iRacing releases North Wilkesboro Speedway
Well, that was a surprise! iRacing just released the circa-1987 version of North Wilkesboro Speedway – a month before originally promised. Time to celebrate! Or, maybe, time to run some laps on the historic short track.
And North Wilkesboro is now available as a pre-release version on @iRacing! The 1987 cars are still in development and will be released in the first week of June. Have fun!
— Steve Myers (@iRacingMyers) May 11, 2020
In December @iRacing began an ambitious project to restore #NorthWilkesboro in its '87 state. The story behind this is now known and shown in the @DirtyMoMedia video. The process to create the track was quite challenging but fun. Some details of this process as follows.. 1/16 pic.twitter.com/XuSe9immX3
— Greg Hill (@greghi11) May 10, 2020
If you’ve got 15 minutes to spare, the Dirty Mo Media video chronicling Dale Jr.’s process of how the track came to (virtual) life is a treat.
And, if, like me, you’re not very good at getting around the track in an expedient manner, Landon Cassill’s got you covered.
While you?re waiting to download North Wilkesboro on @iRacing, get yourself up to speed on the right line with my tutorial from the Pro Invitational race! https://t.co/vQ9sRh4OH8
— landon cassill (@landoncassill) May 11, 2020
Speaking of Landon Cassill…
Landon Cassill Qualifying Challenge returns
One of the original iRacing competitions, debuting in 2010, the Landon Cassill Qualifying Challenge (LCQC) will make its return this week, airing Friday on eNASCAR.com. The hotlap competition puts iRacing drivers to the test of performing under pressure, just like a driver attempting to qualify into a NASCAR race on time. Open time trials Thursday will set the final 40, who will set a solo hotlap Friday with the goal of setting the fastest lap time for a $10,000 prize.
The LCQC is back! One lap to win $10,000 on @iRacing! Open Time Trials on Thursday, taking the top 40 for the Main Event to win it all on Friday night at 9pm! Sign up now at https://t.co/iIeUTIxxkb pic.twitter.com/87fIDQgJqY
— landon cassill (@landoncassill) May 12, 2020
iRacing teases 1987 Cup cars
You can’t race on a 1987 North Wilkesboro without cars from 1987. On Saturday’s NASCAR on FOX race broadcast, iRacing teased some upcoming content – a vintage Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Ford Thunderbird, coming in June.
It just wouldn't be a complete race at North Wilkesboro without these two in it, right? #ProInvitationalSeries
'87 Monte Carlo & Thunderbird. Coming Soon. pic.twitter.com/jLkBvMwoiY
— iRacing.com (@iRacing) May 9, 2020
Ottinger’s Monster Mile trophy arrives
One of the perks of winning at Dover International Speedway includes taking home a Miles the Monster trophy. eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Dover winner Nick Ottinger was awarded a Miles of his own.
What an honor to get such a prestigious trophy from the @MonsterMile. Thank you guys so much!
Also, Miles The Monster just told me that he is taking over the driving duties for the #25 @LogitechG machine starting now. #nowaydude pic.twitter.com/MQm1iqUX4N
— Nick Ottinger (@NickOttinger) May 6, 2020
It’s probably the coolest sim racing trophy we’ve seen, short of the $100,000 novelty-sized check for taking home the Coca-Cola Series championship.
Coca-Cola care packages
Another benefit of competing in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series? Free stuff, baby!
What a cool surprise! Thanks to the team at @CocaCola & @CocaColaRacing for the awesome care package!
The platform @NASCAR, @iRacing, and these guys have given us this year is incredible. I could not be more thankful!
2020 has been huge for sim-racing! pic.twitter.com/ReyaxoGXJE
— MikeConti5 (@MikeConti5) May 7, 2020
Thanks @CocaCola and @CocaColaRacing for the hookup. #CokeFamily pic.twitter.com/fFs7CjYbOw
— Casey Kirwan (@CaseyKirwan23) May 7, 2020
Thanks @CocaColaRacing @CocaCola for the care package ?
Glad we can drink our series sponsor this year?? pic.twitter.com/HFDKCb9Ri1
— Logan Clampitt (@lclampitt44) May 9, 2020
My @CocaColaRacing gear finally arrived! Coco approves…guess you could call it Coco-Cola…ight imma head out ? pic.twitter.com/iiQwJ1VBZl
— Ray Alfalla (@rayalfalla) May 8, 2020
Kyle Long on iRacing
NASCAR.com’s Terrin Waack spoke with NFL Pro Bowler Kyle Long on iRacing, from his own sim racing career, to Coca-Cola iRacing Series team ownership, to streaming on Twitch.
Looking back at this, it was fun chatting #NASCAR with @Ky1eLong, whose @eNASCARCocaCola team races tonight. But it was even better relating on all things Illinois. Covered the @ChicagoBears a bit when I interned at the @chicagotribune. Things have truly come full circle. Crazy. https://t.co/J5auASoxEx
— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) May 12, 2020
More NASCAR Heat 5 details emerge
The NASCAR Heat team dropped some new information about their latest title that’s due for release in July.
