2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series
MEDIA GUIDE
CHARTING A NEW COURSE
The past few years have seen NASCAR make enough schedule changes to the Cup Series to turn the industry on its head. It started with a shuffling of the deck on existing races a few years ago, continued with the addition of new road courses and a different host for the finale, and has most recently seen dramatic new host venues and track layouts—many of which wouldn’t have been possible without iRacing’s help.
After all that, it’s fitting that the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series would get to make some big changes of its own for 2023. From venues that Cup has never seen—including one that leaves America entirely—to a thorough shuffling of the deck on returning rounds, and even fixed setup races, there’s a lot to take in for this year. Here’s a primer on the new campaign:
WE’RE RACING WHERE?!
You read correctly: the second round of the 2023 eNASCAR season will be at the Milwaukee Mile. A mainstay of American oval racing for well over a century, the NASCAR Truck Series will write the latest chapter in Milwaukee’s storied racing history this August, returning for the first time in 14 years. But while the NASCAR Cup Series has never visited Milwaukee, its virtual counterpart will head there on February 28 for the first-ever eNASCAR race to take place on a track without any Cup history.
If that wasn’t enough, the series hits another track that fits that bill on April 11—and leaves the United States for the first
time in the process. Autodromo Nazionale Monza becomes the latest road course to debut in eNASCAR, where drivers will take on the legendary Italian circuit without chicanes. Milwaukee and Monza make two brand new tracks in the first five rounds of the campaign, giving the series’ many rookies every opportunity to make an early impression by capitalizing on tracks where nobody has any experience at this level.
THE FIXED (SETUP) IS IN
For the first time in eNASCAR history, there’ll be points-paying races with fixed setups on the 2023 calendar. The preseason Clash on January 31, which will return to the Los Angeles Coliseum for the second straight year, has always been a fixedsetup race, but a new era will begin on April 18 when the field takes the green flag Talladega Superspeedway with the same setup across the board.
The other fixed setup races on the calendar will be at Watkins Glen International on June 27 and Pocono Raceway, the regular season finale, on August 1. Both Talladega and Pocono are the second race in two weeks for the series, giving drivers a small reprieve from having to crunch on two setup builds in as many weeks. The fixed setup races also represent iRacing’s most popular form of racing, where every driver on the grid has the same equipment and opportunity to win races based purely on their skill set.
THE MAINSTAYS
The first championship event of the year should be familiar: the traditional season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 14. Regular-season rounds at Atlanta Motor Speedway (March 14), Richmond Raceway (March 28), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 30), and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (June 13) also return to their same general placements on the calendar as last year.
SHUFFLING THE DECK
The 2023 regular season sees a number of tracks settling into new race dates. Talladega is the first to see a substantial shift, moving out of the playoffs into its new April date. Las Vegas Motor Speedway shuffles back from March of last year into its new date of May 2, two weeks before Darlington Raceway, which trades in its space as last year’s regularseason finale to run on May 16 and celebrate Throwback Weekend alongside the real-world NASCAR stars. Nashville Superspeedway, Watkins Glen, and Pocono also shift to new summer race dates from last year’s schedule.
BACK IN ACTION
Two tracks that weren’t on the 2022 eNASCAR schedule will make their return to the campaign in the second half of the 2023 season. New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the closest NASCAR Cup Series venue to iRacing’s Chelmsford, MA offices, will serve as the penultimate round of the regular season on July 25, while Michigan International Speedway will kick off the playoffs on August 15. Both were last on the calendar in 2021 and return to similar race dates.
Of course, new additions mean a handful of tracks will be departing as well. The series will bid farewell to both Bristol rounds, Kansas, and Road America for 2023. Kansas in particular has been a big part of the series in years past, and it’ll be the first time since 2017 that the series won’t visit the 1.5-mile oval.
PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS!
