After a successful debut event on March 22nd, the complete eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series event will be broadcast on FOX, FOX Sports 1, and the FOX Sports App.
The decision comes after the inaugural event drew 903,000 viewers on FS1, according to a release.
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Created by NASCAR and simulation racing platform iRacing, the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series sees drivers from the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, the NASCAR Gander RV & Ourdoors Truck Series, and sim racers compete over the course of multiple weeks.
Brad Zager, Executive Producer for FOX Sports, discussed the continuation in a release: “This rapid-fire collaboration between FOX Sports, NASCAR and iRacing obviously has resonated with race fans, gamers and television viewers across the country in a very positive way. We have learned so much in a relatively short period of time, and we are excited to expand coverage of this brand-new NASCAR esports series to an even wider audience.”
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NASCAR is one of three motorsport series to host virtual editions of its respective championships. The Supercars Championship and Formula One have launched championships in light of the lack of real-world sporting events due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
Tim Clark, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at NASCAR, added: “We’re overwhelmed by the positive feedback and encouragement sent by industry stakeholders, drivers, partners, media and most importantly, our fans. We all can’t wait to get back to racing and our partners at iRacing and FOX have worked with us to do just that – race. We are committed to running these eNASCAR iRacing events as long as necessary. Providing a platform for our fans to watch and engage with their favorite drivers is our number one priority.”
Esports Insider says: It seems that many sports fans thoroughly enjoyed esports appearing on their television screens, a reaction that isn’t always the case when esports is broadcast on TV. With a lack of real-world sports taking place, sim racing may have found a place on TV for the forseeable future.
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