The first NASCAR sanctioned iRacing event was a massive success on network TV
eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational picks up viewership of avid sports fans
On Sunday, NASCAR was scheduled to run at the real world Homestead-Miami Speedway. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, seven NASCAR events have been postponed.
View NASCAR iRacing tv numbers below.
Instead, NASCAR partnered with iRacing to form the NASCAR Pro Invitational event. The first race took place in Sunday, on the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Most of the sporting world has joined NASCAR in postponement or all out cancellations. That’s left large blocks on sports networks open for new content.
FS1 elected to pick up the first race on Sunday. The company decided to take a risk and show the unknown esports league on LIVE television.
The race was caution filled. Mostly due to NASCAR drivers that were unfamiliar with the system, software and equipment.
The television broadcast was given 1.5 hours to complete the race. Toward the end of the race, the time was exhausted.
Late, NASCAR elected to turn off cautions. They told the drivers that they would only drop a yellow if someone in the top 5 crashed.
Dale Earnhardt Jr charged to the front and took the lead. Denny Hamlin, with 10 laps fresher tires was also on the charge.
After 100 laps, Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr were door to virtual door for the race win off the final corner. After light contact, Denny Hamlin took home the win.
Hamlin then sat in for a post-race media teleconference. Later that night, he called into SportsCenter to talk about the win. Digital NASCAR was the biggest sports story of the week.
Hamlin was given $5,000 for the race win. Those funds will be sent to the families in Homestead, Florida that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
NASCAR TV Ratings: iRacing
To watch some simulator racing, NASCAR fans nearly tuned in by the millions. It was the most watched show on FS1 since March 12.
March 22, 2020
Homestead-Miami Speedway
NASCAR iRacing Series
Rating: 0.53 rating
Viewers: 903K
Network: FS1
So, how does that compare to a real NASCAR race? Here’s the last race run before the postponement
March 11, 2020
Phoenix Raceway
NASCAR Cup Series
Rating: 2.2 rating
Viewers: 3.74M
Network: FOX
Here’s the data for the 2019 championship finale.
November 21, 2019
Homestead-Miami Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series
Rating: 2.2 rating
Viewers: 3.74M
Network: NBC
The following was the most recent oval race shown via FS1. The same network that showed the digital NASCAR race.
June 11, 2019
Michigan International Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series
Rating: 1.0
Viewers: 1.58M
Network: FS1
Another…
May 16, 2019
Kansas Speedway
NASCAR Cup Series
Rating: 1.2
Viewers: 2.18M
Network: FS1
This week, the online sim racing series will continue. This round will be hosted at Texas Motor Speedway.
FOX has doubled down in their efforts to broadcast the virtual race. The race will be shown via FS1 and the Fox Sports App. In addition, the race will be shown on the regular FOX channel in select markets.
Data: Show Buzz Daily.com
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