NASCAR HOFer Dale Earnhardt Jr. "will finally see his longtime relationship with iRacing formalized" this week as he is named an Exec Dir of the Massachusetts-based company and "part of its management committee," according to Adam Stern of SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL. The talks were "consummated when Earnhardt challenged his management team to formalize a relationship he has been building informally for years." The deal includes Earnhardt "receiving a set compensation as an endorser with additional financial incentives." iRacing co-Founder John Henry said in a statement, “For more than 20 years, Dale has been a passionate advocate of sim racing whose efforts to improve the product have dramatically shaped our direction as a company and relationships throughout the sport for the better. ... We look forward to continuing our growth with Dale’s guidance for years to come.” Earnhardt "envisions his role as one in which he’ll help iRacing executives strike new partnerships" with racetracks, car manufacturers, advertisers and sponsors. He has "already helped strike such partnerships even before his new formal role," helping iRacing add scans of Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and the defunct North Wilkesboro Speedway to its service. The subscription-based iRacing "has seen its business grow considerably this year on the heels of the Pro Invitational Series" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/2 issue).
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