We’re closer to the end of the NASCAR offseason than we are to the beginning. Here’s what’s happening in the virtual world in the depths of winter.
Coca-Cola iRacing Series free agency period ends; four new teams join
The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series is gearing up for its 2021 season. Four new teams will join the series: McLaren Esports, Elliott Sadler Esports, Spacestation Gaming and XSET, each fielding two racers apiece.
The 40 drivers competing for more than $330,000 in 2021 took the first half of the month to negotiate contracts and find a team for the year. With the free agency period now officially over, the teams have slowly been announcing their driver lineups.
Stay tuned to our Silly Season tracker to learn where each driver will land.
So #eNASCAR @iRacing free agency for the second year straight, is one of the wildest experiences of my life.
I think we built a dream team for 2021 @KligermanSport
????
— Parker Kligerman (@pkligerman) January 8, 2021
We?re excited to announce our driver lineup for the Gibbs Gaming @iRacing team this year:@FemiOlat_ in the No.18 @rayalfalla in the No.51
1 Rookie, 1 Champ, lots of talent.
Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks! #TeamToyota #eSports pic.twitter.com/oM9yNKWS5i
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) January 15, 2021
JUST ANNOUNCED@DDuval42 and @BowlinGraham will compete for #SHReSports in the upcoming Coca-Cola @iRacing Series season. Duval will drive the No. 41 entry, while Bowlin will represent @SmithfieldBrand in the No. 10.
Read more – https://t.co/o38sZJJrV7#SHRacing // #eNASCAR pic.twitter.com/m2I9jErqaA
— Stewart-Haas eSports (@SHR_eSports) January 13, 2021
We want more in 2021. #RReSports x @SunocoRacing pic.twitter.com/iFNhRiw4fg
— Richmond Raceway eSports (@RReSports) January 14, 2021
Time to welcome our newest @iRacing Coke Series driver. Wheeling the @ridespin Mustang along with @GarrettLowe_6 this year, ladies and gentlemen, from Harrisburg, North Carolina, please welcome @john_gorlinsky
(Watch the video for dramatic affect) pic.twitter.com/S7ofNLMXNV
— Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) January 7, 2021
Bubba’s back in business
After a few months away from the sim cockpit, Bubba Wallace hopped back on iRacing – new work-in-progress sim rig and everything.
Debating on whether to update my @iRacing account (been since my ?rage quit?) ??
All this SLM talk from @LandonHuffman got me itching
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) January 12, 2021
Update.. 22 GB download.
New rig is about 80% complete. Still waiting on my triple monitor mount. ?? https://t.co/ChOJ516j9W pic.twitter.com/ML3TZSid60
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) January 12, 2021
Oh, and he’s still got it.
Update… ran 2 official races (I never do that, too hectic)
Went 2 for 2. 1 KN win..1 Dirt Mod win?
Goodnight????
PS..my licenses are D class and rookie ??????? https://t.co/JMzqTDRxrp
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) January 12, 2021
Sign of the Times
For the New York Times, Roy Furchgott covered sim racing’s involvement in filling the time when the pandemic shut down real-world racing – and the business aspects of sim-racing sponsorships.
When the pandemic shut down motorsports, sim racing filled the gap. Can it hold on to fans and sponsors when sports get back to normal?https://t.co/ZW720tdiBV
— NYTimes Tech (@nytimestech) January 18, 2021
NASCAR Heat 5 Winter Heat Series continues
NASCAR Heat’s Winter Heat Series marches closer toward its third of four races. The New Year 70 takes place on Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Open qualifiers for the next event in the #WinterHeatSeries on #NASCARHeat5 begin this Monday at Midnight ET!
Tackle the @IMS road course & see if you can advance to the main event on January 24th & race against some of the #eNASCARHeat Pro League's best! https://t.co/32p47AZOnl
— Jay W. Pennell (@jaywpennell) January 8, 2021
The drivers have qualified and the practice has begun.
Only 6 days until Round 3 of the #WinterHeatSeries and the last opportunity to punch a ticket to the final.https://t.co/zTdYax93Im pic.twitter.com/ZTQnXE0HsK
— NASCAR Heat (@NASCARHeat) January 18, 2021
Upgrade time!
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship finalist Zane Smith is all in. And we have major rig envy.
When Mario kart just isn?t good enough anymore. @iRacing pic.twitter.com/T9ulSEfGRs
— Zane Smith (@zanesmith77) January 5, 2021
Smith’s boss at GMS Racing, on the other hand, isn’t having as much fun. You’ll get there, Spencer.
How is my setup?
How does iracing even work?
How can a loving God cause such agony?— Spencer Gallagher (@23SpeedRacer) January 12, 2021
Hermie Sadler’s still winning (on iRacing)
The elder Sadler brother has been racing in NASCAR for a long, long time – and it seems the winning tradition is continuing in the virtual world, too.
Got me a win in the 175 lapper at Dover in the Loose Lugnuts Racing league tonight. Big fun. ?? pic.twitter.com/RmE8ntD5bB
— Hermie Sadler (@HermieSadler) January 18, 2021
More iRacing fun in the offseason
Everybody’s doing it. (Even the kids.)
Getting ready for 2021. ? pic.twitter.com/vYBc3L4Cez
— Erik Jones (@Erik_Jones) January 13, 2021
iRacing with my 5 year old son is a continuous loop of him hitting the wall and then yelling at me because he doesn?t know why the car won?t drive anymore. Now I know how crew chiefs feel.
— landon cassill (@landoncassill) January 11, 2021
iRacing paint scheme of the week
Adam Heili painted Bubba Wallace’s DoorDash car racing in the Daytona 500 for 23XI Racing – and he created it for iRacing, too.
Video of the week
We’re in the depths of the NASCAR offseason. Why not pass the time with a little bowling?
going through cleaning out my computer when I found the video of when we figured out how to play bowling in @iRacing pic.twitter.com/XCPZtHaj3m
— Junk Knuckles (@lawnmowerpranks) January 16, 2021