Race Preview: eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series North Wilkesboro 160
May 9th, 2020 by Chris Leone
While a return to real racing is imminent for the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series next weekend, the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series still has one more trick up its sleeve: the iRacing debut of North Wilkesboro Speedway for today’s North Wilkesboro 160 (3PM ET, FS1/FOX/FOX Sports app). The legendary .625-mile oval, which departed the Cup schedule in 1996, has been digitally resurrected for release in iRacing’s June build, and nearly 30 current Cup stars and NASCAR legends will take to the track in its first official race on the service.
Spearheaded by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Speedway Motorsports Inc.’s Marcus Smith, the effort to clean up the track for iRacing to scan it was documented earlier this week in the short film “Bringing Back Wilkesboro.” Earnhardt Jr. will be joined by fellow NASCAR legends Bobby Labonte, the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion, and Jeff Gordon, four-time Cup champion and winner of the final North Wilkesboro race in 1996, on the grid in schemes that celebrate their respective racing heritages.
The active driver roster is headed up by past NASCAR champions Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Martin Truex Jr., who makes his first televised iRacing appearance in the Pro Invitational finale. Denny Hamlin and Timmy Hill will each look to add a second win to their Pro Invitational statistics, while throwback schemes for drivers like Hill, Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick, JJ Yeley, and Corey LaJoie will add even more retro flair to the proceedings.
North Wilkesboro 160 Entry List
The full entry list for today’s eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series race from North Wilkesboro Speedway is as follows:
No. |
Driver |
Sponsor |
Manufacturer |
3 | Austin Dillon | American Ethanol | Chevrolet |
4 | Kevin Harvick | Hunt Brothers Pizza | Ford |
6 | Ross Chastain | Acronis | Ford |
8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr | Lost Speedways | Chevrolet |
10 | Aric Armirola | Smithfield | Ford |
11 | Denny Hamlin | FedEx Delivering Strength | Toyota |
13 | Ty Dillon | Geico | Chevrolet |
14 | Clint Bowyer | Rush Truck Centers | Ford |
15 | Brennan Poole | Spartan Mosquito | Chevrolet |
17 | Chris Buescher | Fastenal | Ford |
18 | Kyle Busch | M&M’s/Red Nose Day | Toyota |
18 | Bobby Labonte | Interstate Batteries | Toyota |
19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Bass Pro Shops | Toyota |
20 | Erik Jones | Craftsman | Toyota |
21 | Jon Wood | Motorcraft | Ford |
24 | Jeff Gordon | Axalta | Chevrolet |
31 | Tyler Reddick | Caterpillar | Chevrolet |
32 | Corey LaJoie | Drydene | Ford |
34 | Michael McDowell | Love’s Truck Stops | Ford |
37 | Ryan Preece | Purina | Chevrolet |
38 | John Hunter Nemechek | Fire Alarm Services | Ford |
41 | Cole Custer | Haas Tooling | Ford |
49 | Chad Finchum | Smithbilt Homes | Toyota |
51 | Garrett Smithley | GunBroker | Chevrolet |
52 | JJ Yeley | Les Bourgeois Vineyards | Ford |
53 | Joey Gase | Action Restoration | Ford |
66 | Timmy Hill | RoofClaim.com | Toyota |
77 | Parker Kligerman | Valvoline | Toyota |
89 | Landon Cassill | Blue Emu | Chevrolet |
95 | Christopher Bell | Rheem | Toyota |
Event entry lists are subject to change.
The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series North Wilkesboro 160 will air at 3PM ET/10AM PT on FOX, FS1, and the FOX Sports app. Check your local listings for more information. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit www.iracing.com.