Timmy Hill won NASCAR’s second iRacing weekend. Here’s what we learned.
The names that dominated the leaderboard during Sunday’s second eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race were ones casual fans probably wouldn’t recognize. Rather than names like Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney and Jimmie Johnson (all of whom were entered), it was Timmy Hill, John Hunter Nemecheck, and Garrett Smithley who settled into the top 10 at the virtual Texas Motor Speedway.
MBM Motorsports driver Hill took first place, moving into the lead position past William Byron with less than five laps to go. He was closely followed by Ryan Preece and Smithley, who finished in second and third place, respectively.
“It was such a fun race there,” Hill said before driving his virtual victory donuts. “I had to do a little boot scootin’ boogie here in Texas on Willy B, but I’m glad I pulled the victory off for RoofClaim, MBM, everybody back home.”
Hill, who is not even ranked in Cup Series point standings, raced from his at-home setup behind a wheel he said he bought for 300 dollars 12 years ago, but being at home just meant he was closer to the kitchen to celebrate with a glass of milk after the race.
“The way I celebrate the win, my wife comes up the stairs, gives me a big hug,” Hill said. “My favorite drink is a cup of milk. She gives me a cup of milk. Downed that right away. Hugged her.”
An opportunity for new faces
The iRacing event went into overtime after two cautions were called with under 10 laps to go (five cautions total), but there were less major wrecks than last week’s premiere event after drivers spent more time practicing on their simulator rigs.
Although the event was more competitive, it was still the guys with an iRacing background who led the field. Byron, who began his career on sim rigs, started on the pole and led the most laps. He finished in seventh place behind Earnhardt Jr.
Last week’s iRace winner Denny Hamlin finished in 24th.
“What we’re going to be able to do this week is not only bring more about the race, but the personalities,” FOX NASCAR broadcaster and former driver Jeff Gordon said. “That’s the cool part about this. Not only is it Clint Bowyer on the regular FOX studio broadcast, but it’s being able to see guys like Garrett Smithley, Ty Majeiski, as well as hopefully Dale Earnhardt Jr.”
An opportunity to get up close to faces
iRacing has provided a new stage for NASCAR’s underdogs to shine on, but the virtual connectivity has also allowed a first-hand look into the world of top Cup Series drivers (even if they’re not racing in the top 10).
Drivers such as Hamlin, Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. all live stream their in-race point-of-view on channels through Twitch and Periscope, which provides an unprecedented level of access for fans.
Other top NASCAR drivers, such as Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman, show their personality more on Twitter. Bowman has gained a fan following by live tweeting the virtual races, often incorporating his dogs Roscoe and Finn into his posts.
Strategy still applies in iRacing
Sim driving experience has proved the most valuable in these early eNASCAR races, but strategy — such as when to pit, how many tires to change and when to use resets (all drivers have two) — is still fundamental to iRacing. Drivers work with a spotter or crew chief by communicating over their headsets as they would in a real race.
Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief Steven Steffen, for example, said they planned to change all four tires at every pit stop during the 125-lap race. The resets were used on an as-needed basis after assessing damage. Since the resets are not automatic, this will be a strategic element that drivers and teams need to learn in the coming weeks. Resets can mean the difference in finishing order.
“Too Bad I accidentally used my one reset the pit stop before or I’d been right there with you @ClintBowyer,” tweeted driver Greg Biffle after the race.
Biffle finished in 32nd. Bowyer finished in 11th.
As all parties — drivers, crews and media — navigate a new world where weekly racing is a video game, some mistakes and lighthearted humor seem forgivable, while the wins are still worth celebrating.
“iRacing is a huge tool for me,” Hill said. “Never replace real life racing. I tell you what, the way I celebrate this win, the way it ranks for me, it’s definitely towards the top.”
This story was originally published March 29, 2020 at 4:24 PM with the headline "Timmy Hill won NASCAR’s second iRacing weekend. Here’s what we learned.."
