Posted on by Press Release

Fourteen professional sports leagues today announced “The Real Heroes Project,” a collaborative initiative to recognize and celebrate healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Athletes representing the ATP, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL, USGA, WNBA, WTA and WWE, among other professional and esports leagues, including Activision Blizzard Esports and Electronic Arts, are dedicating their jerseys and uniforms to a special healthcare hero who is helping their community on the forefront of this global crisis.

With the help of creative agency 72andSunny, creative production company Hecho Studios, and media publication Adweek, the multi-league public service announcement will debut this Wednesday, May 6, across league and team platforms. Starting today, each participating athlete will share a personal thank you message to their healthcare hero on social media utilizing #TheRealHeroes. Throughout the PSA and personal tributes, athletes will cover their name on their jerseys or uniforms and replace it with the name of their healthcare hero.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the sports world has supported their local and national communities in their own respective efforts. Through “The Real Heroes Project,” the sports community will come together to salute heroic individuals across the healthcare system.

Featured leagues and athletes include:

• Activision Blizzard Esports – Esports athletes Seth “Scump” Abner of Call of Duty League, Li “Liooon” Xiaomeng of Hearthstone Esports, and Matthew “Super” DeLisi of Overwatch League.

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – Professional doubles tennis players, and most successful duo of all time, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan.

• Electronic Arts (EA) – Reigning FIFA eWorld Cup Champion Mohammed “MoAuba” Harkous, 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup Champion Mosaad “Msdossary” Aldossary, Madden NFL 19 Bowl Champion Drini “Drini” Gjoka, Madden NFL 18 Bowl Champion Seamus “Young Kiv” Kivlen, and professional Apex Legends competitors Eric “Snip3down” Wrona and Bowen “Monsoon” Fuller (#StayandPlay).

• Major League Baseball (MLB) – New York Yankees All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge and Milwaukee Brewers All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich.

• Major League Soccer (MLS) – Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, Toronto FC and U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jozy Altidore, and Orlando City SC forward Nani (#MLSUnites).

• NASCAR – Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch and 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion and Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick.

• National Basketball Association (NBA) – 2020 NBA All-Star and Utah Jazz point guard Donovan Mitchell (#NBATogether).

• National Football League (NFL) – New Orleans Saints All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees, Arizona Cardinals All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle.

• National Hockey League (NHL) – NHL Legend Wayne Gretzky, Chicago Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews and Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant Director of Player Development and former Canadian Women’s ice hockey Gold Medalist Hayley Wickenheiser.

• National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – United States Women’s National Soccer Team and Sky Blue FC forward Carli Lloyd and United States Women’s National Soccer Team and Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan.

• United States Golf Association (USGA) – Jordan Spieth, three-time USGA Champion (2015 U.S. Open and 2 U.S. Junior Amateurs), and Lydia Ko, winner of the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur and youngest No.-1 ranked player of all-time.

• Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) – Four-time WNBA All-Star guard Skylar Diggins-Smith of the Phoenix Mercury and two-time WNBA All-Star and 2018 WNBA MVP forward Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm (#WNBATogether).

• Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) – American teenage sensation who won her first three WTA titles and broke into the Top 50 at just 15 years old, Coco Gauff; Champion of the 2018 U.S. Open followed by 2019 Australian Open, Naomi Osaka from Japan; highest-ranked Canadian in the history of the WTA and 2019 U.S. Open Champion, Bianca Andreescu; WTA World No.1 and 2019 Roland Garros Champion from Australia, Ashleigh Barty; and former WTA World No.1 from Belarus with 20 WTA career singles titles, Victoria Azarenka.

• World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) – WWE Superstars John Cena, Triple H and Charlotte Flair.

The sports world invites fans around the world to join these world-class athletes on social media and dedicate their personal jerseys and team apparel to a frontline individual using the hashtag #TheRealHeroes. 

Posted on by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find NBCSN | Get the NBC Sports App | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App

Monday, May 4
1:30 a.m., eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at virtual Dover (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
6 a.m., Wednesday Night iRacing Series: Week 5 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
7 a.m., eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at virtual Dover (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Tuesday, May 5
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
7 p.m., NASCAR Live

Wednesday, May 6
4 p.m., The Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App
7 p.m., Wednesday Night iRacing Series: Week 6, FS1/FOX Sports App
8 p.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR Cup Series Racing at Rockingham, 2003 Subway 400 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

Thursday, May 7
12:30 a.m., Wednesday Night iRacing Series: Week 6 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
2:30 p.m., eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at virtual Dover (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App
4 p.m., Wednesday Night iRacing Series: Week 6 (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Classic: 1997 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

Saturday, May 9
7:30 a.m., NASCAR Classics: 1987 Winston 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
8 a.m., Wednesday Night iRacing Series: Week 6 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
9 a.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR-NASCAR Truck Series: Tucson (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
3 p.m., eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway, FOX* (check local listings)/FS1/FOX Sports App
6:30 p.m., Wednesday Night iRacing Series: Week 6 (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App
8:30 p.m., eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
10 p.m., eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App
11:30 p.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR-NASCAR Truck Series: Tucson (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App

Sunday, May 10
9 a.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR-2004 Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
Noon, Greatest Races: NASCAR-2004 Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville (re-air), FOX/FOX Sports App
3 p.m., NASCAR Race Classic: 1986 Budweiser at The Glen (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
5:30 p.m., eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
7 p.m., eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series at virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway (re-air), FS2/FOX Sports App
11 p.m., NASCAR Race Classic: Busch Series, 1999 NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Daytona (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
1 p.m., 2014 STP 500

Posted on by Holly Cain

Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron won his third eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race in the last four events — making a dramatic surge to the lead in the waning laps and holding off Christopher Bell at the end for the victory in Sunday’s Finish Line 150 at virtual Dover International Speedway.

