NASCAR has partnered with virtual racing simulator iRacing to launch the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series. Top drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell will compete in the new esports exhibition series.
NASCAR has postponed all of its traditional races until May 3, but it has developed this new esports competition to keep fans engaged during the coronavirus pandemic. Leveraging iRacing’s online simulated racing platform, the exhibition will feature drivers from the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and Truck series, as well as NASCAR legends. The multi-week series will begin Mar. 22 at 1:30 p.m. ET at the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway, and is expected to broadcast on FS1 according to Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal.
“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 Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’S VP of racing development, in a press release. “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 league’s long history with iRacing includes the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, which is currently in its 11th season and features 40 of the world’s best sim-racers competing for more than $300,000 in prizes. In 2018, Nascar and iRacing launched a youth esports racing league.
