eNASCAR Pro Invitational at North Wilkesboro | NASCAR ON FOX HIGHLIGHTS

[@NASCARonFOX]

What were your thoughts on the new North Wilkesboro Speedway?

[@whoasked9500]

Awesome.

[@anandguruji83]

Double Awesome

[@troublesomevanstudios]

Good but wrong winner

[@sulphurous2656]

A wholesome conclusion to this series and dealing with the sportsmans equivalent of cabin fever. The racing we saw feels like the balance between aero push and throttle control is just right like on the fourth generation cars. Great fun to watch, keeps you on your toes, even more fun for the drivers I imagine. And the place looks great at twilight. Hope Darlington upholds this trend.

[@jeffpatton2866]

Someone needs to open this track back up and Cup Series needs to race there again.

[@thehurri-fan1290]

Seriously the crowd when Denny was smoking the tires on the front stretch priceless thanks iRacing

[@dcstar7772]

They looked like Zombies!! 😳👍

[@lawrencewebb3659]

haha yea eff denny

[@VanWinger]

Oh... victory donuts. o___o

[@Ultrase7en767]

It's ai, kinda how their programed

[@nolandavis9040]

NASCAR put the money into rebuilding this place. Can’t you tell that the fans and drivers want this.

[@AgtWashingtub]

Just a vocal minority wants this. "Everybody" wanted Rockingham back, but only showed up for one race when they tried. Then gave excuses.

[@redhawkk]

it’s more than what you think, and it could turn into a huge flop if all the money doesn’t pay off well

[@kamz4576]

This is like pulling a car out of a river that's been sitting in its watery grave for 30 years. "Restore it!" enthusiasts say, not understanding the scope of time, labor, and money involved, none of which would ever be recouped. The cost of adding SAFER barriers alone is nearly $2 million. Add to that another $10 million for the track surface. Then there's rebuilding the garages and updating the stands and infield. Speedway Motorsports, track owner, would have a hard time justifying the cost of restoration when most of the current tracks aren't close to filling with fans, including the short tracks... and 2020 could very well end up with Speedway Motorsports recording a financial loss given the craptastic circumstances dealt to it.

[@nolandavis9040]

Kamz I know the cost will be significant I’m just saying that it needs to be back on the schedule. Is it possible...yes, easy... is a no. However if a whole bunch of people put money together it could get fixed. I think Rockingham is a much much easier option but still pricy

[@StaySqueezy12]

You wouldn't get more than 30k at the race

[@kevinhuneycutt9691]

Would definitely prefer this over a cookie cutter 1.5 mile intermediate. Definitely more action.

[@TheFrogChannel]

Agreed, short tracks are cool but are even better when they’re more rounded/circular.

[@lilkris3008]

I mean Texas and homestead were better races and had closer finishes but I can’t wait to race it looks A+ as usual

[@SurrealCereal]

bye kentucky

[@gnnascarfan2410]

This aged very poorly.

[@MattChaffe]

Please NASCAR start going back to short tracks. The series was build on short track racing and the entertainment is amazing!

[@SwigerQ86]

They already tried to bring back a track, people showed up for 1 year after begging nascar, then died off again. Those people ruined it

[@ogdrifter9977]

You mean the truck show at Rockingham?

[@Sky1]

@@ogdrifter9977 First time I saw Joey Logano was at the ARCA race in Rockingham, he won. Was a great race, love that place.

[@falconater51]

Always wanted to go see a race at Bristol and Wilkesboro. Love the road courses though too; Road Courses and Short Tracks tend to be the most competitive and the most entertaining.

[@BlueHero112]

Man seeing Gordon back in the Rainbow Warrior sends chills down my spine, only in iRacing

[@justinprescott9716]

Imagine if he had DuPont instead of axalta

[@falenenbambi]

Its time to put the real thing at this historic bull ring

[@warhawk3972]

And yet you can see Denny Hamlin wreck the field once and attempted to wreck Ross Chastain, all in the course of a couple minutes

[@CodyWilliamsDesign26]

Bowyer telling Jeff hes in the way 😂😂😂

[@npiccolo96]

Hopefully in the future they can go back to North Wilkesboro for real! Also, growing up a Bobby Labonte fan, it was really cool and a huge nostalgia trip seeing him driving the old #18 paint scheme!

