iRacing vs. NASCAR: A 17-year-old sim racer's first real drive

[@GianWarGasm]

hes 17, looks like a 12, sounds like a 30.... im so confused!

[@FuIIDiveVR]

Exactly what I was thinking lol

[@autbo]

I'm 19, look 14 and sound 13. 😑

[@JARKOV33]

GianWarGasm I'm 13, looks like 16 and sounds like 20-30 xd

[@ender8850]

I am 17, look like 25 and sound like a black 200 Kilo Guy

[@Ivan-wg7gb]

Enderfailer g

[@jdlawley]

"Just like the simulations."

[@tannerdickie72]

i give you 5 star

[@ossie200]

yaaaas!!!

[@TheMinman808]

Not exactly but there is a few difference like the cars IRL are easier to drive

[@swcarter4842]

@@TheMinman808 r/woosh

[@TheMinman808]

@@swcarter4842 definitely was no whoosh there

[@Jeremy-kh5fd]

Dude sounds like a 36 year white dad living in the suburbs of Seattle with a well paying desk job and three kids

[@generalkenobi8899]

This kid probably has a really high IQ.

[@MrTrainstation]

Michael Conti is one of the nicest people you will meet. I've raced a lot and become some what of a friend. He will be up there someday

[@roymarshall_]

Its cool seeing somebody with such a clear vision of his goals, and the confidence to follow through

[@sergiodelalamo189]

I dont have money, I work in a grocery... then you see his cockpit

[@HipsterNgariman]

I found a second hand G27 setup (wheel + shifter + pedals) for 80€. He's sponsored by the monitor's brand (so he probably got'em for free). I would bother more about his computer, I easily put a thousand on mine (I'm hardcore gamer, though). Well... you don't care about that. Buy a console and put a G27 on it, it's pretty cheap and becomes very competitive with a 25$ Nimix brake mod.

[@jraybay]

Alex Gal In this video, do you know what that steering wheel he was using, is called?

[@ItsTannerTime]

The wheel seemed to be a Logitech G27.

[@HipsterNgariman]

Yeah it's a G27. If you can't spend this much money for a T500RS (circa 300$ second hand, luckily with a TH8A) or a Fanatec, this is your best bet.

[@ImCeatra]

Did no one notice that set of pedals to his left? (at least it looks like pedals to me)

[@chipper442]

The crew chief says that to everyone. It's what gets you coming back.

[@GalaxyGal-]

I hope he gets a ride in the K&N series. Hopefully he goes the way of William Byron

[@gregbiffle227]

+KyleBuschPackFan How about no, lets give it to a kid having to work his way up through the dirt and mud, a kid who's family and himself are committed to the task of traveling to different tracks and competing in races. Not some little shit nugget that got good at sim racing at his house. Fuck that shit.

[@GalaxyGal-]

+Greg Biffle Why do you hate iracers? The kid has talent, so why shouldn't he get a ride?

[@gregbiffle227]

I want people to have success that get out in the world, get their hands dirty, their feet wet. Not some little fairy that sits in his goddamn living room with a fancy computer and a set of fucking pedals. Sorry to sound so harsh but this stuff really does bother me.

[@GalaxyGal-]

+Greg Biffle So what do you think about William Byron winning the K&N championship in his rookie year?

[@GalaxyGal-]

+Greg Biffle And Josh Berry who had a great Xfinity debut last year.

[@balf1111117373]

Wasn't there a rally racer that did this from the UK, he never drove a rally car only on a simulator and he ended up getting signed on as a racer by Suburu

[@finnbklf1378]

I need more Infos! A link or something like that...

[@rewlong4843]

Lewis Hamilton’s brother

[@bobbyflay2822]

Didn’t he get in a wreck and kill someone?

[@AstroJR83]

conti, hope you succeed man! keep up the fight!!

[@Bonkazzzz]

If you like this story check out Stoffel Vandoorne. He did iRacing as well and is now a McLaren reserve driver and is probably landing a F1 seat next year

[@edwardlack2578]

Jan Mardenborough ran GP3 a couple of years ago as a GT Academy driver.