The top 10 drivers in eNASCAR will have their usual three opportunities to punch a ticket into the Championship 4, where they’ll once again be flown into Charlotte to compete live at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for a chance at the $100,000 championship prize. Following Michigan in the playoffs will be Dover Motor Speedway on August 29, which essentially swapped its date from last year with Talladega.
The final two rounds are mainstays of the ends of both the real and virtual NASCAR schedules. Both Phoenix Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway will wrap things up in September; unlike last year, though, Phoenix will serve as the Championship 4 cutoff race on September 12, and Homestead will be the virtual playing field for the title contenders on September 26 when they compete for a live audience of industry luminaries and cheering fans.
2023 SEASON SCHEDULE*
*Schedule is subject to change
SILLY SEASON MIXTAPE
Every January, the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series driver and team rosters get a refresh that would make your local DJ jealous. It’s out with the old, in with the new; mix them in with some old favorites, hit “shuffle,” and see what happens.
The 2023 eNASCAR lineup is as good an example as ever. With five new teams, 12 drivers who weren’t here last year (10 of whom are rookies), and fewer drivers who stuck with their old teams than who changed hands this winter, it’s an eclectic mix that’s as off-the-wall as the playlist we’ve put together to explain it. Before the series heads to track one, here’s how our latest silly season mixtape turned out:
FOO FIGHTERS - “I’LL STICK AROUND”
Your Championship 4 remains exactly as it was last year, with Casey Kirwan remaining at XSET, Bobby Zalenski running it back with Joe Gibbs Racing, Steven Wilson at StewartHaas Racing, and Graham Bowlin at Charlotte Phoenix. The same goes for past champions Ryan Luza (Kirwan’s XSET teammate), Keegan Leahy (returning to 23XI), Michael Conti (still at JR Motorsports), Zack Novak (back with RISE Esports), and Nick Ottinger (with William Byron eSports once again). Other drivers who stayed put in free agency included Collin Bowden at eRacr, Dylan Ault at Letarte Esports, Dylan Duval at Stewart-Haas Racing, and Kaden Honeycutt at RFK
Racing. They’re all returning to the same car numbers and manufacturers that you saw them in last year.
PHIL COLLINS - “DON’T LOSE MY NUMBER”
A handful of drivers returning to their old teams will have a fresh set of digits on the side of their cars. Just like Novak traded in the 90 for the 5 with RISE before last season, he'll swap out that number again for the 75 as part of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary celebration. Both Williams Esports drivers will be doing the same, swapping out last year’s 19 and 20 for a pair of numbers more familiar to them: Donovan Strauss will take over the 51, while Vicente Salas will retain his traditional 55.
ARIANA GRANDE - “THANK U, NEXT”
Two of last year’s top 20 points finishers, Mitchell deJong and Blake Reynolds, chose not to return for the 2023 season despite having a guaranteed entry in the series. That left their respective teams, 23XI and Jim Beaver eSports, with seats to fill. Ironically enough, 23XI took on JBE’s other driver, Michael Guest, to partner Leahy; JBE responded by snatching up 2022 playoff driver Garrett Lowe for Reynolds’ car, and Guest’s frequent superspeedway drafting partner, Malik Ray, to replace him in the other.
DAVID BOWIE - “CHANGES”
Lowe isn’t the only regular playoff threat to be running for a different team in 2023, though. Fellow 2022 playoff drivers Matt Bussa (joining Ottinger at William Byron eSports) and Femi Olatunbosun (partnering Bowlin at Charlotte Phoenix) also have some new digs. Olatunbosun’s move bounced Kollin Keister over to the second eRacr car, where he replaces Darik Bourdeau, now joining Cody Byus at Elliott Sadler eSports. Some of the new teams in the series have managed to pull in veterans as well. Garrett Manes heads to the new fgrACCEL squad after running with ESE last year, while Corey Vincent will head up the new Pittsburgh Knights squad and Derek Justis will lead the Kansas City Pioneers. Finally, Allen Boes’ new home is Front Row Motorsports, the latest real-world NASCAR team to step into the virtual racing world.
