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Pro Invitational Series: Virtual Awards Ceremony
By Steve Luvender and @nascarcasm | Tuesday, May 12, 2020
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We’re done doing all our racing on software, so now it’s time to hand out some hardware in our eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series virtual awards ceremony. No, food will not be provided. Bring your own snacks and gather ‘round!
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BEST FIRE SUIT
Winner: Matt DiBenedetto
Matty D. raced at (virtual) Richmond wearing a (very real) giraffe onesie. He put his neck on the line, but he simply couldn’t be topped.
Winner: Matt DiBenedetto
Matty D. raced at (virtual) Richmond wearing a (very real) giraffe onesie. He put his neck on the line, but he simply couldn’t be topped.
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GOOD DOG AWARD
Winner: Finn Bowman
Despite a start to the season that was a bit rough (we could have said “ruff” but chose not to), Alex Bowman’s very good boy Finn was credited with winning at Talladega.
Winner: Finn Bowman
Despite a start to the season that was a bit rough (we could have said “ruff” but chose not to), Alex Bowman’s very good boy Finn was credited with winning at Talladega.
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BAD DOG AWARD
Winner: Emma Suarez
On the flipside, Daniel Suarez’s dog Emma caused the No. 96 car to get disqualified after intentionally causing a crash in retaliation. Bad dog!
Winner: Emma Suarez
On the flipside, Daniel Suarez’s dog Emma caused the No. 96 car to get disqualified after intentionally causing a crash in retaliation. Bad dog!
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DAIRY FARMERS’ FAVORITE
Winner: Timmy Hill
In virtual Victory Lane at Texas, Timmy Hill celebrated his win with a glass of milk. He’s the favorite of all the dairy farmers who made this award possible.
Winner: Timmy Hill
In virtual Victory Lane at Texas, Timmy Hill celebrated his win with a glass of milk. He’s the favorite of all the dairy farmers who made this award possible.
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LONGEST SLIDE THROUGH THE GRASS
Winner: Ryan Preece
Nobody else came even close.
Winner: Ryan Preece
Nobody else came even close.
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ACHIEVEMENTS IN LANDSCAPING
Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
If it weren’t for Dale Jr.’s efforts to clean up the track surface at North Wilkesboro Speedway through some freezing-cold weed-whacking, there would have been no iRacing scan of the historic short track.
Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
If it weren’t for Dale Jr.’s efforts to clean up the track surface at North Wilkesboro Speedway through some freezing-cold weed-whacking, there would have been no iRacing scan of the historic short track.
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TRYING HIS BEST AWARD
Winner: Jimmie Johnson
The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champ had a bit of a rough go in the virtual world. We bet he’s eager to climb back into an actual race car, even though he tried his best over the past couple of months.
Winner: Jimmie Johnson
The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champ had a bit of a rough go in the virtual world. We bet he’s eager to climb back into an actual race car, even though he tried his best over the past couple of months.
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BEST BUMP-AND-RUN
Winner: Timmy Hill
You might be a little more used to witnessing a bump-and-run at a short track, but Timmy Hill executed one at the 1.44-mile Texas Motor Speedway. It was perfect, too, nudging William Byron just out of the way, earning himself the nickname “The Intimmydator.”
Winner: Timmy Hill
You might be a little more used to witnessing a bump-and-run at a short track, but Timmy Hill executed one at the 1.44-mile Texas Motor Speedway. It was perfect, too, nudging William Byron just out of the way, earning himself the nickname “The Intimmydator.”
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BLUE-EMU AWARD
Winner: Barney the Flagman
Barney the virtual flagger’s over-enthusiastic brandishing of the green flag earns him the unofficial Blue-Emu Award (not actually affiliated or sponsored by Blue-Emu). We’re pretty sure his fervor will require a bit of topical pain relief later.
Winner: Barney the Flagman
Barney the virtual flagger’s over-enthusiastic brandishing of the green flag earns him the unofficial Blue-Emu Award (not actually affiliated or sponsored by Blue-Emu). We’re pretty sure his fervor will require a bit of topical pain relief later.
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BEST USE OF REMOTE CONTROL
Winner: Taylor Hamlin
No, what are you talking about? We didn’t create an award just for Taylor.
Winner: Taylor Hamlin
No, what are you talking about? We didn’t create an award just for Taylor.
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BEST MICROSOFT WORD SKILLS
Winner: Ty Dillon
Ty Dillon spent a lot of time preparing for the Pro Invitational Series. Half the time was spent on the iRacing simulator, and the other half was replacing inkjet cartridges for his in-room signage.
Winner: Ty Dillon
Ty Dillon spent a lot of time preparing for the Pro Invitational Series. Half the time was spent on the iRacing simulator, and the other half was replacing inkjet cartridges for his in-room signage.
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LONGEST CONE PUNT
Winner: Landon Cassill
While we were unable to obtain an official distance reading, we’re pretty sure nobody else punted a pit-road exit marker cone further than Landon Cassill at Richmond Raceway.
Winner: Landon Cassill
While we were unable to obtain an official distance reading, we’re pretty sure nobody else punted a pit-road exit marker cone further than Landon Cassill at Richmond Raceway.