Although it took that push in the final laps to secure the win, the 22-year-old Charlotte native led the most laps (79) on the day, which was quite an accomplishment considering the event featured a very Dover-like nine caution flags.

“It was a lot of fun today,’’ said Byron, who drives the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series. “Obviously there was a lot of cautions, so I just had to kind of pace myself. It was hard to predict when we were going to get a longer run, so it’s hard to know what to do with the tires in terms of how much to save, whatnot.

“My help there, Nick [Ottinger], Matt Holden, did a great job of really kind of leaving the strategy up to them as far as what tires to take. I think four tires at the end was the right call to be aggressive. Just thankful for their support and ready to get back to our normal racing here soon.’’

Bell’s runner-up showing in the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota was his best finish — and first top 10 — in the six eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series races to date. Timmy Hill, who battled Byron for much of the race, finished third — his fifth top-three finish in six races. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Erik Jones was fourth, followed by Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell, both earning their first top-five finishes in the virtual series as well.

JGR driver Denny Hamlin — winner of the inaugural series race at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway — finished sixth with Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, last week’s virtual Talladega Superspeedway winner Alex Bowman, Rick Ware Racing’s Garrett Smithley and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola rounding out the top 10.

The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series was created to give both competitors and fans a way to enjoy the sport during the country’s downtime fighting the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Next week’s race at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway — no longer on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule — will be the last virtual race, however.

RELATED: Series finale set for North Wilkesboro

NASCAR announced this past Thursday it would return to real-time competition on May 17 at Darlington Raceway.

There will be a pair of NASCAR Cup Series events at Darlington — on May 17 and 20 — and then at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24 and May 27. There will be no practices and only one qualifying session — for the sport’s longest race — the May 24 Coca-Cola 600, and no fans will be in attendance.

But before the sport begins its initial return to real-time competition, Byron has certainly proven himself a dominant force in iRacing. His combined 406 laps led in the six races to date is more laps out front than all the other drivers combined.

Although iRacing is a completely different scenario than real-world NASCAR Cup Series competition, Byron conceded the work he has put in to earn these iRacing wins against the same top-line NASCAR competition he’ll soon face on a real-time track, does have an upside.

“It honestly feels really good,’’ Byron said. “I feel like even though obviously it’s virtual racing, it’s a very similar platform to what we do. The physics and geometry of everything is similar.

“What gives me confidence is the fact that in pressure situations, being able to deliver under those is critical in a real race car because everyone can go real fast, but it comes down to the strategy and execution of that. It gives me a lot of confidence in the heated moments of the race. I’m excited to bring that back over to the real race car.’’

Hill, who perhaps has been Byron’s top competitor these weeks, was still smiling on the FOX Sports broadcast even after being overtaken for the win.

“I knew I was a sitting duck,’’ Hill said. “We came up short again, but William did a great job throughout the iRace. I just want to win again.’’

He’ll have that chance Sunday at the historic North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway — a .625-mile oval that has featured some of NASCAR’s most iconic racing and racing names. In fact, FOX Sports NASCAR analyst Jeff Gordon — a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame — said he was seriously considering competing next week. He is the last driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race at the track in 1996 before it closed down.

It all makes for a highly anticipated closure to the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series and an enthusiastic send-off for the return to real-time racing in just two weeks.

“I’m excited,’’ Byron said of the 2020 season resumption. “Obviously, we’re going to have to be careful health‑wise, really take care of ourselves. That starts with us as drivers to make sure that we’re being smart and things of that nature. When it comes to the racing I’m honestly just very excited because it kind of goes back to your roots as a driver of when you show up and you race, maybe you have a few laps of practice, but ultimately you get in the car and drive.

“I’m looking forward to that aspect of the race, not really being there for a long time, but just getting out there and driving.’’

Hamlin was the fastest qualifier for the 36-car field, but started 10th after an inversion of the top 10 in time trials. Hamlin was shown on social media pre-race, collecting remote controls at his home; his daughter, Taylor, inadvertently turned off his iRacing monitor during last weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.

The inverted order placed Ross Chastain in the first starting spot, with Smithley sharing the front row.

Contributing: Staff reports

Full results

Fin Str Car Driver Mfr Led Status
1 8 24 William Byron Chevrolet 79 Running
2 11 95 Christopher Bell Toyota 0 Running
3 7 66 Timmy Hill Toyota 32 Running
4 31 20 Erik Jones Toyota 0 Running
5 20 34 Michael McDowell Ford 0 Running
6 10 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 9 Running
7 32 12 Ryan Blaney Ford 0 Running
8 35 88 Alex Bowman Chevrolet 5 Running
9 2 51 Garrett Smithley Chevrolet 11 Running
10 27 10 Aric Almirola Ford 0 Running
11 28 15 Brennan Poole Chevrolet 0 Running
12 36 41 Cole Custer Ford 0 Running
13 14 19 Bobby Labonte Toyota 0 Running
14 15 22 Joey Logano Ford 0 Running
15 22 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 0 Running
16 30 1 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 0 Running
17 1 6 Ross Chastain Ford 3 Disconnected
18 18 4 Kevin Harvick Ford 0 Running
19 26 52 JJ Yeley Ford 0 Running
20 5 32 Corey LaJoie Ford 0 Disconnected
21 6 89 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 0 Running
22 17 49 Chad Finchum Toyota 0 Running
23 16 3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 0 Running
24 24 53 Joey Gase Ford 0 Running
25 34 31 Tyler Reddick Chevrolet 0 Running
26 4 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 0 Running
27 9 38 John H. Nemechek Ford 0 Disconnected
28 19 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
29 33 37 Ryan Preece Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
30 12 96 Daniel Suarez Toyota 0 Disconnected
31 29 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet 0 Running
32 25 13 Ty Dillon Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
33 13 2 Brad Keselowski Ford 0 Disconnected
34 3 77 Parker Kligerman Toyota 11 Disconnected
35 23 17 Chris Buescher Ford 0 Disconnected
36 21 21 Matt DiBenedetto Ford 0 Disconnected

 

Posted on by Staff Report

The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series will take a page from NASCAR history next weekend, racing on one of the simulation’s newest tracks — North Wilkesboro Speedway.

