Get to Know . . . Brandon Schmidt

Since March 6, 2010, Brandon Schmidt has been turning laps on the virtual tracks of iRacing. By the end of the year, the Mason City, Iowa resident had an oval iRating close to 6000. Since then, he hasn’t stopped moving through the ranks and winning races. In total, Brandon has won 216 races in over 1000 starts on ovals, with seven road course wins for good measure.

Perhaps one of his biggest wins on iRacing came in the NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series last year when he won the season finale at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Although he’s been shut-out of the win column (so far!) he is fourth in NiPS points heading into the season finale at Charlotte, all guaranteeing a spot in the 2014 NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship.

Brandon’s accomplishments go far beyond winning races on iRacing. Learn more about him in this week’s edition of Get to Know…

Q:    How long have you been sim-racing?
A:    I started sim-racing about 2009 on NASCAR 09. Then I heard about iRacing from an online buddy, and I’ve been here since 2010.

Q:    How did you get started in iRacing?
A:    Heard from online friends then watched some YouTube videos and I was hooked.

Schmidt and the charter members of his fan club.

Q:        You are currently racing in the NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series to contend for the championship, but more importantly earn a spot in the 2014 NiSWC.  How do you think your season has gone?
A:    The PRO Series has gone ok. We’ve ran a lot better than last season. I’ve had a few bad races that cost me a lot of points, but the ultimate goal is NiSWC. Hopefully I can finish in the top three in points.

Q:    What type of hobbies do you do outside of iRacing?
A:    Don’t have many hobbies outside of iRacing. Between work and my family (wife and two kids) I don’t have much time.

Q:    What is your greatest accomplishment on iRacing?
A:    My greatest accomplishment is winning the 2013 Pro Series race at Charlotte. We led 117 of the 200 laps and had a flawless race.

Q:    Out of all of iRacing’s recent additions and announcements about the service, which one has excited you the most?
A:    I would say the Super Late Model. Also having all the NASCAR Sprint Cup tracks.

“All you can try to do is get the best finish you’re capable of, even if you are racing your butt off for 10th.”

Q:    What are you most excited for in the upcoming racing seasons (NASCAR, Indycar, F1, etc.)?
A:    Like millions of people, I am a die-hard NASCAR fan. I live and breathe for the sport. It can’t come soon enough.

Q:    How do you think your fellow iRacers see you?
A:    I like to think that most of my fellow iRacers see me as aggressive but smart. I started-off as ‘checkers or wreckers’ but I learned quickly that all you can try to do is get the best finish you’re capable of, even if you are racing your butt off for 10th.

Q:    What are three things that people on iRacing probably don’t know about you?
A:    I served in the U.S Army for seven years and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2007 for a 15 month deployment. I have a wife and two kids. I’ve worked for an armored car company for seven years now.

Q:    What is your favorite racing series on iRacing and why?
A:    My favorite series in iRacing is the Pro Series/NiSWC. The competition is very tough, and it’s very rewarding getting a great finish.

Schmidt has a trio of top five finishes in the Pro Series heading into the season finale.

Q:    If there was one thing you could change about iRacing, what would it be?
A:    If I could change anything, it would be that it should be harder to get promoted. Also multi-groove racing and tire fall-off.

Q:    What is one thing that you love the most about iRacing?
A:    By far the competition. How you race a lot of the same guys for a long time. Some guys I’ve been racing against on here for almost four years.

Q:    Assuming you make it into the 2014 NiSWC, what will be your goals and expectations for the season?
A:    I really believe I am capable of finishing top 10 in points. Last year went as bad as it could have. This year I will be more prepared and less nervous.

Q:    Do you race with a team in the NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series, and if so, what team (and general info on the team)?
A:    I race with LRM (Last Row Motorsports) I have been with them for just over a year now. Nic Morse brought me on after I left my old team, (SCHMITTEN CHASSISWORKS) and it’s been a great fit for me. Great team, great people. I don’t ever plan on leaving the team. We all get along great and work hard to accomplish what we set out to do.

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