[@KayoMichiels]

He IS now driving in F1.. all those years have been paying off.

[@ErikGPL]

That's not entirely true. He started in karting in 2008, did F4, Formula Renault 2.0, Formula Renault 3.5, GP2 and now he is in Formula 1.

[@luisrosales9349]

Rory Lambert This is America. F1 doesn't exist. The GP in Austin shouldn't even exist

[@wdavis6814]

It should, F1 should bring back the USGP East and USGP West. Watkins Glen and COTA. But subhuman middle eastern oil tycoons pay off the FIA bastards to bring races to their boring irrelevant tracks.

[@andrewlythgoe4841]

You go boy, live that dream many of us sim racers missed out on.. I will keep my eye on the leader board for you..respect!

[@kektaro]

My man using the chad g27. You make me proud

[@Jake_Sparey]

Can't believe i've only just stumbled across this, Conti is a brilliant driver

[@thomassmith7617]

Conti is an phenomenal iRacer and deserves a chance. So humble and so easy to talk to when I get the chance on the sim.

[@ivanjack8341]

this kid deserves best from life !go for the cup! I am 31 now and i train for rally , maybe some day i will do it on a track ... who knows?? best of luck to you!!

[@german_shepherd_dog9169]

You know, NASCAR isn't just left turns. Sure, it may look like it from where you're sitting, but try drafting the car in front of you 6 inches from his bumper, while driving at 180 mph. Want to turn? Nice try. If you turn too much to the left, you'll hit the dude that's about a foot to the left of your car. If you hit him, you'll wipe out everyone else in his path. Turn to the right? I don't think so. There's also a car to the right of you, maybe 6 inches from you. He's also doing 180, and trying to pass you. If you hit him, he'll hit the wall and wipe everyone out who's behind him. Want to brake? That's a big no-no. Don't you see the 20 other cars behind you? The closest car behind you is doing the same thing you're doing: drafting and bump drafting at 180 mph. One wrong move, and you can cause the following: disqualification, death, huge accident, and/or a huge mess of metal.

[@671TechReviews]

German_shepherd_dog Be first or last and you dont have those problems lol But yea, people just dont understand how difficult stock car racing really is.

[@fermiLiquidDrinker]

Rally and touring is still way cooler though.

[@AbdulRahman-ts6rt]

racing in general is not an easy job, no wonder they are paid tons

[@revirdkcalb]

Yeah, it may not be easy. But it also is not fun to watch imo. As a viewer, it definitely looks like a bunch of cars closely following each other and turning left the whole time.

[@Kidzspeed]

German_shepherd_dog It takes skill no doubt, but a different kind than F1

[@alastairstott6523]

Dude. I hope you make it. That dedication deserves results.

[@sulphurous2656]

The young man gives hope to others much like him.

[@alexwalter3563]

I play iracing and i did the Richard petty driving experience fairly close from a simulator to real life i did it at Kansas and hit 158. I would of loved to go faster but they restrict the engines

[@bradhansen8506]

Good for him, seems like he'll have no problem achieving his goals

[@lettucelettucelettuce]

Yeah remember this guy? He grew up, and his name is now Timmy Hill.

[@calebsteimer5146]

man it's been 4 years since I saw this video, and now I've been doing iRacing for 3 years now and i'm planning on going go-kart racing

[@OverlandOne]

$192/month for car insurance? Holy crap! That's N.J. for you. I moved from Jersey to Kentucky 30 years ago and never looked back. Right now, I pay $26/month for car insurance. (That includes the free towing option that is better than AAA) The DMV people here are very nice and helpful. (Unlike N.J.) Just wanted to put this out there as I could not believe anyone would ever pay that much. P.S. My property taxes in Jersey were over $5,000/year 30 years ago and I am sure they are higher now. Right now, for a larger house on more land I pay $350/year in property taxes in Kentucky. Anyway, I hope this kid makes it in NASCAR. It would be great to see that happen.