The .625-mile track in the North Carolina foothills debuts on the iRacing service on Saturday for the seventh and final race for the invitational sim series, the North Wilkesboro 160 (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FS1, FOX Sports App).

Meanwhile, Saturday Night Thunder will move to Friday and become Friday Night Thunder — and will compete at virtual Martinsville Speedway (eNASCAR.com/live).

RELATED: NASCAR announces revised May schedule

Dale Earnhardt Jr. led a group of drivers and broadcasters who cleaned the track surface at North Wilkesboro Speedway last December, allowing iRacing to scan and map the historic venue. Earnhardt teased a screenshot rendering of virtual North Wilkesboro’s frontstretch and main grandstand April 14.

North Wilkesboro Speedway was part of NASCAR’s first Strictly Stock (now called the Cup Series) season in 1949. The venue last hosted NASCAR’s top division in 1996 with Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon prevailing in the final race.

RELATED: Dale Earnhardt Jr. preps North Wilkesboro for scanning

Saturday’s event is the finale in the invitational series, which was created to fill the sports shutdown void during the height of the coronavirus outbreak. NASCAR officials announced last week that it aims to resume racing for its national series May 17, revealing a portion of a revised 2020 schedule that includes multiple races at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway in the coming weeks.

The race will be 160 laps with a projected final field of 28 drivers. Those competing getting one reset, manual cautions are prevalent and there will be a maximum of three attempts at a green-white-checkered finish, if needed. The top three finishers from Dover will start at the rear — that’s race winner William Byron (who isn’t competing this weekend), Christopher Bell and Timmy Hill. The top 10 qualifiers will be inverted to start the event. Green flag is set for 1:13 p.m. ET.

As for Friday’s event at Martinsville Speedway, it will be a chance for those who are not part of Saturday’s invitational to compete. The format is as follows: Single-car qualifying will be used to set the grid for four, 10-lap heat races that will determine 24 spots in the feature. Then, a 15-lap last-chance qualifier race will determine the final six spots in the feature for a total of 30 cars.

The feature will be 125 laps, and the order of the first 10 cars will be inverted before the green flag. There will be one reset, manual cautions and three attempts at a green-white-checkered finish.

Pro Invitational Series entry list
* subject to change

No. Name Team
3 Austin Dillon RCR
4 Kevin Harvick SHR
6 Ross Chastain Roush
8 Dale Earnhardt Jr Invitation
10 Aric Armirola SHR
11 Denny Hamlin JGR
13 Ty Dillon Germain
14 Clint Bowyer SHR
15 Brennan Poole Premium
17 Chris Buescher Roush
18 Kyle Busch JGR
19 Martin Truex Jr. JGR
20 Erik Jones JGR
21 Jon Wood Wood Bros.
24 Jeff Gordon Invitation
31 Tyler Reddick RCR
32 Corey LaJoie GoFas
34 Michael McDowell Front Row
37 Ryan Preece JTG
38 John Hunter Nemechek Front Row
41 Cole Custer SHR
49 Chad Finchum MBM
51 Garrett Smithley Invitation
52 JJ Yeley Rick Ware
53 Joey Gase Rick Ware
66 Timmy Hill Invitation
77 Parker Kligerman Invitation
89 Landon Cassill Invitation
95 Christopher Bell LFR
018 Bobby Labonte Invitation

Friday Night Thunder

Driver Car No.
Alex Labbe 90
Angela Ruch 00
Anthony Alfredo 33
Austin Cindric 22
Bayley Currey 74
Brandon Brown 68
Brett Moffitt 23
Chase Briscoe 098
Chase Cabre 4
Christian Eckes 81
CJ Mclaughlin 39
Derek Kraus 19
Donny Lia 07
Drew Dollar 015
Drew Herring 3
Grant Enfinger 98
Harrison Burton 20
Jeb Burton 8
Jeffrey Earnhardt 50
Jesse Iwuji 36
Joe Graf Jr. 80
Josh Berry 88
Josh Bilicki 99
Justin Allgaier 7
Kaz Grala 29
Kyle Weatherman 54
Landon Huffman 75
Logan Seavey 67
Matt Mills 5
Myatt Snider 93
Noah Gragson 9
Ruben Garcia 27
Ryan Ellis 78
Ryan Truex 40
Ryan Vargas 51
Joe Graf Jr. 80
Scott Stenzel 63
Spencer Boyd 02
Stephen Leicht 25
Stewart Friesen 52
Thad Moffitt 46
Todd Gilliland 38
Ty Majeski 45
Ty Gibbs 18
Will Rodgers 55
Stefan Parsons 83

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Anthony Alfredo won the eNASCAR iRacing Saturday Night Thunder 125-lap race at virtual Dover International Speedway.

Alfredo took the lead for the final time from Alex Labbe coming to six laps to go and went on to take the checkered flag.

Alfredo, a 21-year-old driver for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, led 15 of the 125 laps in the main event. It was the first Saturday Night Thunder win for the driver known as “Fast Pasta” after scoring two top 10s in the previous three races.