Got questions about NASCAR Heat 5 release date, pre-order incentives, Gold Edition, or the current list of confirmed new features?
Head over to our brand new, handy dandy FAQ!https://t.co/7p2XdAvhnb #NASCARHeat5 pic.twitter.com/hLyY2kIvql
— NASCAR Heat (@NASCARHeat) May 8, 2020
Pro Invitational Series concludes with a Hamlin victory
Denny Hamlin started off the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series with a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and he closed the chapter with a second victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway Saturday.
Hamlin moved Ross Chastain in the closing laps to take the victory – but, as Hamlin’s known to say, that’s just short-track racin’.
??? Virtual victory lane was loud! pic.twitter.com/juJNJNeWsT
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) May 9, 2020
"I need to write some apologies."
Radioactive: Virtual North Wilkesboro!#ProInvitationalSeries | @iRacing pic.twitter.com/eFBr1edjld
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 11, 2020
And that’s a wrap for the Pro Invitational Series! The NASCAR Cup Series stars take to the real track Sunday at Darlington Raceway.
Thank you to @iRacing and all the fans who tuned in for the #ProInvitationalSeries! pic.twitter.com/TvkktFE6lU
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 9, 2020
We just want to say thank you to everyone who has welcomed iRacing into their homes and tuned in these past weekends. We all do it for the love of Motorsports and we're glad you share the same passion. ? #ProInvitationalSeries pic.twitter.com/NncC1w0OZJ
— iRacing.com (@iRacing) May 9, 2020
Ty Majeski wins Friday Night Thunder at Martinsville
Finally, the iRacing veteran got a Friday Night Thunder victory. In the final Friday (or sometimes Saturday) Night Thunder event before the return of live NASCAR action, Gander Trucks driver Ty Majeski earned himself a checkered flag after dominating at the virtual Martinsville Speedway.
CHECKERED FLAG: DOMINATION! @TyMajeski leaves little in doubt and wins Friday Night Thunder at @MartinsvilleSwy! pic.twitter.com/BaQCYN75Ln
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 9, 2020
Hell yeah! Finally got us W in the @Iracing #FridayNightThunder @MartinsvilleSwy. Feels good to build up some momentum before we take on the real @CLTMotorSpdwy with @NieceMotorsport! Thank you to @SpotterWilks for the awesome spotting and @CMRroofing for their ongoing support! pic.twitter.com/chwIVhtKMP
— Ty Majeski (@TyMajeski) May 9, 2020
Tonight: Coca-Cola iRacing Series at Charlotte
Round 7 of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series takes place tonight at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s the season’s longest event at 300 miles – and somehow, the race has featured 11 different winners in 11 races since the series inception in 2010, including some of those we’re watching in our Power Rankings.
It's going down at America's Home for Racing. ??
The @CocaColaRacing iRacing series returns to virtual @CLTMotorSpdwy tonight at 9 ET. pic.twitter.com/fcHWi9kkE7
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 12, 2020
Heat Pro League: JTG, Germain victorious at Dover
Justin Brooks and Dan Buttafuoco brought home the checkers at the Monster Mile in the eNASCAR Heat Pro League.
Winner, winner! ?@j_brooks92 takes the ? in the @NASCARHeat #Xbox series @MonsterMile. @cottonelle | #eNASCARHeat pic.twitter.com/iuXCgUn85s
— JTG Daugherty Racing (@JTGRacing) May 7, 2020
Checkered flag is in the air in the #eNASCARHeat Xbox division at the @MonsterMile! ?
Dan Buttafuoco (@LuckyDog_38) crosses the finish line in the second position! Another solid run for the @GEICORacing Chevrolet.
?: @justinmelillo pic.twitter.com/xQy1nzhgvV
— Germain Racing (@GermainRacing) May 7, 2020
Now, the league is New Hampshire-bound in the familiar NASCAR Cup Series-style cars. Catch the action Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at eNASCAR.com/live.
This week we're back in the Cup cars as the #eNASCARHeat drivers tackle @NHMS for the 4th round of the 2020 season.
This also will be the final race in the first of three segments that make up our regular season!https://t.co/7UrV9wDBYY #eNASCAR @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/aD5yT1f3kQ
— NASCAR Heat (@NASCARHeat) May 11, 2020
iRacing paint scheme of the week
Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t have the result he’d hoped for in the debut of North Wilkesboro Speedway in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Saturday, but at least his old-school inspired ride was sharp.
Video of the week
Malik Ray is best known for his eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series career, but his enthusiasm after winning the iRacing Indy 500 is downright epic.
How it feels winning @iRacing?s Indy 500 pic.twitter.com/GZK2FgUZyO
— Malik (@MalikRayTTV) May 10, 2020