[@KayoMichiels]

triple screen... racing seat....stock G27... "I expected... more.."

[@stephenberry156]

You are going to be great. Good luck and do not let anyone steal your dream.

[@joeydoyle7397]

Any idea if he got a ride anywhere or if he’s still just on iracing?

[@ComdrStew]

Big thing you will notice is the steering the force feedback is a lot more intense than the real thing a lot of people have their force feedback cranked up.

[@bestopinion9257]

But nothing to worry about.

[@IamJasonTails]

lol I Got dominated by this guy in the NextGen Car on iRacing the other day. He's still one of the best sim-racers out there.

[@jimhiscott2918]

Next step is shifter cart racing. Thats where your career begins, however if he can afford it go to late model dirt track. Dirt Track is crucial in a drivers carrier. Best drivers today come from a dirt track background. After that its entirely up to a scout to deem him worthy of any amount of investment. Yes, I was a near 30 year racer on two wheels. BMX to MX then to Road Racing. I never made it past regional racing. Though dedicated and winning many times in my amateur career I didn't have what it took to race with AMA pro's. No amount of will could get me there. Its about born natural talent at the pro level.

[@oblitus3564]

Yahoo you guys are so under rated, this is one of the best documentaries on KZbin.

[@eqvnt6938]

bruh yahoo's net worth is 4 billion

[@MCLMisty]

Dude is about to make me cry

[@JustAGuy85]

Hell yeah, that's pretty cool. There's one other thing that will actually help him with driving a real car, real fast. Wrecking. Or at least losing control. That feeling between grip and slip helps in the long run lol.

[@judaslink3588]

such a well sounded person for 17! excited for his future!

[@eilois]

unfortunately it is 6 years ago, and no sponsor yet for him.

[@shaynejenkins446]

@@eilois hes been with jr motorsports his whole career

[@rnlddbr]

Look like a boy, talk like a man, drive like a champion!

[@Chh897]

best of luck to you. hope your dream comes true

[@TheMick200]

4:20 Of course the crew chief said that

[@Kuri0]

Nice timestamp

[@tannerdickie72]

@@Kuri0 nice

[@lettucelettucelettuce]

Hahahahaha!!!11111!!! Funny numbir!!111!! 😂😂😂😂

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

Being able to control a car like that with no real driving experience is still pretty impressive. He may not be world class but he's definitely a few steps ahead of other people his age and experience.

[@iRaceShane]

where can I get one those banners

[@marcusgallagher1723]

Very well spoken young man!

[@jacasoasheland6815]

this guy reminds me of alan kulwicki

[@barrettgt-r9692]

I've always disliked the people who compare NASCAR to circuit style racing. The point of an oval raceway isn't how well you can corner, it's about drafting strategy and planning ahead. At over 200 mph, airflow has so much affect on your car it becomes crucial to know how to control it. That's what NASCAR is all about. If you draft and slingshot past someone too soon, they'll just do the same and win the race. In circuit racing you can block (to a point), brake later, finesse the steering and get yourself in a better car to gain an advantage over your opponents. In oval racing most of that doesn't matter. You're all in the same car (with different body panels), so drafting and strategy is the name of the game.

[@dwaynediah4595]

This why I love sim racing and motorsport and cars

[@mrj3217]

So how did this guy end up

[@pepeiann]

I really want to got to college for racing but what should I start with

[@marknoble5495]

Did Ray ever get a chance to drive a real car through iracing? I know Huttu and Prather have.

[@etshArk87]

and he's driving with a logitech G27. Haters gonna hate thrustmasters :)

[@nateyboateng7668]

this has pushed me I really wanna be a nascar racer ever since I was 4

[@drewthediecastcollector9647]

natey boateng same

[@ballaking1000]

The last two clips were so cliche. lol

[@dylanbaptista1103]

I Hope to be your teammate in iRacing Michael Conti, I am a 12 year old Quarter Midget Racer, I have the same dream as you, I am getting a sim built, already have a seat for my sim, i dominated quarter midgets in California, am a club and regional champ, made Nationals a mains in 2 out of 3 visits, next national race is at my home track, and I am the dominant driver there, going for my first national title, good luck for a NASCAR ride

[@okie1630]

sound serious, hope u're doing well

[@NASCAR_Junk]

@@okie1630 He's alright...