“To win one is definitely huge,” Alfredo said. “It felt like real life to me as far as the meaning of it and how hard it was, the intensity, the emotions.”

2020 May2 Anthony Alfredo Main Image
iRacing

Alfredo, who credits Coca-Cola iRacing Series drivers Jimmy Mullis and Zack Novak with helping him, now has a 9.8 average finish in the four races. Last Saturday at Talladega, Alfredo led six laps and was in contention for the win when he was turned at the start-finish line as the field took the white flag.

“I have learned so much about iRacing from them,” Alfredo said. “It’s so cool that NASCAR and iRacing have put these events on for us drivers to have fun and learn something for when we go back racing.”

The No. 33 Chevrolet that Alfredo drove at Dover sported a special paint scheme honoring late Air Force crew chief Wally Yocum.

Labbe, who was the first among the top finishers to make the final pit stop on Lap 77, finished second after leading 14 laps.

“It was pretty intense,” Labbe said about his late battle with Alfredo. “I tried a little different strategy with tires a little earlier than everybody.”

Raphael Lessard, Chase Cabre and last week’s winner Landon Huffman rounded out the top five.

Brett Moffitt started 26th after winning the second Last Chance Qualifier and finished sixth.

Ruben Garcia, Ryan Truex, Kaz Grala and Donny Lia completed the top 10. Lia led the opening 78 laps, but fell a lap down when he was caught speeding exiting the pits after his stop on Lap 79.

Race results

Fin Str Car Driver Mfr Led Status
1 9 33 Anthony Alfredo Chevrolet 15 Running
2 4 90 Alex Labbe Chevrolet 14 Running
3 5 04 Raphael Lessard Toyota 2 Running
4 6 4 Chase Cabre Toyota 2 Running
5 3 75 Landon Huffman Chevrolet 0 Running
6 26 23 Brett Moffitt Chevrolet 0 Running
7 17 27 Ruben Garcia Toyota 0 Running
8 23 40 Ryan Truex Chevrolet 0 Running
9 7 29 Kaz Grala Chevrolet 14 Running
10 1 07 Donny Lia Toyota 78 Running
11 21 8 Jeb Burton Chevrolet 0 Running
12 25 21 Sam Mayer Chevrolet 0 Running
13 22 55 Will Rodgers Ford 0 Running
14 14 98 Chase Briscoe Ford 0 Running
15 2 25 Stephen Leicht Toyota 0 Running
16 18 44 Tommy Joe Martins Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
17 16 19 Derek Kraus Toyota 0 Disconnected
18 24 74 Bayley Currey Chevrolet 0 Running
19 8 45 Ty Majeski Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
20 11 81 Christian Eckes Toyota 0 Disconnected
21 15 9 Noah Gragson Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
22 10 88 Josh Berry Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
23 13 3 Drew Herring Toyota 0 Disconnected
24 12 38 Todd Gilliland Ford 0 Disconnected
25 20 26 Tyler Ankrum Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
26 19 51 Ryan Vargas Chevrolet 0 Disconnected
Posted on by PJ Walsh

The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting  insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here.

Sunday’s NASCAR iRacing Finish Line 150 (1 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Sports and FOX Sports app) at Dover International Speedway will be the second-to-last Pro Invitational Series race as drivers and teams are preparing for the sport’s return to the track on May 17 at Darlington Raceway.

While I’m excited to see traditional NASCAR racing return, I’ve enjoyed the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series more than I expected as both a fan and bettor.

So with our iRacing betting opportunities winding down, let’s dig into the NASCAR odds and grab these two drivers to win the Finish Line 150 at Dover.

NASCAR iRacing at Dover Odds, Picks

Timmy Hill to Win (+700)

William Byron has been the dominant driver in the series this season, and Hill has been the clear number two. Timmy has the best average finish in the Pro Invitational Series, including one win and four top-three finishes.

While Byron should certainly be the favorite, I like the value with Hill at 7-1 over Byron’s +170 odds.

In fact, PointsBet is boosting Hill’s odds to +750 as well. If you can take advantage of the odds boost, then great, but if not, 7-1 is still a really good price.

[Bet now at PointsBet. NJ and IN only.]

Parker Kligerman to Win (+1200)

We have NASCAR iRacing sharp action!

Kligerman actually opened at 15-1, but has been bet down to 12-1 at PointsBet and other books across the market have seen similar action.

This is why …

If you remove Talladega, which I think is reasonable considering how different pack racing is from what we’ll see on Sunday, just Hill and Garrett Smithley have better average finishes than Kligerman.

Kligerman is also a very avid sim racer with plenty of iRacing experience, meaning he’ll know how to manage tire falloff and get on and off pit road under green extremely well.

In addition, Kligerman has expectedly been putting in ample practice time at Dover this week to prepare, making him a very nice value at 12-1.

I’m comfortable betting Kligerman down to 10-1.

[Bet now at PointsBet. NJ and IN only.]

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR issued a wide-ranging technical bulletin Friday afternoon, with updates on areas of competition impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as safety enhancements for future races following the findings from a study into the last-lap wreck of the 2020 Daytona 500.

The technical changes include the addition of two roll bars, elimination of aero ducts at superspeedway tracks and a reduction in the size of the throttle body at superspeedways.

Some of the changes are a result of NASCAR’s investigation of the six-car incident at the end of the 2020 Daytona 500, which resulted in a brief hospitalization for Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Newman after he was inadvertently turned and flipped on the final lap of the February season-opener.

Newman missed the following three races with what he identified as a “brain bruise,” but has been medically cleared to return to the car when the NASCAR Cup Series returns May 17 at Darlington Raceway.