THIN LIZZY - “THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN”
As eNASCAR has expanded in reach and prestige, each year there are a handful of drivers who make it back into the series after some time on the sidelines. This year, the returning veterans who made the cut are Kevin King and Ryan Doucette; King will partner Conti at JR Motorsports, while Doucette takes the helm of the second Pittsburgh Knights car.
LUKE COMBS - “DOIN’ THIS”
That leaves us with one last group: the true rookies who are running at this level for the first time. Once again, there’s a split between who’s running with a returning organization and who’s joining the series with an all-new team. Of the returning squads, Team Dillon eSports took the biggest leap by signing two newcomers in Jordy Lopez Jr. and Tucker Minter for its two-car squad. Joe Gibbs Racing snagged Daniel Faulkingham to replace four-time series champion Ray Alfalla alongside Zalenski (no pressure, right?), while Letarte Esports took on Brandon McKissic and RFK Racing signed Timmy Holmes.
On the new team front, Contender Series champion Joey Brown heads to fgrACCEL, Michael Cosey lands at Front Row Motorsports, and Wyatt Tinsley heads to the Kansas City Pioneers. Open-wheel racing legend Tony Kanaan completes the roster with his all-new team, bringing on rookies Parker White and Tyler Garey to cap things off.
There you have it: this year’s eNASCAR silly season playlist draws to a close. But which drivers will be playing all the right notes at the end of the campaign? You’ll have to tune in all season long to find out.
2023 DRIVER ROSTER
2023 DRIVER ROSTER PART 2
DYLAN AULT
BORN: July 12, 2004
TEAM: Letarte eSports
FACEBOOK: @AultF4
INSTA: @dylanault42
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Sacramento, CA
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @dylanault42
YOUTUBE:
After a standout Contender season in 2021, Ault’s rookie year in the Coke Series came with some of the most popular paint schemes on the grid at Letarte Esports. Away from stock cars, he’s also a past winner of the Fake 500, one of iRacing’s most popular retro events featuring the Lotus 79 at Indianapolis.
CAREER STATISTICS
ALLEN BOES
BORN: June 29, 1999
HOME: Lima, OH
TEAM: Front Row Motorsports QUALIFIED: Top 21 in 2021 Contender
FACEBOOK:
TWITTER: @A_Boes21
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Each of Boes’ first three eNASCAR seasons featured a trip to victory lane, with wins at Pocono in 2015, Daytona in 2016, and Texas in 2017. After two seasons back at the highest level, Boes recaptured his form in a big way in the 2022 Contender season, winning once and scoring three top-five finishes.
DARIK BOURDEAU
BORN: April 5, 1995
TEAM: Elliott Sadler eSports
FACEBOOK:
HOME: Montmagny, QC, CAN
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @Dard2121
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
After two years out, Bourdeau returned to eNASCAR after a consistent 2021 Contender season, and did the same in 2022. Lightning struck immediately the first time he qualified for the series, as he won in his first-ever start at Daytona in 2017 and finished 11th in points.
CAREER
COLLIN BOWDEN
BORN: September 29, 1993
TEAM: eRacr
FACEBOOK: /collin.bowden.1
INSTA: @CBowden_93
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Suffolk, VA
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @bigdogbowden
YOUTUBE:
Boasting more than 500 career wins on iRacing, Bowden became one of eNASCAR’s most popular drivers in 2022 with his legendary mullet, uniquely quotable interviews, and a near-win in Talladega. He’s also got plenty of experience in major independent iRacing events and karting, where he boasts multiple titles.