[@shullln]

Hi Yahoo. Why do you keep hijacking my browsers bar search function?

[@Packle.]

You have a virus

[@sand4488]

Well cars 3 has a pretty damn good prediction lmao

[@papaparsnip2285]

I rooted for him in the iracing peak antifreeze series

[@ALM_Garage]

Wait how did he afforded the simulator

[@TransistorBased]

Well yeah it's different. It's hot, loud, shakes a ton, the wheel is uncomfortable, and you can feel everything. Tons of people do these driving experiences every year, I've driven a stock car and next year I'm driving a Ferrari. So I'm not quite sure why this video was even made.

[@TheSaltBoiCometh]

😑 I tell everyone I want to be a race car driver and people ask about my driving experience I tell them I’m an Iracer and get made fun of. So this video really is an inspiration

[@johnpob2486]

The American version Nissan GT Academy?

[@AzrilNazliAlias]

Good luck on your journey m8 !

[@7James77]

My only question is, while it is possible to learn the car and track on a sim, would he be able to learn a car and track outside of the sim? That is the true testament of a race car driver I think. The mistakes you learn in a sim I would believe are far more forgiven than on an actual track.

[@bestopinion9257]

Yes, he will be able. It is about specialization. A real driver make mistakes in sim. A sim driver makes mistakes on real. But both are able to practice and learn the new tool with easy, they both have the basics. The haters aren't able to do anything.

[@Centrioless]

@@bestopinion9257 so much bs. You are oversimplifying the sense of danger that you got from real driving. It all changes once you feel the g-force, once your head feel every single bump on the road.

[@bestopinion9257]

@@Centrioless That will not change the car reactions from your inputs. That will not change your driving style (which is already hard to be changed). The real problem with G forces and so on is the same problem that appears when you try something new: lack of practice. But you have already a solid fundation from simracing. You need some practice. No need to learn from the scratch. So many simracers already proved that the transition from virtual to real is doable with good results. A regular real life driver can't drive a racing car at reasonable speed at first time he tries. But a simracer can. 2020 - new days people, just admit it.

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

@@Centrioless He's not as good at racing as he is at sim racing, but he definitely has a good foundation. Like the kid said it took him a few laps to get used to g forces. And if he practiced every day Im sure he'd become pretty good at it for his age.

[@big3dp588]

Dude I saw this a year ago and it gave me hope that maybe I can do this to

[@djnuro5973]

What racing seat is he using?

[@David-nn1cf]

Somebody get this kid a direct drive wheel

[@DreamstoRealityAutomotiveTV]

IRacing teaches a lot of racing psychology as well as compared to a video game, you must race other people and you can watch them race and figure out how to race with them. So people can hotlap some people can race and then there’s the ones that just smash you when they can’t pass.

[@Sabba7h]

Makes me wonder if I can pull off something similar. iRacing is running a competition right now for the MX5 Cup, where the top 20 this summer get invited to a shootout and the winner gets a $100k sponsorship to the actual MX5 Leauge. I'm not experienced cause I've only been up there for a month, but I'm decent, the timing is just off. Maybe I can pull it off next summer? IDK.

[@ValeHendrickfan]

I hope he be a nascar Driver and race in cup Series in the 43 Richard Petty Motorsports

[@GiovanniTiradoGT]

No RPM is slow, maybe take over the 14 lol

[@ValeHendrickfan]

Maybe he take over for Clint Boywer in 2021

[@whysoslow1999]

JUST LIKE THE SIMULATIONS

[@jn-iy3pz]

A 40 year old racecar driver ghost possessed this child's body and made him an expert at turning left

[@Tylnorton]

85mph in his dad's impala in the real world? Gotta pump that number up, that's rookie numbah!!