NASCAR officials had studied the car at the R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina, following the incident. More details about the investigation are expected in the coming weeks.

“As teams prepare for the return to racing, we want to provide as much advance notice as possible for upcoming technical changes,” said John Probst, NASCAR senior vice president of racing development. “Some of these updates stem from the investigation into the six-car incident at Daytona, and all are intended to produce a safe and competitive race at all venues. We look forward to providing more details in the near future.”

Other technical changes to the cars include:

• Updated roll bar padding specifications, mandatory at all tracks beginning June 1;

• Oil reservoir tank or overflow expansion tank must contain a check valve, mandatory at all tracks beginning with Talladega;

• Slip tape must be applied along the entire length of the lower rearward facing surfaces of the rear bumper cover and extension, at superspeedways only.

Additionally, with teams beginning to return to the race shops to prepare for the NASCAR Cup Series return, the following also was announced in Friday’s bulletin.

• The temporary ban on most testing will be lifted on May 4, but on-track testing will not be allowed in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series for the remainder of the 2020 season.

• Organizations are allocated 150 hours in the wind tunnel through Dec. 31, 2021, with a maximum usage of 70 hours in 2020 and 90 hours in 2021.

• Wind tunnel testing of Next Gen vehicles — the debut of which was delayed from 2021 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — by individual organizations is not permitted.

• The minimum number of short block sealed engines changes from 13 to eight.

Posted on by Holly Cain

The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series eNASCAR Finish Line 150 will take place this Sunday (1 p.m. ET on FOX where available, FS1 and the FOX Sports App) from the virtual Dover International Speedway where so many of the sport’s best drivers plan to continue this well-received and competitive offering for race fans. 

The opening five events of this series have produced thrilling finishes, crowned new stars and been an overall upbeat racing alternative during this unprecedented pause in real-time sports action as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RELATED: Entry list for Dover | Paint schemes for virtual race

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is the only multi-time winner in all three premier NASCAR series – with three NASCAR Cup Series, five NASCAR Xfinity Series and four NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series victories. NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte and current NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Dale Earnhardt Jr. have also won in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series at the track.

Kevin Harvick is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner at Dover, most recently earning the 2018 spring race trophy. He has competed in two of the previous eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series events, with a best showing of 12th last week at virtual Talladega Superspeedway after starting 24th on the grid. Although the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion has a pair of simulators at home – one a Christmas gift for his young son, Keelan – he said he really hadn’t used them much previously.

“It’s been a crash course in how to do all this, and I’ve been able to get everything going and get up to speed and make it enjoyable now to where it’s not just trying to figure out what buttons to push or how to reset the wheel,” said Harvick, who drives the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Competing in this series has been fun but also an eye-opener for Harvick and many of the veterans who did not use race simulators on a regular basis in the same way as the younger drivers have recently.

That includes Dover’s all-time best, 11-time winner Jimmie Johnson.

The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is still looking for his first top-10 finish in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series but feels more optimistic with each race. Certainly competing at a virtual venue where he is certifiably best in the business is encouraging. As with Harvick, Johnson had little sim experience at all coming into this specially-developed series.

For Johnson, it has meant purchasing a new simulator, learning a new line of communication and, essentially, getting comfortable with a new alternate reality, one he says took a little getting used to.

“I belly-flopped so bad in the first event I ran that people were reaching out to me,” Johnson said. “Dale Jr. actually sent me a text saying, ‘I know you need help. There’s a four-time Cup Series champion in iRacing that wants to help you and he knows what he’s doing. You should get in touch with him.'”

Johnson did get in touch and has worked with his “driving coach” since.

“It’ll be cool this week,” Johnson said. “The visual piece is very accurate. But the frustrations I had at Richmond (Raceway) in the real car, I had in the fake car, so things do cross over. I’m hopeful I will have a good showing.”

RELATED: Pro Invitational Series Power Rankings: Who’s No. 1?  

The whole eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series experience has been enlightening to many competitors, and Harvick is certain it may present a golden opportunity to draw in new NASCAR fans.

“For us, we’re very fortunate we have a platform like this to entertain our fans and stay engaged with our fans right now,” Harvick said. “The one thing I hope comes out of this whole process is that everybody has conversations about continuing to intertwine with them.

“When you look at the console side and iRacing and the benefit of having our fans watch their races, we benefit just as much from having their fans watch our races. “How do we carry all those fans and cross-market those people to keep them involved in our sport.”

Certainly the racing has to be a huge draw. The virtual competition has been and remains essentially a showcase for several drivers such as William Byron, the only multiple winner in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series to date, as well as Timmy Hill, who has a win (at virtual Texas Motor Speedway) and four top-10 finishes in the five races to date. Neither has won in real-time at Dover, but Byron has led more laps than any driver in this eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series and his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is understandably expected to be the car to beat – again.

RELATED: Most laps led in Pro Invitational Series races

Denny Hamlin, who won the inaugural eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway is a former two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series winner at Dover. Earnhardt – a three-race winner at Dover – has three top-10 finishes in the opening five series races, including a runner-up to Hamlin at Homestead.

This week’s Dover race will be 150 laps and allow for one reset. There will be manual cautions and three attempts at a green-white-checkered flag finish. Two-lap, single-car qualifying runs will set the grid, but the top 10 positions will be inverted. The top-three finishers from last week’s Talladega race – Alex Bowman, Corey LaJoie and Ryan Preece – will start at the rear of the field.

