NASCAR iRacing.com Series
Encyclopedia
The NASCAR iRacing.com Series are online oval racing series officially sanctioned by NASCAR
and hosted by iRacing.com
. In 2010 they include seven different series in total, with a World Championship series, a qualifying series for the championship and five amateur series.
, then head of NASCAR. A similar but short-lived online series with official NASCAR support, called the NASCAR Racing Online Series (NROS), was organized already in the late 1990s using the infrastructure of Total Entertainment Network
(TEN) with the NASCAR Racing 2
PC simulation software by Papyrus Design Group
. Papyrus was co-founded by David Kaemmer, also the co-founder and current CEO of iRacing.com.
The details of the series were revealed during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted at the Charlotte Motor Speedway
.
The first season of the NiPS was open to the top 250 oval track drivers on iRacing.
, a slower SK Modified series and the generically named (paved) Late Model series
. The six series are organized like other standard series on iRacing.com, following a week by week schedule for the 12 week 'season', with races every couple of hours.
The NASCAR series have proven to be very popular with the service's users, with the NASCAR IRacing.com C Class Series (Camping World Trucks) and the NASCAR IRacing.com Late Model D Class Series being the 3rd and 4th biggest series (by participation) respectively, despite relatively high incident rates.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
and hosted by iRacing.com
IRacing.com
iRacing.com is an online, subscription-based racing simulation service for Microsoft Windows created by iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations...
. In 2010 they include seven different series in total, with a World Championship series, a qualifying series for the championship and five amateur series.
History
The partnership between iRacing.com and NASCAR was originally announced on May 19, 2009, but its roots can be traced back more than 15 years to an idea of Bill France, Jr.Bill France, Jr.
William Clifton France , nicknamed "Bill Jr." and "Little Bill," was an American motorsports executive who served from 1972 to 2000 as the head of NASCAR, the sanctioning body of United States-based stock car racing. He succeeded the founder of NASCAR, his father Bill France, Sr., as its head...
, then head of NASCAR. A similar but short-lived online series with official NASCAR support, called the NASCAR Racing Online Series (NROS), was organized already in the late 1990s using the infrastructure of Total Entertainment Network
Total Entertainment Network
Total Entertainment Network was an online gaming service that existed from September, 1996 until October, 1999. T E Network, Inc., which created and operated the TEN service, was formed from the merger of Optigon Interactive and Outland in June, 1995 when they received their first round of venture...
(TEN) with the NASCAR Racing 2
NASCAR Racing 2
NASCAR Racing 2 was the second game in the NASCAR Racing series. It was developed by Papyrus.The second edition of the series was released in 1996. The game featured more drivers than the previous version...
PC simulation software by Papyrus Design Group
Papyrus Design Group
Papyrus Design Group, Inc. was a computer game developer founded in 1987 by David Kaemmer and CEO Omar Khudari. Based in Watertown, MA, it is best known for its series of realistic sim racing games based on the NASCAR and IndyCar leagues, as well as the unique Grand Prix Legends. Papyrus was...
. Papyrus was co-founded by David Kaemmer, also the co-founder and current CEO of iRacing.com.
The details of the series were revealed during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted at the Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
.
Structure
Currently the NASCAR iRacing.com series include seven series in total. Five of them, the "amateur" series, are part of the standard iRacing.com competition program and open to anyone progressing through the standard license levels used in iRacing. A minimum of 250 of the top oval drivers can take part in the NASCAR iRacing Pro Series (NPS), which in turn serves as a qualifying series for the NASCAR iRacing World Championships (NDWC), reserved for the 50 best drivers.NASCAR iRacing World Championship Series
The NiWCS is the top oval racing series in iRacing.com.NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series
The NiPS is the qualifying series for the NDWC. Currently, the second season is open to the top 300 oval track drivers on iRacing. Josh Parker won the inaugural championship in 2009 before this series was NASCAR affiliated for 2010.The first season of the NiPS was open to the top 250 oval track drivers on iRacing.
Amateur Series
The NASCAR-iRacing.com partnership includes six "amateur" series that have no limits on the number of participants. Currently they include (from top to bottom) online versions of the Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series (with a shorter, locked setup spin-off series) and Camping World Truck Series, as well as a Whelen Modified TourWhelen Modified Tour
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is a stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR in the Modified division. The Modified division is NASCAR's oldest division, and its one of two open-wheeled divisions...
, a slower SK Modified series and the generically named (paved) Late Model series
Late model
A "late model car" is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. The term is broadly used in car racing, and often appears in common use, as in "The officer was driving an unmarked, late model sedan."There is no precise...
. The six series are organized like other standard series on iRacing.com, following a week by week schedule for the 12 week 'season', with races every couple of hours.
The NASCAR series have proven to be very popular with the service's users, with the NASCAR IRacing.com C Class Series (Camping World Trucks) and the NASCAR IRacing.com Late Model D Class Series being the 3rd and 4th biggest series (by participation) respectively, despite relatively high incident rates.