[@stevenhorsefield2909]

I know right I was going well over 100 when I was 16 in my nova... then when I got a sport bike well over 150

[@MICRII]

Piekna sprawa, pogratulować zaparcia i pasji :)

[@robertsummers753]

dont know where your at but i hope the best for and your dream!!!!!

[@bradhargis2261]

So is he still playing the video game or does he actually race?

[@RondoKyrie]

Good luck man !

[@markrice23]

Good lad. Hope he makes it 👍

[@matthewwhite5158]

Earnhardt with the G29. 300 million and still can't afford Fanatec

[@herringnicholas]

I've been telling people this for YEARS! Now I'm going to go back to Project cars.

[@Killmouras]

Project Cars? At least pick a decent simulator, not that arcade shitty game.

[@Cds2000Channel]

Killmouras Project cars arcady?

[@nicolasvillavicencio1835]

it's simcade, neither arcade or full sim.

[@HorseFromHell]

it's fucking terrible.

[@Carnyzzle]

I play both Project Cars 2 and Assetto Corsa, Project Cars for the Career, Assetto Corsa for the multiplayer, both games feel really close when it comes to gameplay

[@laos85]

Never go over 80m/h on the road = well educated kid. Plus a talented racer car driver at that. He deserve to get supported in real world racing until he decided to stop himself

[@iheartairsoft1391]

you've got potentol to become a nascar driver.

[@codyyellott117]

if he ever makes it ill gladly change tires for him currently goin too school for that

[@JL-cn1qi]

Well this was 5 years ago, any word? Don't think they gave Sim-racing the cred in 2015 they do these days.

[@Nick-cv5rm]

For not having much money that’s a huge cockpit

[@jjy4824]

I thought his name was Ty Majeski

[@jush5390]

gotta love that logitech momo wheel

[@bent540]

his name is MICHAEL CONTI

[@joemommasvids]

How can this happen to me? Someone important read this and please respond with details.

[@robhruska9359]

have talent

[@zachcarlson6316]

+Rob Hruska Not true. You don't even need talent in today's Nascar. You need to bring a big fat roll of sponsorship money to even get near the sport. All of the drivers who are up and comers right now all paid millions of dollars and have family connections with sponsors. I wish it was about being talented, but unfortunately, it's not anymore.

[@robhruska9359]

Zach Carlson yeah you're sadly not wrong. Just have money and you can get anything you want in NASCAR. Just look at the Dillon brothers. They're not really great drivers, they just had a famous grandpa and now they're in NASCAR.

[@joemommasvids]

+Rob Hruska. exactly

[@zachcarlson6316]

Rob Hruska Probably the best example of this is Brian Scott. He is nowhere near talented enough to be in the Cup series, yet he brings family sponsorship from Albertsons and Shore Lodge, so he has a full time Cup ride.

[@thecrazegamer2131]

bros using a g27 wheel and most people now spend upwards of 1k on a wheel haha

[@vilic1215]

i mean 2015, there wasnt any advanced sim setup

[@trevor4533]

@@vilic1215 Even in 2015, the G27 wasn't high end(I say this as a G920 owner lol). Fanatec had the CSR and Clubsport belt driven wheels. Thrustmaster with the T500. And if you really wanted to go high end, there were a few Direct drive units back then such as Leo Bodnar, OSW, and Accuforce.

[@joshshuster2916]

What? No gloves while I racing?

[@wylie2835]

He has a weak wheel

[@lilaitch705]

Cameras suck back then huh

[@AdrianDoman]

7 years later Michael still not on the real track still eNASCAR racing on iRacing

[@gewinnste]

148 mph top speed in an oval? I thought they average about 160? I did 240 kph (150 mph) straights on the Autobahn on my R1 on a regular basis - it's no big deal on a straight line.

[@wylie2835]

The new cars. Those are very old. They top out at about 148 on an oval like this.