The Saturday Night Thunder 125-lap feature from Dover – featuring many drivers from the NASCAR Xfinity  and Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series competitions – will be held at 8 p.m. ET Saturday with broadcast on NASCAR’s YouTube channel and eNASCAR.com/live. The top-six finishers in four heat races plus two drivers from the Last Chance Qualifier move to the feature. The top-five finishers from last week’s race – Landon Huffman, Josh Berry, Joe Graf Jr., Tommy Joe Martins and Spencer Boyd – will start at the rear of the grid.

Posted on by Staff Report

The NASCAR industry, drivers and its partners are lending a hand as part of the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Find out what work is taking place and how you can join and help in the effort.

RELATED: NASCAR timeline, schedule updates and more

TRACKS
Atlanta Motor Speedway: The Georgia track is teaming up with The American Red Cross for a blood drive on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time at the Tara Ballroom in the trackside condominium complex. The track hosted a blood drive on April 6 as well. | LEARN MORE … The track along with Hampton Elementary and the Atlanta Community Food Bank will host four mobile market days at the track on May 1, 8, 15 and 22 starting at 11 a.m. ET. During each open market, families may receive 30 to 40 pounds of food items free of charge, while supplies last. The market days are open to anyone in the community and supplies are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. | LEARN MORE

Charlotte Motor Speedway: In partnership with the speedway, Atrium Health has created a Coronavirus Testing Center at zMAX Dragway, part of the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex. The remote testing site provides a convenient location for residents of northern Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties to have their tests performed, when ordered by their physician. Testing for COVID-19 is conducted without patients having to get out of their cars, which reduces the possibility of infecting other patients and healthcare workers. Tests are administered by appointment only from your physician. | LEARN MORE 

The track is also hosting two blood drives. The first on May 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time is in partnership with The American Red Cross. To schedule an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter the key word “Lapsforlife.” The second blood drive is on May 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time in partnership with Atrium Health and OneBlood. Donors are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive. To schedule an appointment, visit www.oneblood.org/speedway.

Daytona International Speedway: After a month of providing drive-up COVID-19 testing as a community service, AdventHealth will begin phasing out the screening over the next two weeks as the state of Florida and local businesses reopen. Since opening the first drive-up testing location at Daytona International Speedway, AdventHealth tested nearly 20,000 people (including more than 5,000 at Daytona International Speedway). Of those tested, less than 2 percent were positive. The tests were available to anyone with symptoms or close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, even if they are not currently experiencing symptoms. Those who wish to be tested do not need a doctor’s order prior to arrival. There are no out-of-pocket costs, regardless of insurance status. AdventHealth will cover the cost of those who are uninsured at the community drive-up testing sites. The test consists of spitting into a cup.

Dover International Speedway: The Delaware track is now a donation center, hosting a Personal Protection Equipment Community Donation Drive. Donors can drive up, but not exit their vehicle as Bayhealth personnel will remove the items.  | LEARN MORE

Las Vegas Motor Speedway: The track hosted The American Red Cross of Nevada’s blood drives on March 27, April 2, 7 and 11 in the Thrive Hill Digital Center in speedway infield and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time on those days. | LEARN MORE

Martinsville Speedway: The Virginia track worked with The Harvest Foundation and other local healthcare providers and government leaders to turn the speedway grounds into a COVID-19 testing center. As of April 8, the track is now open as a testing site but patients must be referred by their physician to be tested. Testing for now is scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. local time. | LEARN MORE

Pocono Raceway: The Pennsylvania track has started the #Air5Challenge – a social media initiative geared towards spreading positivity and gratitude to individuals who are inspiring us right now. Follow the three-step process at the link here and The Mattioli Foundation in coordination with Pocono Raceway, will donate $1 each time the #Air5Challenge hashtag is used. They are pledging $5,000 for the Pocono Mountains United Way ‘Crisis Response Fund.’ | LEARN MORE

Texas Motor Speedway: The track will host blood drives with The American Red Cross on June 24, July 22 and August 13 at the Lone Star Condominium Clubhouse from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time. The track hosted blood drives on April 1 and May 6 as well.

DRIVERS
Jimmie Johnson: The seven-time champ set up a fundraising effort for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Inc. where anyone who donates at least $25 will be entered to win signed Jimmie Johnson race worn shoes. The winner will be selected randomly at the conclusion of the fundraising period after June 1. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Inc. is an organization that has started the CDP COVID-19 Response Fund which focuses on supporting local nonprofit organizations working in areas identified as having high numbers of affected individuals and those who are working with the most vulnerable populations in these areas to help build their capacity for response. | LEARN MORE

Kevin Harvick: Harvick’s Kevin Harvick Foundation pledged to match Hamlin’s donation of $6,400. Harvick has also set up a fundraising effort for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Inc. where anyone who donates at least $25 will be entered to win a signed Kevin Harvick fire suit. The winner will be selected randomly at the conclusion of the fundraising period after June 1. | LEARN MORE

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Earnhardt has set up a fundraising effort for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Inc. where anyone who donates at least $25 will be entered to win a signed pair of skeleton racing gloves by Dale Earnhardt Jr. The winner will be selected randomly at the conclusion of the fundraising period after June 1. | LEARN MORE

Denny Hamlin: Hamlin and sponsor FedEx are teaming up to donate 60,000 meals to the food bank in his hometown of Chesterfield, Virginia. | LEARN MORE … Hamlin pledged $100 for each lap led in the iRacing Pro Series Invitational race at the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway and $5,000 for winning the race in a donation through The NASCAR Foundation and Feed the Children to benefit families in the Homestead-Miami are affected by COVID-19. Hamlin won the race and led 14 laps to raise a total of $6,400. Hamlin revealed on Twitter that the Coca-Cola Racing Family matched his donation as well to bring the total from his donation and matching donations to over $40,000.

