The 2020 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series was the first season of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, a series of iRacing sim racing events originally organized for NASCAR drivers to compete in after its 2020 seasons were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drivers from all of NASCAR's series competed in races, including Hall of Fame drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, and Jeff Gordon. Each weekend, the series would race on virtual versions of the racetracks that the NASCAR Cup Series would have raced at that weekend had the real races not been postponed, except for the final race at North Wilkesboro, a former NASCAR track which last hosted a NASCAR race in 1996, to launch the track joining iRacing. The series began at March 22 with a race at the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway, and concluded with a race at the virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 9.
Originally supposed to be a one-time event, it quickly became a weekly series, and later included the Saturday Night Thunder series of races for drivers in NASCAR's lower series.
Teams and drivers Main events Complete schedule Manufacturer Team Race driver Chevrolet Germain Racing 13 Ty Dillon Hendrick Motorsports 24 William Byron Jeff Gordon JR Motorsports 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing 37 Ryan Preece Richard Childress Racing 3 Austin Dillon Rick Ware Racing 51 Garrett Smithley Shepherd Racing Ventures 89 Landon Cassill Ford Front Row Motorsports 34 Michael McDowell 38 John Hunter Nemechek Roush Fenway Racing 6 Ross Chastain 17 Chris Buescher Wood Brothers Racing 21 Matt DiBenedetto Jon Wood Toyota Burton-Kligerman eSports 77 Parker Kligerman Joe Gibbs Racing 11 Denny Hamlin 18 Kyle Busch 19 Bobby Labonte Martin Truex Jr. 20 Erik Jones Leavine Family Racing 95 Christopher Bell MBM Motorsports 66 Timmy Hill
Limited schedule Manufacturer Team Race driver Rounds Chevrolet Brandonbilt Motorsports 68 Brandon Brown Chip Ganassi Racing 1 Kurt Busch 42 Kyle Larson DGM Racing 90 Alex Labbé Furniture Row Racing 78 Regan Smith GMS Racing 23 Sam Mayer 26 Tyler Ankrum Hendrick Motorsports 9 Chase Elliott 024 Jeff Gordon 48 Jimmie Johnson 88 Alex Bowman Jesse Iwuji Motorsports 36 Jesse Iwuji JR Motorsports 7 Justin Allgaier 08 Jeb Burton JTG Daugherty Racing 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kaulig Racing Justin Haley Niece Motorsports 40 Ryan Truex 45 Ty Majeski Premium Motorsports 15 Brennan Poole Richard Childress Racing 29 Kaz Grala 31 Tyler Reddick 33 Anthony Alfredo 93 Myatt Snider Richard Petty Motorsports 43 Bubba Wallace SS-Green Light Racing 80 Joe Graf Jr. The Money Team RacingEntries were fielded in a collaboration with JD Motorsports. 50 Jeffrey Earnhardt Young's Motorsports 02 Spencer Boyd Ford Bayne Motorsports 29A Trevor Bayne B. J. McLeod Motorsports 78 Ryan Ellis Canel's Racing 27 Rubén García Jr. Front Row Motorsports 35 Todd Gilliland Go Fas Racing 32 Corey LaJoie Roush Fenway Racing 16 Greg Biffle Rick Ware Racing J. J. Yeley 54 Kyle Weatherman Stewart–Haas Racing 4 Kevin Harvick 10 Aric Almirola 14 Clint Bowyer 41 Cole Custer 98 Chase Briscoe Team Penske 2 Brad Keselowski 12 Austin Cindric Ryan Blaney 22 Joey Logano Austin Cindric Toyota Gaunt Brothers Racing 96 Daniel Suárez Halmar Friesen Racing 52 Stewart Friesen Joe Gibbs Racing 018 Bobby Labonte 99 Harrison BurtonEntry was fielded in a collaboration with Burton-Kligerman eSports. Kyle Busch Motorsports 46 Chandler Smith 81 Christian Eckes MBM Motorsports 49 Chad Finchum McAnally–Hilgemann Racing 5 Derek Kraus Spraker Racing Enterprises 63 Scott Stenzel Ford Chevrolet Rick Ware Racing 53 Joey Gase