[@shilpi326]

gewinnste These are restricted cars. They don’t want to give random people cars that can go 200+MPH. At Las Vegas (the track in this video) cup cars usually go 200MPH.

[@mrsenorpancake4967]

this is how i felt when i got my first car which was a stick, just thinking im already a pro because ive been playing forza since horizon 1

[@pirozcontractor6006]

Anyone else who has the G27?

[@scuderio762]

When Carman can do it, then you can also do it!

[@hillbillydunn3187]

Find a car start racing. In order to be in Nascar you need a racing back ground. Not video games. Save money buy a car and go race. It's easy when it's just you out there. but have a full field around you and it gets crazy especially when your radio goes out. There's a lot that goes into it then just driving.

[@rickhaavisto9023]

Howard Dunn Good thing Byron didn’t use this advice

[@WombatCombat720]

Doesn't have a lot of money, but has a full racing setup.

[@jimmygt7020]

WombatCombat720 pretty cheap gear though to be fair.

[@EadricRicmund]

The controllers aren't the most expensive part of sim racing if you are willing to buy second hand and save a little bit each month. For most people what makes sim racing expensive is all the parts that simply makes the sim more immersive, such as bucket seats, bigger better monitors, the cock pit mounts and motion stuff.

[@jimmygt7020]

ThatMessyAsianDude so you’re telling me that a bucket seat is more than a DIrect Drive setup with a sim steering 2 wheel totalling around £5000 at least is the cheap part of sim racing and that bucket seats cost the most? You can pick up a few 42” 4K TVs for about £400 each.

[@EadricRicmund]

@@jimmygt7020 why would one want a direct drive set up with sim steering 2 wheel if not for more immersion? If you are just sim racing for just playing the game any old quality wheel with force feedback is good enough. So in those cases yes a bucket seat costs more. Also 42 inch 4k TVs are not that good, because refresh rates matter and TVs don't have good refresh rate when it comes to immersion. If you want proper monitors for immersion you are looking at any monitor over 100hz and the largest monitor you can get for those are 34 inch 120 hz monitors which costs $1400 each. My point isn't "bucket seats are expensive" my point is a full racing setup without needing features for immersion purposes are cheap. Oh and a nice set of buck seats can cost $1500 if you are willing to mod real car seats, just saying.

[@mcdima4989]

a G27 (the wheel he used) is 100$ used, the gear he had was relatively cheap and can be bought even cheaper second hand

[@big3dp588]

Since then I've gotten a wheel and a pc with iracing

[@KriegBear72]

It's a Nascar car?

[@TheMikeprom]

Good job !!!

[@Auzcast]

I wonder how he used the $10k...

[@bendtfender2894]

+Co_ToThe Giant When the SimPit interviewed him he said he was going to use it for real world racing.

[@ericteipen]

And here we are in 2020 and he's back in the sim. Real world driving didn't pan out..imagine that..... He would have been so much better off if his parents would have put him in go-carts at a young age and threw that damn PC out the window!!!! I have over 100 wins in IRacing and it's absolutely nothing like the real world cars. The car mechanics are very flawed in this simulator and iracing won't listen to their base. Real world drivers that have stated that publicly have been verbally reprimanded by both NASCAR and INDY to the point that before any of them make any slightly negative comments on this sim they need to run it by both iracing and their respective sanctioning body.......It's ALL about the money and the hype here folks!!

[@trevor4533]

I agree, but I don't think he had a lot of seat time in a real car though. Like, a few races in a Legends car, if that. Odds are, his parents couldn't have afforded the time/money for him to start karting at an early age anyways. Maybe down the line, we will see more money/sponsorship/marketing poured into sim racing so that it can become closer to a substitute rather than supplement, but time will tell. For now, it is a fairly cost effective solution to satisfy a competitive itch, all in the comfort of your living room.

[@Ferrari1f430scuderia]

very mature for a 17 year old

[@Packle.]

You do realize not every teen is an idiot with impossible goals right? I have met 12 year olds as mature as him.

[@BrainSeepsOut]

Five thousand views? Really?