GRAHAM BOWLIN
BORN: April 30, 2002
TEAM: Charlotte Phoenix
FACEBOOK: /graham.bowlin.1
HOME: Houston, TX
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @BowlinGraham
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Bowlin made the transition from real-world racing in Unrestricted Mini Sprints to sim racing in 2016, and has been competing in the Coke Series since 2020. Last season was his breakthrough year, as he doubled his career top-five count on the way to a Championship 4 appearance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
CAREER STATISTICS
JOEY BROWN
BORN: May 31, 1988
TEAM: fgrACCEL eRacing
FACEBOOK:
INSTA:
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: New Caney, TX
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @JoeBrosef14
YOUTUBE:
A US Navy veteran, Brown is one of a handful of veterans making his return to the Coke Series for 2022. A three-time winner in the early years of the championship, Brown took an extended break from sim racing before barnstorming his way through the Road to Pro and earning the 2022 Contender title.
MATT BUSSA
BORN: June 30, 1994
TEAM: William Byron eSports
FACEBOOK:
HOME: Darien, IL
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @mbussa5
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
One of iRacing’s most multi-talented drivers, Bussa made his second playoff run in a row in 2022. The Illinois native is set for an 11th season at eNASCAR’s highest level, making him one its most experienced drivers.
CODY BYUS
BORN: October 5, 1995
TEAM: Elliott Sadler eSports
FACEBOOK: /cody.byus.3
HOME: Myerstown, PA
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @CByus27
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Byus celebrated his 100th Coke Series start in 2022, as he returned to the series after a two-week absence. While he had to go back to Contender in the fall, he won a race there to easily requalify for 2023. CAREER
MICHAEL CONTI
BORN: April 6, 1997
TEAM: JR Motorsports
FACEBOOK: /MichaelConti
INSTA: @MikeConti5
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Concord, NC
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @MikeConti5
YOUTUBE: /michaelconti
A veteran of the eNASCAR iRacing World Championship since 2012, Conti scored his first championship in 2014 and parlayed it into real-world opportunities in a full-bodied stock car and US Legend Car. An employee of the Hendrick Automotive Group away from the sim world, Conti landed a spot with longtime Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the 2019 season and has earned three straight playoff berths with the team, including a Championship 4 spot in 2020. He’s on track to make his 200th series start in 2023.
MICHAEL COSEY JR.
BORN: December 18, 1998
TEAM: Front Row Motorsports
FACEBOOK:
INSTA: @windVOW8820
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Hagerstown, MD
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @windVOW8820
YOUTUBE:
An immensely popular streamer (his Twitch channel @windVOW8820 boasts nearly 9,000 followers) and winner of the 2021 Firecracker 400, Cosey’s second trip through the Contender Series proved to be the charm as he squeaked through the cut line.
CAREER STATISTICS YEAR
RYAN DOUCETTE
BORN: August 16, 2000
TEAM: Pittsburgh Knights
FACEBOOK: /JDRMotorsportsRacing
HOME: Framingham, MA
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @RyanDoucette77
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
A real-world Tour modified racer in New England, Doucette has had plenty of successes on short tracks in iRacing, including a win in the 2018 SARA Fall Brawl for Super Late Models. He got through the Contender level for the first time in 2020, and after falling back out after the 2021 season, made his way back through to return to the Coke Series for the second time in 2023.
CAREER STATISTICS
DYLAN DUVAL
BORN: April 18, 1995
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
FACEBOOK: /duval42
HOME: Halifax, NS, CAN
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Points
TWITTER: @dduval42
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Duval holds the distinction as the first Canadian winner in series history, a feat he accomplished at Indianapolis in 2016. In 2021, Duval celebrated 100 career eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series starts, and 2023 will see him run his seventh full season, after running parts of 11 campaigns in his career.
CAREER STATISTICS
DANIEL FAULKINGHAM
BORN: February 12, 2022
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
FACEBOOK:
INSTA: @dan_faulkingham
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Jonesport, ME
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @dan_faulkingham
YOUTUBE:
It’s been a busy few years for Faulkingham, who won the Sim500 championships in the Xfinity Series cars in 2020 and 2021 and the Cup Series title in 2022. The Maine native gritted his way through the Contender Series in fall 2022 as the last driver to scoop up a spot for the 2023 Coke Series.
CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR ST. W. T5 RANK
2022 Ctdr 7 0 0 22nd
TYLER GAREY
BORN: September 26, 2001
TEAM: Kanaan Esports
FACEBOOK: /tyler.garey.3
INSTA:
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Royal Palm Beach, FL
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @TGarey26
YOUTUBE:
A real-world Mod Lite driver for Superior Chassis, Garey has an extensive list of league accomplishments that include titles in the FTF Cup Series and two RODDCAR titles. He’s also the winningest driver in the fun-first and highly popular MOONCAR promotion, including winning its first-ever 24-hour race.
CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR ST. W. T5 RANK
2022 Ctdr 7 0 0 16th
MICHAEL GUEST
BORN: July 9, 1998
TEAM: 23XI
FACEBOOK: /MGRacer74
HOME: Brownsburg, IN
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @Michael_Guest
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Guest is one of iRacing’s most prolific oval drivers, with well over 1,100 career victories and special event wins in the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600, as well as both fixed and open setup titles and a number of prominent all-star race and league victories and titles. For the second straight year, Guest made huge strides forward in 2022, nearly doubling his career top-five count on the way to 12th in series points.
CAREER STATISTICS
TIMMY HOLMES
BORN: August 29, 2007
TEAM: RFK Racing
FACEBOOK:
INSTA: @timothy_holmes67
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Conway, SC
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @timothyholmes67
YOUTUBE:
One of the youngest drivers to make the Coke Series in 2023, what Holmes lacks in age, he makes up for in experience. He’s got two national dirt karting championships under his belt, and posted a solid, consistent set of results in the 2022 Contender Series to earn a seat at eNASCAR’s highest level for the new year.
CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR ST. W. T5 RANK
2022 Ctdr 7 0
KADEN HONEYCUTT
BORN: June 22, 2003
TEAM: RFK Racing
FACEBOOK: Kaden Honeycutt Racing
INSTA: @kadenhoneycutt10
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Aledo, TX
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @kadenhoneycutt10
YOUTUBE:
Honeycutt is the latest in a long line of experienced real-world racers adding their name to the eNASCAR driver roster. A CARS Tour race winner, former top-five finisher at the Snowball Derby, and real-world NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, Honeycutt will return to the Coke Series for a second go-round in 2022 after leaving some unfinished business as a rookie.
CAREER STATISTICS
DEREK JUSTIS
BORN: August 4, 1987
TEAM: Kansas City Pioneers
FACEBOOK:
HOME: Elizabethtown, KY
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @DerekJustis
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Justis has nearly 4,000 career starts in public iRacing oval events, and thousands of wins. He’s also raced his way through the Contender Series three years in a row as of 2023, with the latest performance one of his finest as he earned a ninth place finish in points when all was said and done.
CAREER STATISTICS
KOLLIN KEISTER
BORN: January 24, 1996
TEAM: eRacr
FACEBOOK: Kollin Keister
HOME: Frostburg, MD
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @KollinKeister
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
As an eNASCAR rookie in 2020, Keister surprised the field when he took the checkered flag in the Coca-Cola 300 at Charlotte, the longest race in the season. An up-and-down return to the series in 2022 left him just short of a guaranteed return, but no matter: he was a regular Contender front-runner, finishing fourth in points in that series with a win and three top-five runs.
Totals
KEVIN KING
BORN: May 31, 1980
TEAM: JR Motorsports
FACEBOOK: /kingstyle
INSTA: @KKingStyle
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: La Mesa, CA
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @KKingStyle
YOUTUBE: /KevinKing29
The King returns to the throne for 2023, as one of sim racing’s veterans is back in the Coke Series. From his DMP championships running with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to four Coke wins in the series’ early seasons, King has one of the longest resumes of anyone in the series—not just the drivers who weren’t here last year.
