Virtual or not, NASCAR made a long-awaited trip to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time since 1996, thanks to the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series finale.
Really, everybody got in on the throwback action.
Spotting today?s @iRacing #ProInvitational at North Wilkesboro for @Bobby_Labonte I have to figure out what to wear. #oldschool pic.twitter.com/3WoEncjOMZ
— Jonathan Davis (@jondavisinc) May 9, 2020
iRacing’s brand-new North Wilkesboro – available only to the Pro Invitational Series this week – put on a heck of a show. It seems not much has changed since the NASCAR Cup Series raced there.
The more things change, the more they stay the same at North Wilkesboro @iracing pic.twitter.com/d4h9ZAy46p
— landon cassill (@landoncassill) May 9, 2020
And, just like days of old, it was an afternoon of attrition – and not just on the virtual track.
Well that stinks. The World Wide Web shut off while I was making hay. Sorry!
— Michael McDowell (@Mc_Driver) May 9, 2020
We?ve blown up ?????on to @TooToughToTame
— Ryan Preece (@RyanPreece_) May 9, 2020
Perhaps most spectacular of all was Corey LaJoie’s literal mid-race brake pedal failure. While it’s a bummer for LaJoie, it’s better to get that one out of the way in iRacing than behind the wheel at Darlington Raceway next Sunday, when the NASCAR Cup Series returns to real on-track racing.
My brake pedal broke off. BROKE OFF I TELL YOU pic.twitter.com/Ue6hNLq6TE
— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) May 9, 2020
And, speaking of Darlington, we may just have to keep an eye on Clint Bowyer, who has been keeping score, apparently.
I owe
18
4
24
18
21
15
18
And whoever else I hit and didn?t see. ?— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) May 9, 2020
While technically no official points were calculated, had NASCAR-style points been counted, Timmy Hill would be the Pro Invitational Series champion. Someone get this man an awards banquet!
We are the #ProInvitationalSeries Champions! Finished 2nd in the final race at North Wilkesboro, what a fun track that is! Excited to get back to @NASCAR racing next week at Darlington now! pic.twitter.com/w9zhS2lKyA
— Timmy Hill (@TimmyHillRacer) May 9, 2020
Had a blast running your car!
— Timmy Hill (@TimmyHillRacer) May 9, 2020
Jon Wood made his first NASCAR start since 2008, but he did so without audio thanks to a little help from the next generation of Woods. Whoops!
Raced the whole time with no engine sounds. My spotter and CC were on Teamspeak and I was using my iPhone to talk to him. I could hear them but they couldn?t hear me. Hardest thing I?ve ever done in my life.
— Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) May 9, 2020
Keep another eye on Brennan Poole, who may have made contact with everybody’s favorite and the reason we raced North Wilkesboro in the first place, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
We might need a security escort for @brennanpoole after this one…
But what about that heads up driving by @pkligerman to get back up through the field! ?@Valvoline | #BKeSports pic.twitter.com/Pqr3fLII9O
— Burton Kligerman esports (@BurtKligEsports) May 9, 2020
In the end, the race went to Denny Hamlin, who also won this year’s Daytona 500 and Pro Invitational Series opener.
??? Virtual victory lane was loud! pic.twitter.com/juJNJNeWsT
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) May 9, 2020
Pretty easy to call pit strategy when @dennyhamlin drives to the front no matter what!
— Keegan Leahy (@KeeganLeahy) May 9, 2020
Ross Chastain wasn’t too pleased with Hamlin’s bump-and-run in the closing laps, paying the No. 11 a visit on the cool-down lap.
Postrace mood ??? pic.twitter.com/3c8tnTa6E1
— Roush Fenway (@roushfenway) May 9, 2020
Here’s what everybody else had to say.
(Just keep it down, though, please! Baby’s sleeping.)
Beau was unavailable for the post race commitments as he is taking a nap. pic.twitter.com/rtGOPcCjg0
— Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) May 9, 2020
OK. We’re whispering now. Here’s what everybody else had to say.
What a job by @iRacing, @NASCAR, and @NASCARONFOX to make this #ProInvitationalSeries so great. As the series concludes, it?s crazy to refelect on what a movement this has been for sim racing. It?s going to continue to grow and evolve and I was sure proud to be a part of it!
— Ty Majeski (@TyMajeski) May 9, 2020
It?s been a blast @iRacing, headed back to the ?real? thing next weekend!! pic.twitter.com/1nPKM9JRfg
— Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) May 9, 2020
Not how we wanted this last one to go. It's been a fun experience though. Thanks to everyone for the support over the past few weeks. Time to get back to #NASCAR. ?#ProInvitationalSeries @Craftsman pic.twitter.com/5L6HTZTufp
— Erik Jones (@Erik_Jones) May 9, 2020
Finished P11 today. Wish I could have got a top 10 for @lbvwinery RiverBoat Red sweet red wine. I had to nurse a damaged car a majority of the race after early contact. It was fun ! Thank you @iRacing @NASCARONFOX @fs1 for today?s #NorthWilkesborospeedway event ? pic.twitter.com/fZ4X08tDeE
— JJ Yeley (@jjyeley1) May 9, 2020
That was an epic time. Thank you @iRacing @NASCAR @NASCARONFOX & all the drivers for making these happen over the last couple weeks.
Today we battled everything including the pace car. Had speed to be in the fight but just couldn?t get to the front ?#ProInvitationalSeries
— Parker Kligerman (@pkligerman) May 9, 2020
Post race interview! Fu Man Chu edition! pic.twitter.com/T1xEc9r9MB
— Timmy Hill (@TimmyHillRacer) May 9, 2020
Thank you @MikeConti5 and team!! Learning curve was steep with an old guy who had barley turned @iRacing on!!! https://t.co/4mEdMsM5Ga
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) May 9, 2020
And… that's a wrap for iRacing. ? pic.twitter.com/j34Xe2Y7Fd
— Aric Almirola (@Aric_Almirola) May 9, 2020
What a cool thing @iRacing @NASCAR @NASCARONFOX and all the drivers put together! Glad to go back real life racing, but this was fun. Hope everyone enjoyed! Congrats @dennyhamlin on the win and @TimmyHillRacer on the championship. #eSports #eNASCAR @RickWareRacing @GunBroker pic.twitter.com/zlleCpSLyh
— Garrett Smithley (@GarrettSmithley) May 9, 2020
Fun day running @iRacing. Passed a lot of cars. Got wrecked a few times. A lot like real life this year. Ready to get back to racing next week! @BassProShops #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/6Bs78DxGWB
— Martin Truex Jr. (@MartinTruex_Jr) May 9, 2020
North Wilkesboro was fun in the @hbpizza @Ford!! Now let?s get to Darlington!
Thank you @iRacing @NASCAR and @NASCARONFOX for keeping us all busy and entertained. pic.twitter.com/eyQDPFJrME
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) May 9, 2020
I am now considering several full-time Cup crew chief offers.@RandallB14, you?re not safe. https://t.co/irdfE1x356
— Kaz Grala (@KazGrala) May 9, 2020
The Pro Invitational Series has been a ton of fun, both on and off the virtual track, but now it’s time to go real racing.