[@McDoobles]

Nick Piccolo I watched the Dale Jr video showing them clean up the track for it to be scanned accurately. His verbiage makes it seem like the track won’t be raced on ever again, at least by NASCAR.

[@npiccolo96]

RageMonkey yeah I watched it as well. It’s unfortunate

[@KK-ex5zu]

This was awesome, somebody seriously needs to bring this track back!

[@brandonhumphries3377]

This track needs to be back on the circuit. Would have rather seen the walls with Winston Cup Series just as the walls currently display.

[@joshjarnagin3161]

They can’t use Winston because of the same government guidelines that forced Winston out

[@gokulkrishnan2690]

umm im new to nascar isnt this just an oval what makes it different from the other tracks

[@airsofttexas1945]

Gokul Krishnan The front stretch is down hill and the back stretch is up hill, but I may have that flipped

[@4fanintexas]

It's one of Nascar's most historic tracks, so the history of the place is very important to long-time fans. BUT, what makes this track different from the "cookie cutter" 1.5 miles tracks is that North Wilkesboro was a unique 5/8 mile oval that was not level. The backstretch was sloped uphill while the frontstretch was sloped downhill. There wasn't another track on the circuit like it.

[@chambomakescontent]

Gokul Krishnan when did you start watching?

[@LVCID777]

I hope they make this a regular thing like on Saturday before the races and in the off season. I think there is tremendous support for it!

[@rayzeleski6570]

The REAL North Wilkesboro raceway was my FAVORITE track! I remember Mark Martin being down 4 laps there in 1990, and he came back to WIN the race, driving the Folgers Ford Thunderbird! I also remember Rusty Wallace winning there in 1992 in a Pontiac. The 5/8 mile configuration and downhill - uphill straightaways made that place UNIQUE!! PLEASE, PLEASE someone BUY that track, refurbish it and put it back on the NASCAR schedule!! I too am sick and tired of cookie-cutter, D-shaped 1.5 mile tracks! Even though today's race was virtual, it still brought back a lot of great memories. THANK YOU, NASCAR and Fox!!

[@rabenracing6093]

Short tracks and road courses>plate tracks

[@dylanbrod429]

Short tracks > literally anything else other than road courses > road courses

[@charlenemarcks7483]

The best thing about iRacing is NO RAINOUTS!

[@nick-cb6dl]

And no stupid stages like in real life

[@billygsell3625]

and you won't have to re-pave the track

[@bugaboy18]

😂

[@GhoStrider-bg5ln]

I'm trying to remember a time weather was a factor that delayed a race there

[@Tommycat4888]

Thanks nascar for these online races I enjoyed them 😊😊😊😊

[@ProjectSimMedia]

They should bring back North Wilkesboro and Rockingham.

[@ProjectSimMedia]

@Bro Mark It's free to dream :( Rockingham was awesome.

[@seamusmckeon9109]

Both are in iRacing so you’re good if you want to race on them.

[@jabber1990]

They aren't going to

[@nascarfan1016]

They are putting in 10 million for repairs for both

[@zaydon7310]

Talk about going back to the old days

[@peterodonnell6386]

I grew up outside of Wilkesboro. As the son of two dedicated (former) NASCAR fans, I can remember driving by that track many times, always in immense wonder. Although it's not the same, it's good to see it lives on, in some manner. It certainly has in the hearts and minds of true NASCAR fans.

[@whatincarnation95]

this race was a prime state of vibe

[@seamusmckeon9109]

What In Carnation? It really was amazing to see current generation stock cars on such an amazing track.

[@TimothyChapman]

We really need to put this back on the *real* NASCAR schedule.

[@jacelefort7687]

Timothy Chapman: Go to “Out of the Groove” channel he has video for that. Look up “out of the groove NASCAR schedule”

[@marbleman2278]

NASCAR, please bring this track back!

[@broken_bones_acres]

Bruton smith owned it

[@seahawkfan1995]

At least we have video game to remember the track

[@DiegoRuiz1991]

The track already appeared as downloadable user-made content in games like NR2003, NR4 and NR3.

