eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series (formerly PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series and NASCAR iRacing World Championship) is the premiere esports league that is sanctioned by NASCAR.[1] The league began in 2010 and is one the longest running, officially sanctioned, esports racing series. Coca-Cola was named the entitlement sponsor for 2020 after they agreed to be a Premier Partner for NASCAR.[2] The series is run through the iRacing simulation platform.[3]

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series
CategoryEsports (Racing)
CountryUnited States
Inaugural season2011
Drivers40
Teams20
Drivers' championNick Ottinger
Teams' championWilliam Byron eSports
Official websiteeNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series

History

With the growing popularity of professional e-sports in the 2000s, and growing viewership of the broadcasts, NASCAR decided to venture into the sport.[4] This mover pre-dated other popular series such as Forza Racing Championship, Formula One Esports Series and IMSA GT Championship.[5]

On February 9, 2010, the first ever NASCAR-sanctioned esports series began when Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the inaugural race at a simulated track of Daytona International Speedway.[6] The series became one of the eSport World Championships that is recognized be iRacing and one three recognized eSport series sanctioned by NASCAR.

In 2014, the series gained its first entitlement sponsor when PEAK Antifreeze gained the naming rights. At that time the money pool was increased to $100,000. PEAK would remain the primary sponsor until 2020, when Coca-Cola took over and the money pool was tripled to $300,000.[7]

Champions

Season Driver Team
2010 Richard Towler Drill Aisle
2011 Ray Alfalla JR Motorsports
2012 Ray Alfalla JR Motorsports
2013 Tyler Hudson One Up Motorsport
2014 Michael Conti JScho Motorsports
2015 Kenny Humpe The TEAM
2016 Ray Alfalla Slip Angle Motorsports
2017 Ryan Luza Simworx Racing
2018 Ray Alfalla Slip Angle Motorsports
2019 Zack Novak Roush Fenway Racing
2020 Nick Ottinger William Byron eSports

Current teams and drivers

Manufacturer Team No. Race Driver
Chevrolet G2 Esports 54 Alex McCollum
66 Jarl Teien
JR Motorsports 8 Michael Conti
88 Brad Davies
JTG Daugherty Racing 37 Christian Challiner
47 Jeremy Allen
Bryant-Sheehan eSports[N 1] 1 Steve Sheehan
42 Bob Bryant
Letarte eSports 4 Santiago Tirres
36 Chris Shearburn
Team Dillon eSports 3 Blake Reynolds
33 Michael Guest
Virtual Racing School 2 Ray Alfalla
83 Bobby Zalenski
William Byron eSports 25 Nick Ottinger
97 John Gorlinsky
Ford Clint Bowyer Racing 14 Brandon Kettelle
79 Brian Schoenburg
Jim Beaver ESports 9 Eric J. Smith
15 Michael Guariglia
Mode Motorsports 24 Jake Nichols
75 Phil Diaz
Renegades 27 Corey Vincent
55 Caine Cook
Roush Fenway Racing 6 Nathan Lyon
17 Kollin Keister
Stewart-Haas eSports 10 Justin Bolton
41 Dylan Duval
Williams eSports 5 Matt Bussa
53 Ryan Michael Luza
Wood Brothers Gaming 16 Chris Overlord
21 Garrett Lowe
Toyota Burton Kligerman eSports 77 Ashton Crowder 1-10
Bob Bryant 10
99 Logan Clampitt
Denny Hamlin Racing 23 Casey Kirwan
32 Keegan Leahy
Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Graham Bowlin
51 Malik Ray
Richmond Raceway eSports 46 Jimmy Mullis
90 Zach Novak
  1. "Kyle Larson eSports" prior to April 13.

Tracks

Track Track type Track length
Atlanta Motor Speedway Quad-oval 1.5 mi
Auto Club Speedway D–shaped oval 2 mi
Bristol Motor Speedway Short track oval .533 mi
Charlotte Motor Speedway Quad-oval 1.5 mi
Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval Road course 2.28 mi
Darlington Raceway Oval 1.366 mi
Daytona International Speedway Superspeedway 2.5 mi
Dover International Speedway Oval 1 mi
Homestead–Miami Speedway Oval 1.5 mi
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Rectangular oval 2.5 mi
Kansas Speedway Tri-oval 1.5 mi
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Tri-oval 1.5 mi
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Oval 1.058 mi
Phoenix Raceway Dogleg Oval 1.022 mi
Richmond Raceway Short track oval .75 mi
Texas Motor Speedway Oval 1.5 mi

Format

Regular season

The regular season consists of 16 rounds that begins in mid-February and ends in early October. A total of 40 racers compete for 8 spots in the playoffs. Points are gained for each race, earning one point per position (one point for 40th, two for 39th, etc.). Three bonus points are awarded for winning a race and one bonus point is awarded for leading a lap and leading the most laps. Only the best 12 out of 16 results count towards the driver's championship. The drivers with the most points qualify for the playoffs. Drivers receive $500 for a win, $300 for a second-place finish and $200 for a third-place finish for all races but the Daytona 500, which are increased.[8]

Playoffs

Points are reset beginning week 17 for the playoff qualifying drivers who are all set at 2,000 points. After three races, the drivers in the top four of the standings qualify for the Championship race and their points are set to 3,000. The driver with the highest number of points at the end of the series is named the champion.[9] In 2020, the Champion will be awarded $100,000, second will receive $20,000, $15,000 for third, and $10,000 for fourth.[10]

References

  1. "eNASCAR | About eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series". eNASCAR. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  2. Nicholson, Jonno (2020-02-05). "Coca-Cola named entitlement sponsor of eNASCAR iRacing Series". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  3. "eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series". iRacing.com. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  4. Tassi, Paul. "2012: The Year of eSports". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  5. Beckford, Andrew (December 11, 2018). "The Rise of eSports Racing". Super Street Network. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  6. "An Online Racing Dream Come True". iRacing.com. 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  7. Staff, SPEED SPORT (2020-02-05). "Coca-Cola Backing eNASCAR iRacing Series". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  8. "2020 eNASCAR Coca Cola iRacing Series". Liquipedia Sim Racing Wiki. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  9. "2019 eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series - Playoffs - Liquipedia Sim Racing Wiki". liquipedia.net. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  10. "2020 eNASCAR Coca Cola iRacing Series". Liquipedia Sim Racing Wiki. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
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