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Thunder races Complete schedule Manufacturer Team Race driver Chevrolet B. J. McLeod Motorsports 5 Matt Mills 99 Josh Bilicki DGM Racing 90 Alex Labbé Jesse Iwuji Motorsports 36 Jesse Iwuji JR Motorsports 8 Jeb Burton Niece Motorsports 40 Ryan Truex Richard Childress Racing 29 Kaz Grala 33 Anthony Alfredo 93 Myatt Snider Rodgers Motorsports 55 Will Rodgers Spraker Racing Enterprises 63 Scott Stenzel Young's Motorsports 02 Spencer Boyd Ford Canel's Racing 27 Rubén García Jr. Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing 20 Harrison Burton Kyle Busch Motorsports 81 Christian Eckes MBM Motorsports 25 Stephen Leicht McAnally–Hilgemann Racing 19 Derek Kraus Rev Racing 4 Chase Cabre Chevrolet Ford B. J. McLeod Motorsports 78 Ryan Ellis
Limited schedule Manufacturer Team Race driver Rounds Chevrolet Brandonbilt Motorsports 68 Brandon Brown Currey Motorsports 05 Bayley CurreyCurrey ran the full season split between Currey Motorsports' No. 05 and Mike Harmon Racing's No. 74. CMI Motorsports 83 Stefan Parsons Dean Motorsports 56 Gus Dean DGM Racing 92 Josh Williams Elliott Sadler eSports 99 Elliott Sadler GMS Racing 16 Sheldon Creed 21 Sam Mayer 23 Brett Moffitt 26 Tyler Ankrum JD Motorsports Jeffrey Earnhardt 51 Ryan Vargas JR Motorsports 1 Michael Annett 7 Justin Allgaier 9 Noah Gragson 88 Josh Berry Kaulig Racing 11 Justin Haley Koch Motorsports 57 Blake Koch Martins Motorsports 44 Tommy Joe Martins Mike Harmon Racing 74 Bayley Currey Niece Motorsports 45 Ty Majeski Premium Motorsports 15 Brennan Poole Reaume Brothers Racing 00 Angela Ruch Rick Ware Racing 53 Joey Gase RSS Racing 39 C. J. McLaughlin Shepherd Racing Ventures 89 Landon Cassill Landon HuffmanHuffman ran the full season split between Total Advantage Motorsports' No. 75 and Shepherd Racing Ventures' No. 89, which was in a collaboration with TAM.Entry was fielded in a collaboration with Total Advantage Motorsports. SS-Green Light Racing Joe Graf Jr. Ford Bayne Motorsports 29 Trevor Bayne DGR-Crosley 46 Thad Moffitt Front Row Motorsports 34 Michael McDowell 38 Todd Gilliland Rick Ware Racing 85 J. J. Yeley Seavey Motorsports 67 Logan Seavey Stewart–Haas Racing 41 Cole Custer 98 Chase Briscoe Team Penske 22 Austin Cindric ThorSport Racing 98 Grant Enfinger Toyota Halmar Friesen Racing 52 Stewart Friesen Herring Motorsports 3 Drew Herring Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Ty Gibbs Kyle Busch Motorsports 04 Raphaël Lessard 46 Chandler Smith MBM Motorsports 13 Chad Finchum SS-Green Light Racing 07 Donny Lia Venturini Motorsports 15 Drew Dollar Chevrolet Ford Rick Ware Racing 54 Kyle Weatherman Toyota Chevrolet Total Advantage Motorsports 75 Landon Huffman
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Races Dixie Vodka 150 (Homestead–Miami) This was the first race of the series. Garrett Smithley won the pole and was passed by William Byron on the first lap, who would go on to lead the most laps in the race. Denny Hamlin passed then-leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a photo finish on the final lap to win.
Top ten finishers: Pos Driver Manufacturer1 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 2 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet3 66 Timmy Hill Toyota4 98 Chase Briscoe Ford5 51 Garrett Smithley Chevrolet6 88 Alex Bowman Chevrolet 7 43 Bubba Wallace Chevrolet 8 37 Ryan Preece Chevrolet9 45 Ty Majeski Chevrolet 10 20 Erik Jones Toyota Official race results
O'Reilly Auto Parts 125 (Texas) Qualifying race The qualifying race was held earlier on Sunday, March 29, before the main event. The drivers that advanced to the main event were Alex Labbé, Anthony Alfredo, Ty Majeski, and Rubén García Jr., who finished first through fourth, respectively.
Top ten finishers: Pos Driver Manufacturer1 90 Alex Labbé Chevrolet2 33 Anthony Alfredo Chevrolet 3 45 Ty Majeski Chevrolet 4 27 Rubén García Jr. Ford 5 08 Jeb Burton Chevrolet 6 5 Derek Kraus Toyota 7 15 Brennan Poole Chevrolet 8 29 Kaz Grala Chevrolet 9 52 Stewart Friesen Toyota 10 80 Joe Graf Jr. Chevrolet Note: Kaz Grala and Trevor Bayne both used the No. 29 in this race. On the official race results, Bayne was listed as the No. 29A to differentiate the two.
Main event Timmy Hill won the race after executing a late bump-and-run maneuver on then-leader William Byron.