[@GoMoe24]

Diego Ruiz not lazer scanned though

[@savagepanda2480]

It's not a video game. It's a sim. Big difference.

[@seahawkfan1995]

Both are video games

[@justind4763]

@@savagepanda2480 Its both, really

[@spencergarbacz6584]

I love how clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon are fighting but jokingly because they are on TV.

[@benpancho3261]

Anybody notice the 93 connection? 93 total races at Wilkesboro, with the last race won by Jeff Gordon. 93 was Gordon's first full-time year in the Cup Series, and he finished with 93 career wins.

[@smarternu]

MAJOR CHEERS to everyone (Larry, Jeff, Clint, and all the guests). I enjoyed every minute and felt like I was part of the "In" club. I will miss it, but...let's go racin' boys.

[@robertshockey6750]

They need to do this for real!

[@hakimselistocharil2644]

Yes! NWS is back irl!

[@CarBitGTSaxen]

Yeley finished in 11th ! You gotta admit he has improved a lot since his Joe Gibbs days !

[@CarBitGTSaxen]

@Anthony Rodriguez you know I looked at his stats and most of his recent DNFs are caused to equipment failure and not him. I think he could be really good if he was given at least a good Xfinity ride. He did finish 5th in 2006 with 9 Top 5s and a whopping 22 top 10s. He should've got a win in hindsight during that season

[@smilingbob6708]

N Wilksboro was always my favorite track. I only wish they would bring it back for real.

[@johnhipp7817]

Great job. I saw Wilkesboro on my TV screen ID and thought it was a replay race and had to focus for a minute and realize it was iRacing. I really miss the old tracks.

[@Greyson.Kyler429]

Me watching this race live made me so happy, y'all got the track on a video game, now let's return to the real North Wilkesboro speedway.

[@DanielNuteson]

iracing busts: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick

[@thetechfromheaven]

iRacing and real life busts: Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez and Bubba Wallace

[@hetterman10r9]

The Tech From Heaven how is Larson a bust lmao

[@JonsMovies104]

Hetterman10 R saying the N word

[@johnware6272]

@Neil Rosenau If you think Toni is hot, you need to change your meds.

[@hetterman10r9]

jonsmovies18fan that doesn’t make him a bust. that just means he had a slip up

[@jimmybraum942]

And here we are 2022, and this virtual reality has become reality with the cup cars and trucks coming back in 2023

[@jasonjackson5493]

Marcus Smith..... bring it back

[@Megacooler96_]

It be awesome for Nascar to go back to these historic short tracks again

[@PRRrailfan]

NASCAR, please save this track! Short tracks are what make this sport great.

[@noahjones1166]

Man...loved this race..bring back racing. And the old color schemes look cool. Bring back these color schemes to spice up the cars. Im 17 and love old nascar and this felt like a 1996 race.

[@DoyleFuckinHargraves]

Maybe, just maybe this, of all things, a virtual race will garner enough interest into something positive being done with this historic track. Realistically, I know it's a long shot and would cost millions to renovate and update, but man, would that not be the second greatest resurrection story ever? A race fan can always dream, can't he? Hats off to Dale Jr & Marcus Smith for preserving this for us to enjoy in the virtual realm.

[@TheSaltBoiCometh]

I would love to have this track back on the schedule I hate the 1.5 mike tracks so this is a great change of pace

[@Dat-Mudkip]

Really? Only two minutes of racing? C'mon!!

[@nbaezzy2099]

If I knew Hamlin won, I wouldn’t have clicked on it

[@Mjdecker1234]

I agree but this wasn't a legit race in the series. This was a come and have fun, as he said. Nilo points or anything. Probably why. Waste of cleaning the track for a less than 10min video. Disgrace to the track

[@Paintguy75]

It's a highlight video. The full race video will be posted at some point.

[@Mjdecker1234]

@@Paintguy75 no they won't. Look st their past videos. This is a highlights just as the rest of them. Only thing is, this one is 8 min long with like the OP said 2min of racing. Not like the others.

[@haroldstarn5371]

Denny Hamlin always spins other drivers to win every time.

