Preview: eNASCAR Pro Invitational Series at Talladega

The stars of the NASCAR Cup Series are pulling double-duty at Talladega Superspeedway this week – if you count Wednesday night’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series event from the virtual 2.66-mile superspeedway.

Here’s everything you need to know about the second iRacing exhibition event airing live Apr. 21 at 7 pm. ET on FS1.

This year’s format

• • Qualifying: Two-lap, three-minute solo session
  • Race: 70-lap, 2 resets

• Field Size: 40 cars, comprised of 36 NASCAR Cup Series drivers, a NASCAR.com fan vote winner and any past Pro Invitational winners, along with special guests Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer.

Entry list

Car No.	Team	Driver
0	StarCom Racing	Quin Houff
2	Team Penske	Brad Keselowski
3	Richard Childress Racing	Austin Dillon
4	Stewart-Haas Racing	Kevin Harvick
5	Hendrick Motorsports	Kyle Larson
6	Roush Fenway Racing	Ryan Newman
7	Spire Motorsports	Corey Lajoie
8	Richard Childress Racing	Tyler Reddick
9	Hendrick Motorsports	Chase Elliott
10	Stewart-Haas Racing	Aric Almirola
11	Joe Gibbs Racing	Denny Hamlin
12	Team Penske	Ryan Blaney
14	Stewart-Haas Racing	Chase Briscoe
15	Rick Ware Racing	James Davison
17	Roush Fenway Racing	Chris Buescher
18	Joe Gibbs Racing	Kyle Busch
19	Joe Gibbs Racing	Martin Truex Jr.
20	Joe Gibbs Racing	Christopher Bell
21	Wood Brothers Racing	Matt DiBenedetto
22	Team Penske	Joey Logano
23	23XI Racing	Bubba Wallace
24	Hendrick Motorsports	William Byron
28	Rick Ware Racing	Joey Gase
34	Front Row Motorsports	Michael McDowell
38	Front Row Motorsports	Anthony Alfredo
41	Stewart-Haas Racing	Cole Custer
42	Chip Ganassi Racing	Ross Chastain
43	Richard Petty Motorsports	Erik Jones
47	JTG Daugherty Racing	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
48	Hendrick Motorsports	Alex Bowman
51	Petty Ware Racing	Garrett Smithley
52	Rick Ware Racing	Josh Bilicki
77	Spire Motorsports	Justin Haley
78	Live Fast Racing	BJ McLeod
97	Trackhouse Racing	Daniel Suarez
88	Promoter’s Provisional	Dale Earnhardt Jr.
79	Promoter’s Provisional	Clint Bowyer
62	Promoter’s Provisional	Keelan Harvick
66	MBM Motorsports Past winner Provisional	Timmy Hill
99	Fan Vote Winner	Jesse Iwuji

Last year’s Pro Invitational Series race at Talladega

The 2020 iRacing Pro Invitational Series race was one of the most memorable races of last spring’s seven-race season.

For starters, Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon made his iRacing debut – but it wasn’t before long the driver-gone-broadcaster ended up in Talladega’s virtual catch fence.

Have you landed yet, @JeffGordonWeb?

The Big One strikes with a vengeance early at @TalladegaSuperS. pic.twitter.com/c3WGnVJK0P

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 26, 2020

Denny Hamlin was also (now famously) knocked out by a technical glitch of sorts.

You won’t believe what happen… story coming

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) April 26, 2020

…which, by the way, has become one of our favorite GIFs. Thanks for that, Taylor.

Birthday boy and frequent mid-race tweeter Alex Bowman ended up bringing home the win, holding off Corey LaJoie in overtime.

Do I have to get one of those stick on fake tattoos if I win the virtual race?

— Alex Bowman (@Alex_Bowman) April 26, 2020

Yesterday was my birthday and today I won @TalladegaSuperS 🤘🏼

… I think I need a nap now pic.twitter.com/GCv0sKaPxH

— Alex Bowman (@Alex_Bowman) April 26, 2020

Last Pro Invitational Series race: Byron wins the Bristol Dirt Race

William Byron, the most decorated driver in the brief history of the Pro Invitational Series, picked up his fourth win last month in the 2021 season opener at the dirt version of Bristol Motor Speedway.

Had fun tonight on the Virtual Dirt and got the W! Thanks @iRacing for continuing to improve their platform, and @LibertyU @TeamChevy. @LoganClampitt_ and @NickOttinger helped a ton. Hopefully can have a nice weekend at Bristol. pic.twitter.com/reakgR3Zxn

— William Byron (@WilliamByron) March 25, 2021

What to expect and who to watch

They say just about anything can happen at Talladega, and that’s no different in the sim-racing world. Alex Bowman wasn’t considered a favorite to win last year’s race – after all, his opening weeks of the series were spent, to our entertainment, in-race tweeting and blaming his dog for incidents – but he managed to prevail despite Brad Keselowski and John Hunter Nemechek leading the most laps.

Of course, we’ve got our eyes on William Byron, who’s an evergreen iRacing favorite, though Talladega’s draft is known as the great equalizer.

Like each time the NASCAR Cup Series visits Talladega, there’s a chance for an underdog story, too. Corey LaJoie finished runner-up at ‘Dega last year, just ahead of Ryan Preece and Garrett Smithley; Smithley also finished fourth at the Bristol Dirt iRacing race last month.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Daniel Suárez’s special paint scheme, honoring 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Red Farmer.

We've got something special for 2021 @NASCARHall inductee, Red Farmer!@Daniel_SuarezG will drive the 97 in the #ProInvitationalSeries race this Wednesday night. pic.twitter.com/C0BnM7465W

— Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) April 19, 2021

One more driver for the fans

Through a fan vote, fans selected one more guest entrant to round out the field: Jesse Iwuji will put on the virtual belts Wednesday to show his stuff against the Cup Series stars. Iwuji, who’s also a U.S. Naval officer, competes in the Camping World Truck Series. He competed in last year’s Saturday Night Thunder exhibition event on iRacing, held the night before the Pro Invitational Series race with non-Cup Series drivers.

MUCHO FAN SUPPORT NEEDED ON THIS ONE😬😬!! It’s for the opportunity to race in the Iracing pro invitational race on TV with the NASCAR cup series guys! It would mean a lot. Be sure to click on the vote button UNDER my name, not the one above my name:https://t.co/WlsPd1fXmg

— Jesse Iwuji (@Jesse_Iwuji) April 16, 2021

Catch the live broadcast of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race from Talladega Superspeedway Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, following NASCAR Race Hub.