- The eNASCAR International iRacing Series is returning for a second season
- The event will be backed by D-BOX and Digital Motorsports and take the name of the former
- The end goal is to get more people involved with NASCAR, whether through the digital platform or the real-world sport
The digital racing series for NASCAR is returning with the support of D-BOX and Digital Motorsports in 2022.
NASCAR Reboots SIM Racing Series for Season Two
Who would have thought that NASCAR would actually take a shine to esports? The 2020 pandemic brought America’s biggest motorsports race to a grinding halt, but it did not quench audiences and drivers’ appetite for professional racing. Enter SIM races which took a central stage in 2020 and came to the rescue of many organizations, including NASCAR.
Since then, NASCAR has been hosting the eNASCAR International iRacing Series and while not all traditional fans are happy with that format, the photorealistic graphics have certainly contributed to the event’s adoption. Not only that but the eNASCAR international series is teaming up with D-BOX and Digital Motorsports to bring even more joy to SIM racing fans.
Not only that but eNASCAR is already ready with part of its schedule for the season. The race’s virtual forays will span at least two continents, with events taking place in the United States, Canada, and Belgium. Meanwhile, D-BOX and Digital Motorsports will become the title sponsors for the event, with the race carrying D-BOX’s name. Commenting on this development, NASCAR VP of international business development and partnerships Chad Seigler said:
“With the support of D-BOX and Digital Motorsports, we’re able to continue growing the sport on an international stage, reaching new fans and showcasing the talent of our international drivers.”
NASCAR VP of international business development and partnerships Chad Seigler
Seigler confirmed that the series will be adding more raceways so that drivers are challenged in new and unexpected ways.
SIM Racing a Part of Mainstream Motorsports
By choosing to give virtual sports a broader coverage, NASCAR is joining other motorsports, such as Formula 1, which is running a dedicated format to cater to SIM racers’ expectations. Interestingly, the eNASCAR series managed to maintain a steady viewership until the return of real-world competitions. Meanwhile, Digital Motorsports CEO and founder Niall Maher had this to add:
“Through this partnership, we’re uniquely positioned to help drive the series forward through our simulators and Esports technology.”
Digital Motorsports CEO and founder Niall Maher
Maher confirmed that his team was excited to be working with NASCAR and support the organization’s forays into simulated racing. The end goal, Maher argues, is to create a stronger NASCAR community globally and lead to better engagement across the board.
To spice things up, the new season will come with a few interesting twists. NASCAR wants to pit drivers from different disciplines and have them race against one another. This means that drivers from the Whelen Euro Series and Pinty’s Series will be battling it on the virtual racetrack.
The overall event will be expanding in length as well as it will be adding two more races in 2022 compared to the inaugural season. Both D-BOX and Digital Motorsports will help assist with this move as they are established entities in SIM racing and can help steer the organization towards success.