[@212809]

He does it alot in real-life also.

[@joshdillon5711]

Anyone remember a guy named Earnhardt?? That was kind of his signature move and everyone loved him for it now everyone hates on Hamlin for the same thing?

[@GodBeforeMoney]

NASCAR should be mostly super speedway restrictor plate and short track racing. So much fun

[@thetechfromheaven]

Every boring cookie cutter oval should be a roval

[@jamgood96]

Easily the best of the pro invitational. I can't believe this track isn't part of NASCAR's schedule. This track is so unique and short track racing is just flat out better than so many of the other tracks they run at.

[@thetechfromheaven]

Contrats to NASCAR invitational Cup series Champion Timmy Hill

[@ChuckRussell87]

That was awesome.

[@Kingdra321]

It was AWESOME!!! Now going back to real racing but Please NASCAR & FOX make this IRACING a mini cup series type of thing during the off season.

[@theresaferrell4385]

Now this is called rebuilding America and the dream of being free!

[@jeremiahhardel2646]

WE DID IT BOYS

[@marconesi9368]

God if you answer any of my prayer make it Dale Jr purchasing this track, Amen.

[@billygsell3625]

If the series' champion was officially crowned, Timmy Hill would be the Inaugural 2020 eNASCAR Pro Invitational iRacing Series Champion.

[@dngnascar]

That was the best invitational race they held

[@bradleyschultz1710]

As others have said before me north wilkesboro is a gem in the rough. What nascar did to the town when they left is probably the hardest part of the story. This track deserves to be raced on whether it be the nationwide series or the trucks but some sort of racing. Bring back the iconic tracks. I lived near the Milwaukee mile and it's been sitting for a good 5 years now without a race and I dont want to see the same thing happen to her as did happen to north wilkesboro. PLEASE NASCAR GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS. Go back to your true fans.

[@joshuamillan7457]

Why can't the Grand Marshall's start every race like JJ Watt?!?! That was awesome!!! Its awesome to see racing at Wilkesboro again also!!!

[@iceeblueburst03]

It’s nice that they brought the racetrack back in iRacing! 🙂

[@joshuamessenger]

Denny Hamlin: "I knew we had the fastest car" Uh, it's a fixed-setup, all the cars are the same speed...

[@KenPryor]

This is so cool, but it would be so great to see the real life track come back to life. Even if it couldn't support the Cup series, it could surely host truck series events at the very least. NASCAR seriously needs more short track racing and classic tracks. Bring back North Wilkesboro and Rockingham!

[@dutchie1010]

bowyer is a weapon on here just like he is in real life

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

This was a very relaxing race.

[@Moflo99]

It’s back. 😎

[@lukeyoung4000]

If they bring it back it needs to stay and be another throwback raceweekend

[@cristiancoker5051]

And now North Wilkesboro is back in 2023 for the all star race.

[@TheSubieFan]

The feeling on short track has a very similar feel to road course. Plate tracks are really interesting since it has such a high speed and slip angle but it's just not as interesting for me.

[@ericmarchesini4883]

Real racing is coming back

[@robertinscoe2379]

Not really just the season will start.

[@syx3s]

need these guys to be in vr for this to work properly. most of the accidents were because you can't see beside you easily with just monitors.

[@doitfordale7068]

*The crowd was silent XD*

[@LionManatic]

We should get the real North Wilkesboro back in action. But, if we can't get the real one, can we just get a virtual North Wilkesboro on the NASCAR schedule? Let it be the all-star race or some non-points paying race!

[@Wildman9]

Fox shoulda had Jaws (Waltrip) make an appearance,since he used to race there.👍😷

[@ChiChiWoo]

Hey NASCAR, maybe keep the Pro Invitational, and make it like the Formula E of NASCAR. Make it for retired drivers or people who can't find a seat, or Xfinity drivers who want to move to this series.

[@jeffreyclifton9928]

Let Cleetus McFarland be an inspiration to the restoration of these old racetracks. They might be old and small, but they're not useless. They can be used for so much more than just circle track racing.

