If you’re a sports fan looking for something to watch during the shutdown of sporting event due to the coronavirus then look no further than your smart phone or computer. Live racing is still taking place in the virtual world! PodiumeSports has announced a Sunday race featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr, Bubba Wallace, and many others.
The Replacements 100
Date: Sunday March, 15
Time: 3:00 pm eastern
Stream: Twitch.tv
which is available on your computer, smart phone, or gaming system.
The race takes place on a virtual version of Atlanta Motor Speedway. The next eNASCAR officially scheduled race is set for March 17 on the virtual version of Homestead/Miami Speedway. Race fans can tune into Twitch.tv on the Twitch app or online and watch some of the best NASCAR drivers, virtual drivers, and celebrities take to the track… via their racing simulators.
The Growth or eRacing
Esports has grown dramatically over the last decade to the point that colleges are now offering esports scholarships. In addition, governing bodies such as NASCAR have embraced platforms such as iRacing and now have an eNASCAR division. Last years eNASCAR racing Champions won more than gaming bragging rights – they won cash!
The computer-based driving simulators, mentioned above, can be as big as a full-sized car with wrap around monitors and a roll cage. Or it can be as simple as a gaming steering wheel and foot pedals attached to a dining room table with a computer or game system.
Just like the version of NASCAR that takes place at the track – drivers move up the ladder starting with racing from the home computer. According to Bobby Earnhardt, of Bobby D. Earnhardt Legacy Racing, his aim is to help eRacer’s move up the racing ranks.
“It’s about helping drivers make the next move – even in eRacing.” Bobby Earnhardt said of his stable of drivers. “We have about eleven drivers – and they’ll stay with us through the 2020 and 2021 season. But it’s like ‘real’ racing – sometimes things change, and a driver may move to a different team.That’s ok! These drivers are striving to make into the eNASCAR iRacing Coke Series and my goal is for them to do that with our backing and help.”
Not all eRacing online is geared towards making it to the pros. Pick up racing between friends and groups of people take place hourly and daily across the globe. Those races are often live streamed on platforms like Twitch or just shared between participants involved in the game at the time.
It’s not uncommon for a “real” NASCAR, IndyCar F1 driver to jump in on a race. Or it could be a famous race announcer, crew chief, even a spotter. Can you imagine sitting down at your computer to race against your cousin across the country along with some other race fans and the name Dale Earnhardt Jr pops up on the entry list?
Big NASCAR Names
Last season Stewart-Haas Gaming won the inaugural eNASCAR Heat Pro League championship at ISM Raceway. They won via a tiebreaker over Leavine Family Racing.
“We made it happen,”said Jake Morris, of Stewart-Haas Gaming. “We’re champions, baby – again.”
Do the names sound familiar? Stewart – Hass, Leavine Family Racing? The list of NASCAR teams getting involved with the sport has grown. Here’s a few more names you might recognize.
- Clint Bowyer Racing
- Denny Hamlin Racing
- Joe Gibbs Racing
- JR Motorsports
- JTG Daugherty Racing
- Kyle Larson Racing eSports
- Letarte eSports
- Roush Fenway Racing
- Team Dillon eSports
- Wood Brothers Racing
eNASCAR 2020 Season
This year, race fans can watch the NASCARsanctioned eNASCAR Coca-Cola IRacing series online every week as the series has not been shuttered temporarily due to the Coronavirus. It features a 20-race season and a season champions who share in a $300,000 purse.You can get the entire schedule at www.eNASCAR.com and additional eRacing options at www.iracing.com.
Author Bio: Kent Whitaker is a culinary writer and cookbook author. He is the winner of the Emeril Live BBQ contest and winner of an American Authors Association Gold medal. Kent’s books are in bookstores nationwide and are available online. Kent lives in East Ridge with his wifeand two crazy dogs. Visit him online at www.thedeckchef.com or twitter/instagram @thekentwhitaker .
