Xfinity Drivers (Virtually) Prepare for Mid-Ohio
With a somewhat unfamiliar road course next on the schedule for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, drivers haven’t been shy about preparing for the race and learning the track using iRacing.
Ran a 1:24.5 on @iRacing @Mid_Ohio Class B fixed
— Tommy Joe Martins (@TommyJoeMartins) August 8, 2019
Dear Josh,
Our update is complete and we are back online. Good luck this weekend 🙌💪 https://t.co/YWNTF6pXBp
— iRacing.com (@iRacing) August 8, 2019
It’s crazy how good it is! I use it all the time to prep for weekends
— Christopher Bell (@CBellRacing) August 6, 2019
New iRacing Damage Model
This week, iRacing teased a video featuring its upcoming overhauled car damage model. While the preview emphasized road racing cars, NASCAR drivers still took the opportunity to take shots and poke fun at their competitors.
New Damage Model – Progress! pic.twitter.com/wmmYEVu5aq
— iRacing.com (@iRacing) August 10, 2019
@derek9kraus will test this damage model better than anyone, right @77stenjem77?
— Ty Majeski (@TyMajeski) August 10, 2019
NASCAR and Esports at NABJ Convention
Thursday, Bubba Wallace and up-and-comer Rajah Caruth joined NASCAR’s “Let’s Go Racing! Learn how Esports is Changing the Diversity Landscape of NASCAR” panel to discuss the role of esports in NASCAR’s future.
Current driver @13caruth and former Rev driver @BubbaWallace participated in the #NABJ19 @NASCAR #eSports panel discussing the role eSports plays in the sport #NASCARD4D pic.twitter.com/OquOyu4mwz
— Rev Racing (@RevRacin) August 9, 2019
“@iRacing is a great tool for young guys like @13caruth getting into the sport … he came from the computer to real life and has great car control.”
– @BubbaWallace #NABJ19: “Let's Go Racing! Learn how Esports is Changing the Diversity Landscape of @NASCAR"
Happening now! pic.twitter.com/EuZT6b7mEE
— NASCAR Drive for Diversity (@NASCARDiversity) August 8, 2019
“In order to keep this sport going we need to keep pushing the idea that @NASCAR is for everyone.”
– Rajah Caruth (@13caruth), @RevRacin | #NABJ19
— NASCAR Drive for Diversity (@NASCARDiversity) August 8, 2019
NASCAR Heat 4 Available for Pre-Order
Gamers will be thrilled to learn the much-anticipated digital pre-order for NASCAR Heat 4 has dropped.
Good morning race fans! We're happy to announce that #NASCARHeat4 is now available for digital pre-order on #Xbox and #PlayStation! Go Gold with Gordon today & get 3 days early access before the competition!
Xbox: https://t.co/46Xr4xKpRG
PS4: https://t.co/el8llJ5Mx3 pic.twitter.com/tl9ZPgg9Qp
— NASCAR Heat (@NASCARHeat) August 13, 2019
One popular feature added is the ability to race different series and track combinations, even if they aren’t normally available. Cup cars at Mid-Ohio, anyone?
Whelp it looks like @CGRgaming (Ganassi Gaming) let the track out of the bag this weekend with this video of @KyleLarsonRacin racing around @Mid_Ohio!
This year in #NASCARHeat4 you'll be able to race any series at any track offline & online! With the exception of Eldora Dirt. pic.twitter.com/80D26OGjOA
— NASCAR Heat (@NASCARHeat) August 12, 2019
PEAK iRacing Series: Garrett Lowe Wins Michigan Thriller
Team Rengades rookie Garrett Lowe pulled off the first win of his eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series career Tuesday at Michigan International Speedway, edging Chris Overland and Blake Reynolds in a thrilling three-wide finish following an eventful final lap of a race where Keegan Leahy dominated much of the evening.