[@a.b.317]

Think of the money they’d save on wrecked cars if they stuck to this format. I actually like it better

[@evanj2400]

Just imagine if William Byron won the first race back

[@warhawkplane9564]

2:46 Boogity Boogity Boogity let’s go racing at North Wilkesboro boys

[@faststang85]

I just wished they would have brought it back the way it is and not with the old grass in the turns and on the back straight

[@johndeere7245]

This is better than the real NASCAR racing. Maybe NASCAR needs to be taking notes.

[@zfilms4858]

Wait, THIS IS A THING!? VIRTUAL NASCAR RACES?

[@JeremyLeech]

Crazy how this all started from a comment Dale Jr made on a plane.

[@dannystafford5532]

Lets get all nascar fans to donate $1 each towards reopening North Wilksboro Speedway !!!

[@joeharris5851]

North Wilkesboro and Rockingham two tracks nascar should have kept. Always good racing had to build tracks with more seating we see where that went. Empty seats!!

[@DixietheGoat9]

They should add Riverside

[@stephenholloway6893]

Riverside was demolished for a shopping center. But if Iracing has access to an old copy of the virtual version it could still happen.

[@jcearnhardt393]

Just the atmosphere of any kind of race at wilkesboro makes you want to watch again.. bring back wilkesboro just may fill up them empty stands they try to hide on television.

[@corythegam3r456]

Jeff still looks 13😂

[@satinwhip]

The real NWS still says Winston on the walls.

[@dutchie1010]

this place and rockingham need to be resurrected in nascar. not just the virtual track!

[@S550STANG]

This is ridiculous 🤣

[@Coalblack79k10]

Should do period correct cars to match the old track and put Winston cup series back on the walls when nascar was worth watching broadcast a 1987 race Now driving old cars More people would watch

[@GhoStrider-bg5ln]

Some say NASCAR selected its own downfall when they cut this track off just before their 50th year. It's looking more that it's true again with a final race just short of 75 years

[@JeremyLeech]

Short tracks > Road courses

[@vinnyp6685]

Winston Cup Series!

[@herasejackson1075]

I wonder what would happen if Kyle Larson watermeloned Bubba Wallace.

[@UrlacherBears54]

Har har har. You give NASCAR fans a bad name.

[@herasejackson1075]

@@UrlacherBears54 How so?

[@friesareyummy]

*Silent Crowd that's not moving* Looks like iRacing forgot something.

[@joshjarnagin3161]

That’s the tv broadcast doing that so the cars don’t lag out

[@jacobsiekmann426]

Hamlin again has to almost take someone out

[@williamcumming2219]

Go by this track every day going to work. Wish someone would dump money in it. Get back to basics

[@Enzo87325]

Hamlin is king of Iracimg !

[@cmathis827]

That is a video game

[@62ibp]

yes it is

[@blakedmc1989RaveHD]

yea but a videogame was responsible to bring it back for good tho

[@rainbowrailroadcrossing7798]

This decade not looking so bad to me

[@4PorteGT]

NASCAR needs to wake up rebuild north wilkesboro speedway and go back racing even if it’s only one small track small tracks has more excitement to it

[@racerj2.03]

NASCAR DIED for me after the last race at North Wilkesboro! The fact that the organization got greedy and tried make NASCAR a nationwide sport by grabbing all the money they could by Crippling Darlington and destroying North Wilkesboro. It ended my 32 year love of the sport.

[@vjollila96]

Somehow Jeff Gordon looks like softer and bit older version of Ben Shapiro not sure why

[@anandguruji83]

DENNY HAMLIN WINNER: ENASCAR PRO INVITATIONAL AT NORTH WILKESBORO

[@anandguruji83]

DENNY HAMLIN WINNER: ENASCAR PRO INVITATIONAL AT NORTH WILKESBORO

[@lettucelettucelettuce]

DENNY HAMLIN WINNER: ENASCAR PRO INVITATIONAL AT NORTH WILKESBORO

[@andrewbeaudoin7363]

Oh, Just Shut Up. He didn't deserve to, now people need to beat the HECK out of him now. And I don't care what other fans think of me or disagree.

[@lettucelettucelettuce]

Andrew Beaudoin thanks for ruining the trend