded MBM Motorsports team, and in his 96 career starts, he has recorded just one top 20 finish and an average finish of 35.5.
Those aren’t the kind of guys whose names fans generally look out for on a race to race basis. But now Hill and the #66 car are fan-favorites on the track, even if only the virtual track. Now fans will know the name in real life as well.