Last-lap pass ✔️
Three-wide at the stripe ✔️
First-time winner in VL ✔️@MISpeedway produced a thriller in the PEAK @iRacing Series! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/sfXYJytxTw— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 7, 2019
WINNER tonight in @NASCAR @peakauto @iRacing Series from Michigan! Had a bad fast @Renegades @HyperX Mustang all night. Capitalized on the final restart, held off the field, and grabbed the W. Huge thanks to Five Star Racing & @officialTheTeam for the fantastic car! pic.twitter.com/pGfuWX3mWe
— Garrett Lowe (@GarrettLowe_6) August 7, 2019
We came close last night. @ChrisOverland47 ended up 2nd and @rayalfalla 5th. That’s a marked improvement from 355th where we’ve been some this year. Kind of a bad time to get speed back in our @ridespin cars, given that the @iRacing playoffs have now started. Story of my life. pic.twitter.com/68X8VftEvQ
— Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) August 7, 2019
So close! P3 last night in the eNASCAR Peak Antifreeze iRacing series race at Michigan. I also locked into the playoffs a race early! Can’t get results like this without support from @TeamDillonMgmt and @BN3THapparel. Y’all are THE BEST! pic.twitter.com/ASlqD65z6t
— Blake Reynolds (@breynolds_66) August 7, 2019
Just one race remains until the playoffs begin, and it might prove the greatest challenge for drivers all season — the half-mile bullring that is Bristol Motor Speedway. Jimmy Mullis, Zack Novak and Nick Ottinger are poised to battle for the final two positions in the eight-driver championship run.
The regular season finale takes place Tuesday, August 20.
Heat Pro League: Stewart-Haas Gaming, Wood Brothers Gaming Win at Michigan
The eNASCAR Heat Pro League took on Michigan Wednesday for its first stop in the virtual Irish Hills.
Stewart Haas Gaming’s SHGSlick14x avoided late-race melee to claim Victory No. 1 of the season in the Xbox race.
On PlayStation, it was high school senior sladeg84 of Wood Brothers Gaming taking home the checkered flag for the first time since the season opener.
The overall team win, however, went to Team Penske, with a pair of second-place finishes.
The inaugural Heat Pro League playoffs begin soon — but not before the series heads to Daytona for the regular-season finale Wednesday, August 21. RCR Esports, Hendrick Motorsports GC, Petty Esports and Chip Ganassi Gaming look to claw their way into the championship contention with one final effort before the playoffs begin.
It was an exciting night of #eNASCARHeat Pro League racing at @MISpeedway last night.
You can tell that Slick & HotRod were thrilled with their results.
Here is what they had to say…#SHGaming | @StewartHaasRcng pic.twitter.com/zsYFm32iNf
— Stewart-Haas Gaming (@StewartHaasGmng) August 8, 2019
WINNNNNAAAA! Well sorta. @Slade_G84 won the PS4 #eNASCARHeat race. Regrettably, finishes are averaged so doubtful we won the night (1st and 12th) BUT WHO CARES SLADE WONkhxogxoyxph oh otxot lh ph! Super fast @ridespin Mustang and he used that big brain for some killer strategy. pic.twitter.com/ADoW6c0gNI
— Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) August 8, 2019
Here's how the points break down after the action packed #eNASCARHeat Pro League race at Michigan International Speedway last night. @PenskeESports won their second week moving them into top spot with a 9 point cushion over 2nd place @roushfenway. pic.twitter.com/qhPLE7mpfr
— NASCAR Heat (@NASCARHeat) August 8, 2019
eNASCAR IGNITE Series Playoffs Begin
Parker Retzlaff pulled off the feature victory in the first round of the eNASCAR IGNITE Series playoffs at Richmond Raceway — inching one step closer to a $10,000 racing scholarship and real-world test day.
The top 50 drivers in the youth iRacing series visits Bristol Motor Speedway in NASCAR modifieds-style cars Thursday.
#NEWS: @Parker79p takes home the Feature Race win in the @NASCAR IGNITE Series powered by @iRacing playoff opener at @RichmondRaceway and finds himself in the early points lead with @BMSupdates due up next Thursday night.#iRacing | #eNASCAR pic.twitter.com/MYossMHJPQ
— Evan Posocco🎙️ (@evanposocco) August 9, 2019
Paint Scheme of the Week
James Gutta painted this Wood Brothers Quick Lane 20 Years of Service Ford Mustang originally driven by Paul Menard for iRacing, and it looks just as sharp on the virtual screen as it did in Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
Video of the Week
PEAK iRacing Series driver Casey Kirwan tells us the plan when the crew chief asks for two tires.
Crew Chief: let’s take two ti-
Me: pic.twitter.com/GSoYuCnlBo— Ray Alfalla (@rayalfalla) August 9, 2019