Hamlin is the latest athlete to join Fanatics’ ALL IN Challenge, which has pegged itself as the largest digital fundraiser ever. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver and three-time Daytona 500 winner announced he’s offering up the opportunity to play Michael Jordan’s new exclusive golf club in Florida alongside himself and PGA Tour’s Bubba Watson. That’s not all. In addition to the round of golf, the package will feature a private flight and VIP access to the 2021 Daytona 500. | LEARN MORE

Kyle Busch: Like Hamlin, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion has joined Fanatics’ ALL IN Challenge, offering up a VIP experience for two guests to a future race. | LEARN MORE

Kurt Busch: Also joining in on Fanatics’ ALL IN Challenge, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver and 2004 Cup Series champion is offering up a helicopter ride to the NASCAR events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where VIP passes will be waiting. He says it’ll be a “dream race weekend.” | LEARN MORE

Austin Hill, Max McLaughlin, Derek Kraus, and two Hattori Racing Enterprises employees are going to be racing weekly and we’re opening registrations up to the public for a minimum $5.00 donation to FeedNC.org in Mooresville. FeedNC.org’s pantry program provides groceries and prepared meals for over 700 hungry families around the Charlotte areas. The first race will be this Saturday night (3/28) at 8:00 p.m. ET with the trucks at Texas. | LEARN MORE

Brad Keselowski: Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation is partnering with Atrium Health Cabarrus and Mr. C’s restaurant to provide meals for healthcare providers working tirelessly to fight COVID-19. A donation of $10 will provide a meal to the medical professionals caring for our community. Additionally, his Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing company has worked with groups to meet demands for face shields for healthcare workers. | LEARN MORE

Joey Logano: The Joey Logano Foundation in partnership with Elevation Outreach has established a $1 million COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. The funding will address a variety of needs including educational equity and access, medical supplies, food distribution and financial shortages throughout the greater Charlotte area and communities across the United States. | LEARN MORE

The Joey Logano Foundation partnered with The NASCAR Foundation, Convoy of Hope and Elevation Outreach to host a distribution event at Darlington Raceway on Monday, May 18.

INDUSTRY PARTNERS/TEAMS
NASCAR R&D Center: The NASCAR Research & Development Center is printing face shields for local hospitals and doctors to help protect medical professionals as they treat COVID-19. Right now, hospitals in North Carolina and Georgia will be receiving masks that are made at the Concord, North Carolina facility. Senior Director of Aerodynamics and Vehicle Performance Eric Jacuzzi explained the process to NASCAR.com’s Alex Weaver in this video. | LEARN MORE

The Real Heroes Project: NASCAR is among 14 professional sports leagues taking part in “The Real Heroes Project,” a collaborative initiative to recognize and celebrate healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Athletes are dedicating their jerseys and uniforms to a special healthcare hero who is helping their community on the forefront of this global crisis. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are taking part in this program. | LEARN MORE

The NASCAR Foundation: Through its website, The NASCAR Foundation is collecting donations to help families in need. Proceeds will go directly to delivering food, supplies, safety items and more to racing communities impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway, proceeds went to Feed the Children in the Homestead-Miami area. In conjunction with the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series races at virtual Texas Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway, the foundation worked with Speedway Children’s Charities — the official charity of Speedway Motorsports. For the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race at virtual Richmond Raceway, proceeds will go to Blessings in a Backpack. For the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race at virtual Dover International Speedway, the charity partner for response to COVID-19 is the Bayhealth Foundation in partnership with The NASCAR Foundation. | LEARN MORE

RELATED: NASCAR Acceleration Nation offers at-home STEM learning

Stewart-Haas Racing: The race team repurposed two of its 53-foot haulers — typically used for transporting the race cars to tracks across the country — to pick up 2 million face masks and deliver them to healthcare provider Novant Health, replenishing its supplies and ensuring its frontline team members are protected. | LEARN MORE. … SHR also announced May 11 that it has produced webcam carts for use in intensive care units by Novant Health. Stewart-Haas delivered 10 carts with plans to make 110 more. The units allow remote monitoring of patients, limiting exposure for healthcare workers on the front lines. The webcam carts are also coated with an anti-microbial finish from Axalta to facilitate easier cleaning. | LEARN MORE

Richard Childress Racing: Team owner Richard Childress launched an auction and sale of memorabilia and other items to benefit national and local COVID-19 relief efforts. The auction and sale include thousands of rare, hard-to-find and exclusive items from RCR’s 50-plus years in NASCAR. Among items being auctioned is an original No. 3 Chevrolet once raced by Dale Earnhardt, complete with the engine. This will mark the first time Childress has parted with an original Earnhardt car from his collection. | LEARN MORE … RCR has also used the organization’s water jet machine to produce full-face shields, following a design formulated at Georgia Tech. The team is shipping the shields and final assembly instructions to healthcare facilities across the USA. | LEARN MORE

Roush Fenway Racing: The race team’s shop is manufacturing a device similar to that of a “sneeze guard” at a salad bar. The device works as a clear guard is placed over the patient in bed, covering his or her upper body from head to about chest level. There are two holes that allow physicians and nurses access, but the protection helps prevent the kind of immediate exposure that has spread the virus. | LEARN MORE

Team Penske: The organization is assisting Stratasys — a technical partner for Team Penske — by making 3D-printed face shields at the race shop. | LEARN MORE

Hendrick Motorsports: The organization’s team of engineers have focused on production of personal protective equipment, teaming with physicians at Charlotte-based Atrium Health. Its 3-D printers and laser cutters have been put to use to make reusable face shields for front-line health-care workers. | LEARN MORE

