View source for ENASCAR

{{Short description|ESports racing series}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:eNASCAR}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title           = eNASCAR
| logo            = ENASCAR logo.png
| sport           = esports (racing)
| game            = ''[[iRacing]]''
| founded         = {{start date and age|2018}}
| folded          =
| replaced        =
| owner           = [[NASCAR]]
| ceo             = [[Jim France]]
| director        =
| president       = [[Steve Phelps]]
| commissioner    =
| motto           =
| divisions       = 3
| inaugural       =
| tv              = [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]], [[YouTube]], [[Facebook]]
| founder         =
| website         = {{URL|https://www.enascar.com|enascar.com}}
}}
'''eNASCAR''' was launched in 2018, by the parent company, [[NASCAR]], to act as the [[Esports]] arm of the auto-racing body. The organization primarily uses the ''[[iRacing]]'' game via a [[PC game|PC]] platform for organizing its competitions, but has previously used other systems, such as those created by [[Xbox]] and [[PlayStation]], and other games. As of 2022, eNASCAR officially sanctions three leagues.
== Current series ==
=== Coca-Cola iRacing Series ===
{{main|eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series}}
The series was founded in 2010, in a partnership with ''iRacing'', with the first race taking place on February 9, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-29 |title=NASCAR, iRacing reveal new partnership |url=https://racer.com/2021/06/29/nascar-iracing-reveal-new-partnership/ |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=RACER |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-02-10 |title=An Online Racing Dream Come True |url=https://www.iracing.com/an-online-racing-dream-come-true/ |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=iRacing.com}}</ref> The 2023 champion is Steven Wilson.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 14 Days of Florida |url=https://www.iracing.com/the-14-days-of-florida/ |access-date=2024-02-09}}</ref> A regular season consists of 14 rounds, and one exhibition, that begins in mid-February, at [[Daytona International Speedway]], and ends in August. A total of 40 racers, who race [[NASCAR Cup Series|Cup]]-style cars, compete for ten spots in the playoffs. Points are gained for each race using the current [[List of NASCAR points scoring systems#2017–present|Cup Series format]]. The ten drivers then qualify for the playoffs with all their points increased to 2,000 plus three bonus points for each win. Each winner of the following three races make the playoffs, as do the highest non-winning drivers until there are four finalists. The winner of the series is determined by which of the four finalists finishes ahead of the other three in the final round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enascar.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2022/02/10/eNASCAR_Coca-Cola_iRacing_Series_v2022.01.25.pdf|title=eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series|website=enascar.com|access-date=22 September 2023}}</ref>
=== College iRacing Series ===
In 2022, NASCAR and collegiate esports league NACE Starleague joined to form the eNASCAR College iRacing Series. The three-round series allows full-time college students to compete for a chance to win scholarships.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Jonno |date=2022-02-16 |title=NASCAR launches eNASCAR College iRacing Series with NACE Starleague |url=https://esportsinsider.com/2022/02/nascar-college-iracing-series/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Esports Insider |language=en-GB}}</ref> The series uses the iRacing platform to host the races with racers using [[NASCAR Camping World Truck Series|Truck Series]] chassis. Each round has a two-week time-trial event that takes place a few weeks prior to the race in which the fastest 40 entries make the final race. Only one entry per school is permitted to make the race. As of 2022, the winning driver receives a $3,000 scholarship, second place a $1,000, and third $500.<ref>{{cite web|title=eNASCAR College iRacing Series Rulebook|website=enascar.com
|url=https://www.enascar.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2022/02/14/eNASCAR-College-iRacing-Series-Rulebook.pdf}}</ref>
=== International Series ===
In June 2021, NASCAR announced a three-race international series that would be hosted on the ''iRacing'' platform. The series, which will use [[Xfinity Series]] vehicles, will allow non-American racers to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned eSports series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-17 |title=eNASCAR unveils new International iRacing Series |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/06/18/enascar-unveils-new-international-racing-series/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Official Site Of NASCAR |language=en-US}}</ref> The inaugural year consisted of a three-course schedule, which grew to five races in 2022. Members of the [[NASCAR Pinty's Series]] (Canada), [[NASCAR Mexico Series]], and [[NASCAR Whelen Euro Series]] (Europe) are eligible for the series, as are the members of NASCAR's 2022 [[Drive for Diversity]] class.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melillo |first=Justin |date=2021-12-16 |title=2022 eNASCAR International iRacing Series announced |url=https://traxion.gg/2022-enascar-international-iracing-series-announced/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Traxion |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Road To Pro Series ===
The Road To Pro series is separated into two divisions, Contender and Qualifying. These series are designed to create platforms for armature racers to make it to the Coca-Cola Series with racers first making their way through the Qualifying Series and being promoted to the Contender Series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-28 |title=How to Race eNASCAR – Road to Pro Explained |url=https://www.racedepartment.com/news/how-to-race-enascar-%E2%80%93-road-to-pro-explained.1728/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=RaceDepartment |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Former series ==
=== eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series ===
{{Main|eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series}}
While NASCAR was delayed in 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], NASCAR arranged for drivers, both past and present, a series on the ''iRacing'' platform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-18 |title=NASCAR, iRacing Expand Partnership to Include eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series |url=https://tobychristie.com/2020/03/17/nascar-iracing-expand-partnership-to-include-enascar-iracing-pro-invitational-series/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=TobyChristie.com |language=en-US}}</ref> On March 22, 2020, 903,000 people watched the first race at the [[Homestead–Miami Speedway]] virtual track, which was an eSports television rating record. This was surpassed a week later when more than 1.3 million people tuned into the virtual race at [[Texas Motor Speedway]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=Matt |date=2020-03-31 |title=Texas eNASCAR iRacing event draws over a million viewers |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a31996587/texas-enascar-iracing-event-breaks-tv-record-for-esports-broadcast/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Autoweek |language=en-US}}</ref>
The series was renewed in 2021, for ten races, and featured never-run courses such as a dirt track at [[Bristol Motor Speedway]] and a fictitious Chicago [[street course]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-26 |title=NASCAR, iRacing announce eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series return in 2021 |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/01/26/nascar-iracing-announce-enascar-iracing-pro-invitational-series-return-in-2021/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Official Site Of NASCAR |language=en-US}}</ref> After five races, the series was indefinitely discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomlinson |first=Joy |date=2021-07-02 |title=IRacing Pro Invitational Series To Be Discontinued For The Rest Of 2021 |url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2021/07/02/iracing-pro-invitational-series-to-be-discontinued-for-the-rest-of-2021/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=www.frontstretch.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== eNASCAR Heat Pro League ===
The Heat Pro League ran for two seasons, from 2019 to 2020. The 14-event league featured 28 gamers competing virtually on ''[[NASCAR Heat (series)|NASCAR Heat]]'' via the [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Xbox One]] consoles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2020-04-21 |title=eNASCAR Heat Pro League Returns for Second Season |url=https://motorsportgames.com/enascar-heat-pro-league-returns-for-season-two-after-successful-2019-debut/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Motorsport Games |language=en-US}}</ref> The series ended when ''[[NASCAR 21: Ignition]]'' was released.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=NASCAR 21: Ignition |url=https://motorsportgames.com/products/nascar-21-ignition/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Motorsport Games |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References ==
<references />
== External links ==
* [https://www.enascar.com/ Official website]
* [https://www.iracing.com/enascar/ iRacing website]
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