CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Some elite race car drivers will tackle a new challenge: the streets of Chicago.
In NASCAR Cup Series’ 73 years it has never had its drivers compete on a street course, but that is about to change - at least virtually.
Like many institutions NASCAR went virtual during the first round of pandemic shutdowns last year.
The end result was one of the most popular esports programs of the year.
The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series featured some of the top NASCAR cup drivers competing in a variety of virtual courses. The races drew close to seven million viewers to FOX and FS1.
NASCAR announced Wednesday its Cup Series drivers will race through the streets of Chicago for one of the first five dates of its 2021 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series.
The City of Chicago teamed up with iRacing to scan and render a Chicago racecourse that will take drivers on a roughly 2.2 mile course that connects some of Chicago’s landmark streets, including Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, lapping the perimeter of Grant Park with the downtown skyline as a backdrop.
Even though the rumble of racing engines echoing through the Chicago Loop will be a virtual one, NASCAR said city officials embraced the simulation’s debut there and the chance to host the real-life Cup Series drivers who participate in the invitational series.
“On behalf of the City of Chicago, I am thrilled to work with NASCAR and iRacing to showcase our great city to NASCAR fans who will be watching this cutting-edge event from around the country,” Mayor Lightfoot said. “Through this exciting and innovative exhibition, fans will be able to see and experience Chicago’s iconic downtown in a way that has never been done before. I am excited to partner with NASCAR and iRacing to produce this event and look forward to providing a new, uniquely Chicago experience to those near and far.”
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According to the Sun-Times, NASCAR said that while it won’t race at Chicagoland Speedway in 2021, “running through the heart of Chicago demonstrates the sport’s commitment to engaging fans across the region.”
The Chicago race is scheduled for June 2, and then iRacing will make the virtual course available to the general public to test their driving skills.
The Pro Invitational Series kicked off its 2021 season Wednesday at Virtual Bristol Dirt. The season includes 10 races and will feature 36 NASCAR Cup Series drivers with FOX having the discretion to add up to four additional drivers. Drivers will include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, and William Byron.
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