CASEY KIRWAN
BORN: July 30, 1999
TEAM: XSET
FACEBOOK:
INSTA: @casey_kirwan
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Matthews, NC
QUALIFIED: 2022 Champion
TWITTER: @CaseyKirwan23
YOUTUBE:
One of the most prolific oval iRacers in the world, Kirwan has more than 500 victories in his iRacing career, including three in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. The latest punched his ticket into the 2022 playoffs, where he earned the right to race for a title at the NASCAR Hall of Fame—and after a thrilling duel with Bobby Zalenski, saw him earn his first series championship.
CAREER STATISTICS
Totals
KEEGAN LEAHY
BORN: November 24, 1993
TEAM: 23XI
FACEBOOK: /KeeganLeahy24
INSTA:
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Halifax, NS, CAN
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @KeeganLeahy
YOUTUBE:
After finally earning an eNASCAR ring in 2021, Leahy’s luck regressed to the mean in 2022, as he missed the playoffs despite extending his five-year race win streak and had to fight to stay in the top 20 in points. Expect a return to form in 2023 as he looks to prove it an aberration. After sim racing, Leahy plans to become a meteorologist and operational weather forecaster for Environment Canada.
CAREER STATISTICS
JORDY LOPEZ JR.
BORN: December 30, 1994
TEAM: Team Dillon eSports
FACEBOOK:
HOME: Bayonne, NJ
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @JordyLopezJr
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Lopez has been a regular in the Road to Pro for years, and a five-time winner in its top split. The stars finally aligned for the New Jersey native to crack the Coke Series in 2023, as he posted a monster performance in the Contender Series—one of just a handful of drivers to take three top-five finishes, he was second in points.
CAREER
GARRETT LOWE
BORN: November 1, 2001
TEAM: Wood Brothers Racing
FACEBOOK: /GarrettLoweRacing
INSTA:
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Gastonia, NC
QUALIFIED: Top 21 in 2021 Contender
TWITTER: @GarrettLowe_6
YOUTUBE:
A playoff driver in each of his first two eNASCAR seasons, Lowe returned to the winner’s circle in the Coke Series in 2022 to get back into the playoffs after an uncharacteristic 2021. In the real world, Lowe won the Charlotte Motor Speedway Winter Heat Bandolero title in 2018 and currently runs Legends cars in the Semi-Pro division.
RYAN LUZA
BORN: August 27, 1996
TEAM: XSET
FACEBOOK: /FlyinRyanLuzaRacing
INSTA: @ryan_luza
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Cypress, TX
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @RyanLuza
YOUTUBE:
“Flyin’ Ryan” has a list of accolades a mile long in a real-world and sim racing career that spans nearly two decades. A former Pro Late Model track champion at 5 Flags Speedway, Luza jumped into the Pro Series in 2016 and won six of eight races. He then scored his first World Championship as a rookie with five wins, and added 10 more over the past three years. Despite missing the playoffs for a second season in a row, Luza’s six-year streak of winning at least one eNASCAR race remains intact heading into 2023.
GARRETT MANES
BORN: July 6, 2001
TEAM: fgrACCEL eRacing
FACEBOOK: /GarrettManesRacing
INSTA: @garrettmanes1
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Powhatan, VA
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @GarrettManes
YOUTUBE:
One of iRacing’s most prolific race winners in public events, Manes finally earned his eNASCAR license in 2021 and has been a consistent presence ever since. His sophomore season saw clear progress from his rookie year, as he posted six top-10s to improve to 15th in the final championship standings. CAREER
BRANDON MCKISSIC
BORN: May 4, 2000
TEAM: Letarte eSports
FACEBOOK: /brandon.mckissic.5
INSTA: @brandon_mckissic
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Jupiter, FL
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @brandonm_42
YOUTUBE:
McKissic’s pursuit of a Coke Series seat has seen him among the top drivers in early Road to Pro action the past two years— he was first in points in Round 1 in 2021 and won three races in that round over the past two years. After missing the cut in Contender last year, he made good on that promise by finishing 18th in points in 2022, comfortably clear of the cut line when the dust settled.
CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR ST. W. T5 RANK
2022 Ctdr 7 0 0 18th
TUCKER MINTER
BORN: May 9, 2001
TEAM: Team Dillon eSports
FACEBOOK:
HOME: Warrenton, VA
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @tuckerminter
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Minter headed into the 2022 Contender Series on a roll thanks to championships in both rounds of Road to Pro action earlier in the year. He paid off the early momentum by scoring a win at Darlington, three additional top-five finishes, and a strong sixth place finish in points to assert himself as one of eNASCAR’s top rookies.
CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR
JIMMY MULLIS
BORN: November 29, 2000
TEAM: Rise eSports
FACEBOOK: /jimmy.mullis.31
HOME: Midland, NC
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @jmullisracing
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Mullis is one of the top 10 all-time on iRacing for oval drivers, with thousands of victories and tens of thousands of laps led. A consistent presence in the series for half a decade, his four-year win streak ended in 2022, but a consistent enough season with the rebranded Rise eSports kept him in the Coke Series for 2023.
CAREER STATISTICS
Totals 107 5 19
ZACK NOVAK
BORN: December 27, 2001
TEAM: Rise Esports
FACEBOOK:
INSTA: @znovvv
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Clinton, CT
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @znovak15
YOUTUBE:
Novak’s thrilling eNASCAR championship win in 2019 may be the last time he’s visited the winner’s circle, but it certainly wasn’t for lack of effort last year. With multiple consecutive runner-up finishes, he had more than enough points to make the playoffs if things had broken ever so differently just once. Still, the return to form in the Next Gen car suggests that his next win isn’t too far off.
CAREER STATISTICS
FEMI OLATUNBOSUN
BORN: March 22, 1999
TEAM: Charlotte Phoenix
HOME: Revere, MA
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
FACEBOOK: TWITTER: @TA_Femi
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Olatunbosun’s sophomore campaign made a serious statement of intent to the eNASCAR community, as he held off the field to win the season opener at Daytona and never looked back. Firmly within the playoff cut all season long, he converted the opportunity into a seventh place championship finish.
CAREER
NICK OTTINGER
BORN: June 7, 1994
TEAM: William Byron Esports
FACEBOOK:
HOME: Claremont, NC
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @NickOttinger
INSTA: YOUTUBE: /NickOttinger
BIOGRAPHY
The record holder for the most wins in a single eNASCAR season, and winner of the first-ever sim race broadcast live on US television, 2020 marked Ottinger’s long-awaited first eNASCAR title. After missing the 2021 playoffs, he returned in 2022 after scoring two regular season wins on the way to 10th in points.
CAREER
MALIK RAY
BORN: October 8, 1998
TEAM: Jim Beaver eSports
FACEBOOK: /malik.ray.988
INSTA: @campaignpapii
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Greenville, SC
QUALIFIED: Top 21 in 2021 Contender
TWITTER: @malikrayTTV
YOUTUBE:
Ray used a win in his first ever Pro start in 2018 to earn himself eNASCAR status in 2019, and has raced through the Contender division in each of the past three years to hang onto his license. One of the winningest iRacers of all time, Ray also boasts top split victories in iRacing’s open Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 events, and is a regular front-runner at superspeedways.
CAREER STATISTICS
VICENTE SALAS
BORN: August 20, 2002
TEAM: Williams eSports
FACEBOOK: /vicente.salas.1042
INSTA: @ vicente.salas.14_
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Temecula, CA
QUALIFIED: Top 21 in 2020 Pro Series
TWITTER: @vicente_salas14
YOUTUBE:
The California-based Salas isn’t just a real-world karting standout: he’s a top-tier sim racer whose rookie eNASCAR campaign ended with a playoff appearance and who has also won in iRacing’s pro Rallycross series. A return to Contender in fall 2022 saw him take a win and finish seventh in points to return to the Coke Series for 2023.