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MOST ENTHUSIASTIC VICTORY CELEBRATION
Winner: William Byron
The neighbors lodged a noise complaint after William Byron simply couldn’t contain himself following a Richmond victory.
Winner: William Byron
The neighbors lodged a noise complaint after William Byron simply couldn’t contain himself following a Richmond victory.
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CLEANEST RACER
Winner: Regan Smith
We’re mostly talking about the time he cleaned up Clint Bowyer’s seat ahead of the race at Dover.
Winner: Regan Smith
We’re mostly talking about the time he cleaned up Clint Bowyer’s seat ahead of the race at Dover.
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SALTY WATERMELON AWARD
Winner: Ross Chastain
One watermelon-farmer-gone-racer Ross Chastain wasn’t particularly pleased with Denny Hamlin after a late-race bump-and-run for the win at North Wilkesboro. Chastain spun Hamlin on the cool-down lap (ha! irony!) to express his displeasure.
Winner: Ross Chastain
One watermelon-farmer-gone-racer Ross Chastain wasn’t particularly pleased with Denny Hamlin after a late-race bump-and-run for the win at North Wilkesboro. Chastain spun Hamlin on the cool-down lap (ha! irony!) to express his displeasure.
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UNDERDOG AWARD
Winner: Timmy Hill
Timmy Hill is often considered one of the most notable underdogs in NASCAR, but that’s not why he won our Underdog Award. It’s because he managed to win a race with a 12-year-old steering wheel and quite modest sim rig — if the term sim rig even applies.
Winner: Timmy Hill
Timmy Hill is often considered one of the most notable underdogs in NASCAR, but that’s not why he won our Underdog Award. It’s because he managed to win a race with a 12-year-old steering wheel and quite modest sim rig — if the term sim rig even applies.
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OVERDOG AWARD
Winner: Denny Hamlin
Like Timmy Hill, Denny Hamlin found Pro Invitational Series Victory Lane — twice, in fact — but he’s the recipient of our Overdog Award for doing so in a sim-rig spaceship that’s probably valued at, like, $4 million. Yes, we’re just saying that because we’re jealous.
Winner: Denny Hamlin
Like Timmy Hill, Denny Hamlin found Pro Invitational Series Victory Lane — twice, in fact — but he’s the recipient of our Overdog Award for doing so in a sim-rig spaceship that’s probably valued at, like, $4 million. Yes, we’re just saying that because we’re jealous.
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ACHIEVEMENT IN SHOELESSNESS
Winner: Bobby Labonte
Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte’s rewriting the history books again, and this time he’s doing it sans footwear. Maybe bust out the disinfectant spray if you ever purchase iRacing pedals secondhand from the seller SmoothBobby18 on eBay.
Winner: Bobby Labonte
Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte’s rewriting the history books again, and this time he’s doing it sans footwear. Maybe bust out the disinfectant spray if you ever purchase iRacing pedals secondhand from the seller SmoothBobby18 on eBay.
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DID-WE-JUST-BECOME-BEST-FRIENDS AWARD
Winners: Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer
FOX Sports coworkers Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer shared all sorts of trash-talking and laughs live on air. It’s clear iRacing brought this unlikely duo together even closer than before, and maybe even mended the whole Jeff Gordon wearing a Kansas City Chiefs jersey on TV thing.
Winners: Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer
FOX Sports coworkers Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer shared all sorts of trash-talking and laughs live on air. It’s clear iRacing brought this unlikely duo together even closer than before, and maybe even mended the whole Jeff Gordon wearing a Kansas City Chiefs jersey on TV thing.
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BEST MULTI-TASKER
Winner: Alex Bowman
Nobody could tweet and drive quite the way Alex Bowman did each week during the Pro Invitational Series. It’s our sincere hope he doesn’t try to replicate his success when real NASCAR returns to the track Sunday.
Winner: Alex Bowman
Nobody could tweet and drive quite the way Alex Bowman did each week during the Pro Invitational Series. It’s our sincere hope he doesn’t try to replicate his success when real NASCAR returns to the track Sunday.
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MOST TIME SPENT OFF THE GROUND DURING A WRECK
Winner: Jeff “Air” Gordon
Jeff Gordon took quite a ride in his iRacing debut at Talladega. Thank goodness for iRacing’s fast repairs.
Winner: Jeff “Air” Gordon
Jeff Gordon took quite a ride in his iRacing debut at Talladega. Thank goodness for iRacing’s fast repairs.
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SOMEHOW-HE-DIDN’T-CURSE-ON-AIR AWARD
Winner: Clint Bowyer
Somehow, he didn’t curse on air. Thus, he wins the award. Color us surprised.
Winner: Clint Bowyer
Somehow, he didn’t curse on air. Thus, he wins the award. Color us surprised.
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PRETTY DARN GOOD AWARD
Winner: Timmy Hill
No, there were no official points tallied for the eNASCAR Pro Invitational Series. But, had a championship been formally tabulated, Timmy Hill would have earned the most points. And for that, he wins the prestigious Pretty Darn Good Award. Congrats, Timmy!
Winner: Timmy Hill
No, there were no official points tallied for the eNASCAR Pro Invitational Series. But, had a championship been formally tabulated, Timmy Hill would have earned the most points. And for that, he wins the prestigious Pretty Darn Good Award. Congrats, Timmy!
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