Wood Brothers Racing: The race team is raising money to purchase tablets for seniors in an effort to help keep the seniors in touch with family that may not be able or allowed to visit in their nursing homes and assisted living facilities. | LEARN MORE

Kyle Busch Motorsports: The organization is using its Stratasys 3D printing device to help produce face shields. | LEARN MORE

Halmar Friesen Racing: The Gander Trucks organization is using its race hauler — which usually brings the No. 52 entry for driver Stewart Friesen to the track — to deliver 16 tons of food to areas in need over a two-day stretch. | LEARN MORE

Ford: The automobile manufacturer is partnering with 3M, GE and UAW to use assembly to manufacture ventilators. | LEARN MORE … Ford drivers participating in the eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series at virtual Richmond plan to run special paint schemes to raise awareness and show support for Ford’s Project Apollo, an effort to produce respirators, masks, PPE and COVID-19 test collection kits. | LEARN MORE

3M: The company is partnering with Ford, GE and UAW to use assembly to manufacturer ventilators and is also stepping up its production of key medical supplies. | LEARN MORE

Dixie Vodka: The company will donate 10 percent of all online sales to the USBG Foundation focused on the Bartenders Emergency Assistance Program.

DraftKings: From March 24 to April 7, #DKRally will run in an effort to create a large-scale social engagement campaign to raise awareness of the importance of charitable giving to those in need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. DK is hoping to reach its goal of donating $1,000,000 to the United Way’s COVID-19 Relief Efforts after its initial donation of $500,000. | LEARN MORE

Fanatics: The sports retailer — which sells the official gear for several sports leagues, including NASCAR — has shifted its production of Major League Baseball uniforms to use the fabric for much-needed protective masks and hospital gowns for healthcare and emergency workers. | LEARN MORE

FedEx: In addition to keeping its shipping operations moving amidst higher demand during the crisis, FedEx has worked with the U.S. government to quickly transport COVID-19 test specimens from 50 remote drive-thru locations across 12 states, devoting 28 flight legs to assist with a rapid testing response. The company has also coordinated with global relief efforts, deploying medical shelters and transporting medical supplies and aid internationally. | LEARN MORE

Anheuser-Busch: The beer manufacturer is partnering with the Red Cross and sports partners to convert empty arenas and stadiums into temporary centers for blood donations large enough to accommodate social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. | LEARN MORE.  … Everyone could use a companion for the couch right now. So if you foster (or adopt) a dog from Midwest Animal Rescue, Busch will give you three months’ worth of Busch to enjoy by their side | LEARN MORE (MUST BE 21+)

Toyota: Toyota Motor North America, Inc. and its affiliates across 13 states have donated $500,000 to the United Way to assist those in need with food, water, childcare and other emergency relief needs. | LEARN MORE

Coca-Cola: The philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, The Coca-Cola Foundation awarded $13.5 million in grants to five non-profit organizations (Feeding America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada, Food Banks Canada and Center for Disaster Philanthropy) working on the front lines of U.S. and Canadian humanitarian response to the coronavirus pandemic. | LEARN MORE

Elgin Sweepers and parent company Federal Signal are working directly with those on the frontlines to reclaim, recover and revive outdoor spaces during this time.  This includes use of sprayer and vacuum systems to sanitize outdoor areas, as well as the manufacturing of face shields to protect essential workers. | LEARN MORE

Verizon: The company launched Pay it Forward Live, a weekly streaming entertainment series that will include music, gaming, comedy and more in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19. Dave Matthews was the first performer to take part in a 30-minute performance from home. Over the course of the series, all viewers who tune in will be encouraged to tag their favorite local businesses and make a purchase in advance for when businesses reopen. Verizon donated $2.5 million to Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national nonprofit that has invested $20 billion to fuel economic opportunity for people and communities across America. | LEARN MORE

Amazon Web Services: The company has launched the AWS Diagnostic Development Initiative—a program to support customers who are working to bring better, more accurate, diagnostics solutions to market faster and promote better collaboration across organizations that are working on similar problems. As part of this, it is committing an initial investment of $20 million to accelerate diagnostic research, innovation, and development to speed our collective understanding and detection of COVID-19 and other innovate diagnostic solutions to mitigate future infectious disease outbreaks. | LEARN MORE

Posted on by Staff Report

Mercury Records Nashville recording artist Travis Denning will perform a virtual pre-race concert Sunday before the sixth eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race, the eNASCAR Finish Line 150. Denning will join NASCAR Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie and NASCAR.com digital host Alex Weaver for the online event.

Denning’s current Top 10 single “After A Few” is continuing to ascend the charts at Country Radio and follows the success of his debut Top 40 single “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs.” Denning will release his highly anticipated debut EP BEER’S BETTER COLD on May 15.  Denning co-wrote five out of the six songs on the upcoming project that will include his current Top 10 hit as well as the “wickedly fun good-riddance” (People) break-up anthem “ABBY” and more. Denning will chat about the upcoming race at the virtual Dover International Speedway. The race, which is set to air at 1 p.m. ET on FOX (check local listings), FS1 and the FOX Sports App, will feature some of NASCAR’s biggest names in action.

RELATED: Pro Invitational Series entry list for Dover | Check out paint schemes for the race

Denning joins the list of virtual pre-race acts since the Pro Invitational Series was conceived and developed in advance of the Dixie Vodka 150 at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 22. Tim Dugger, Cole Swindell, Justin Moore and Cody Cannon of the band Whiskey Myers have played a virtual pre-race show for the events, with Country Music Hall of Famer, Randy Owen of the supergroup Alabama taking the reins last week.

Fans can catch the virtual pre-race concert Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET on NASCAR’s YouTube and Facebook channels. Preorder Denning’s EP here: https://nas.cr/3aNqXPR