CAREER STATISTICS
DONOVAN STRAUSS
BORN: August 15, 2005
TEAM: Williams eSports
FACEBOOK: Donovan Strauss
INSTA: @donovanstrauss_
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Marietta, GA
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @dstrauss51
YOUTUBE:
Strauss persevered through a challenging rookie eNASCAR season, but showed enough promise to earn the final guaranteed berth on the 2023 entry list. In real world racing, he often runs Legends cars in Atlanta and Charlotte, and tested his first Late Model after wrapping up his rookie Coke campaign.
CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR ST. W. T5 RANK
2022 18 0 2 20th
Totals 18 0 2
WYATT TINSLEY
BORN: February 12, 2006
TEAM: Kansas City Pioneers
FACEBOOK:
INSTA: @mrwyatt212
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Hampton, VA
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @MrWyat5
YOUTUBE:
A former top split winner in iRacing’s open setup Daytona 500, Tinsley persevered through two rounds of Road to Pro action to make the cut for the Contender Series, where he earned a top-10 points finish on the back of a slate of consistent results. Off the track, the Virginia native is an aspiring meteorologist.
CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR ST. W. T5 RANK
2022 Ctdr 7 0 0 10th
COREY VINCENT
BORN: June 5, 1994
TEAM: Pittsburgh Knights
HOME: Louisville, KY
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
FACEBOOK: TWITTER: @CVincent34
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
Only once in eight seasons at the eNASCAR level has Vincent had to drop into the Contender series at year’s end; most years, the Louisville native battles hard for a playoff spot. The three-time eNASCAR race winner remained consistent in 2022 with two topfives, just as he had the year before. He’ll celebrate his 150th career eNASCAR start in the summer.
CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR
2022 18 0 2
2021
2020 20 0 1
2019 18 1 4 11th
2018 18 0 1 23rd
2017 16 0 3 5th
2016 16 1 3 7th
2015 16 1 3 6th
Totals 140 3 19
PARKER WHITE
BORN: May 10, 2006
TEAM: Kanaan Esports
FACEBOOK:
INSTA: @ParkerW95
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Norridgewock, ME
QUALIFIED: Top 22 in 2022 Contender
TWITTER: @ParkerW95
YOUTUBE:
White proved himself time and again during a successful 2022 Road to Pro campaign, scoring wins at Bristol and Charlotte in the first round and Mid-Ohio and Texas in the second. That led to a 13th place points finish in Contender and his first trip to the Coke Series. He also won the 2022 Hard to Drive 300, one of iRacing’s most prominent independent events that uses the Car of Tomorrow.
CAREER STATISTICS
2022 Ctdr 7 0 2
STEVEN WILSON
BORN: November 12, 2001
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
HOME: Guttenberg, IA
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
FACEBOOK: TWITTER: @swilson3_
INSTA: YOUTUBE:
BIOGRAPHY
If you thought Wilson was good as a rookie in 2021, you hadn’t seen anything yet. The undisputed top playoff seed in 2022 after finally scoring his first eNASCAR win—then another, and another—Wilson earned a trip to Charlotte and the NASCAR Hall of Fame to compete as a Championship 4 driver. He even took a nationally televised win in a Pro 2 off-road truck on the streets of Detroit for good measure.
CAREER
BOBBY ZALENSKI
BORN: May 29, 1995
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
FACEBOOK: /bobbyzalenski
BIOGRAPHY
HOME: Fresno, CA
QUALIFIED: Top 20 in 2022 Standings
TWITTER: @bobbyzalenski
YOUTUBE: Bobby Zalenski
Always the bridesmaid, Zalenski now has four consecutive Championship 4 appearances at the eNASCAR level, and drove his heart out to try and beat Casey Kirwan for the 2022 title from the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The only driver to make the playoffs on points, he extended his six-year winning streak in the Coke Series in the playoffs by getting past Casey Kirwan and Collin Bowden across the stripe at Talladega.
CAREER