Top ten finishers: Pos Driver Manufacturer1 66 Timmy Hill Toyota 2 37 Ryan Preece Chevrolet3 51 Garrett Smithley Chevrolet 4 89 Landon Cassill Chevrolet 5 88 Alex Bowman Chevrolet 6 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 7 24 William Byron Chevrolet 8 38 John Hunter Nemechek Ford 9 42 Kyle Larson Chevrolet 10 1 Kurt Busch Chevrolet Official race results
Food City Showdown (Bristol) Saturday Night Thunder After heat races determined a 24 car starting field for the race, Logan Seavey (No. 67), in his first Pro Invitational Series start, won the race after passing Chase Cabre (No. 4) with thirteen laps to go.
Heat Race results: Drivers listed advanced to the main event.
Pos Driver Manufacturer1 57 Blake Koch Chevrolet2 67 Logan Seavey Toyota3 4 Chase Cabre Chevrolet4 29 Kaz Grala Chevrolet
Pos Driver Manufacturer1 54 Kyle Weatherman Ford2 90 Alex Labbé Chevrolet3 99 Josh Bilicki Chevrolet4 36 Jesse Iwuji Chevrolet
Pos Driver Manufacturer1 33 Anthony Alfredo Chevrolet2 55 Will Rodgers Chevrolet3 7 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet4 45 Ty Majeski Chevrolet
Last chance qualifying race results:
Pos Driver Manufacturer1 19 Derek Kraus Toyota2 40 Ryan Truex Chevrolet3 68 Brandon Brown Chevrolet4 53 Joey Gase Ford5 08 Jeb Burton Chevrolet6 93 Myatt Snider Chevrolet
Pos Driver Manufacturer1 75 Landon Huffman Chevrolet2 27 Rubén García Jr. Ford3 10 Justin Haley Chevrolet4 20 Harrison Burton Toyota5 52 Stewart Friesen Toyota6 46 Chandler Smith Toyota
Top ten finishers (main event): Pos Driver Manufacturer1 67 Logan Seavey Toyota2 4 Chase Cabre Chevrolet3 90 Alex Labbé Chevrolet4 33 Anthony Alfredo Chevrolet5 54 Kyle Weatherman Ford6 45 Ty Majeski Chevrolet 7 7 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet 8 57 Blake Koch Chevrolet9 53 Joey Gase Ford 10 08 Jeb Burton Chevrolet Official race results Note: Kaz Grala and Trevor Bayne both used the No. 29 in this race. On the official race results, Bayne was listed as the No. 29A to differentiate the two.
Main event Two heat races determined the starting lineup for the main event. William Byron won heat race #1, while John Hunter Nemechek won heat race #2 in a photo finish over Ryan Preece, so they started 1–2 in the race, which they coincidentally also finished 1–2 in. This was Byron's first win in the Pro Invitational Series after having strong runs in the previous two races.
Top ten finishers: Pos Driver Manufacturer1 24 William Byron Chevrolet2 38 John Hunter Nemechek Ford3 66 Timmy Hill Toyota4 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota5 21 Matt DiBenedetto Ford6 37 Ryan Preece Chevrolet 7 77 Parker Kligerman Toyota8 31 Tyler Reddick Chevrolet9 51 Garrett Smithley Chevrolet10 34 Michael McDowell Ford Official race results
Toyota Owners 150 (Richmond) Saturday Night Thunder Similar to the Bristol race, this was the undercard event of the weekend, with drivers from all NASCAR series racing in the event. After the three heat races were held, which in order were won by Landon Cassill (No. 89), Ty Majeski (No. 45), and Josh Berry (No. 88). Justin Allgaier (No. 7) would go on to win the last-chance qualifier. In the race itself, Berry won again. This was his first iRacing Pro Invitational Series start.
Top ten finishers: Pos Driver Manufacturer1 88 Josh Berry Chevrolet2 45 Ty Majeski Chevrolet3 4 Chase Cabre Toyota4 18 Ty Gibbs Toyota5 89 Landon Cassill Chevrolet6 55 Will Rodgers Ford7 33 Anthony Alfredo Chevrolet8 29 Kaz Grala Chevrolet9 67 Logan Seavey Ford10 74 Bayley Currey Chevrolet Official race results
Main event Ryan Preece won the pole and led the race for 59 laps. William Byron dominated again, leading the most laps, and holding off Timmy Hill and Parker Kligerman on the last lap to win his second Pro Invitational race in a row.
Top ten finishers: Pos Driver Manufacturer1 24 William Byron Chevrolet2 66 Timmy Hill Toyota3 77 Parker Kligerman Toyota4 89 Landon Cassill Chevrolet5 18 Kyle Busch Toyota6 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota7 20 Erik Jones Toyota8 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet9 43 Bubba Wallace Chevrolet10 2 Brad Keselowski Ford Official race results
Geico 70 (Talladega) Saturday Night Thunder