Does the competition remain intense when top drivers switch to sim racing, but do virtual dynamics present additional difficulties? In March 2020, drivers and fans alike were left wondering what could fill the vacuum created by NASCAR’s abrupt halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the cars weren’t actually on the track, the high-stakes duel that followed at Homestead-Miami felt as real as any Sunday race.
As usual, Denny Hamlin was sitting barefoot in his home simulator rig, staring at the screen in front of him. Dale Earnhardt Jr., a well-known competitor, was just ahead on the last lap, but this time they weren’t racing on asphalt at 190 mph. It was taking place in iRacing, a virtual battlefield where timing and accuracy were as important as they would be in real life. Hamlin made his move as the checkered flag drew closer, establishing what would turn out to be a memorable moment in both NASCAR history and sim racing.
The 2020 NASCAR season started off as if it was business as usual. Denny Hamlin would go on to win his third Daytona 500 title, and then the bandwagon would head to other tracks. In the following weeks, NASCAR raced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway and Phoenix Raceway. But, everything changed in March when the COVID-19 cases started rising worldwide.
Government agencies, business, and even sports bodies shut down their operation and NASCAR was no different. With 32 races left in the season, the sanctioning body decided to stop racing on March 13. And just like that fans were void of the racing action they were used to on weekends, and the absence was more profound with everyone restricted to the confines of their homes. This is where iRacing played the role of a savior and put on a show for the fans until racing resumed back on the racetracks.
At the virtual Homestead-Miami, the first NASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, drivers such as Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kyle Busch competed. A thrilling final-lap duel between Hamlin and Earnhardt Jr. concluded the 100-lap event, which at the time drew 903,000 spectators and was the most viewed esports event in the United States. Nascarman shared a clip of the broadcast by FOX looking back at the final lap via X. “We know, this is not real racing. But it’s not a video game either — iRacing is a very sophisticated simulation that real race drivers, as well as armchair racers, use and compete against each other,” play-by-play announcer Mike Joy told the FS1 audience.
Drivers used both simple desktop setups and more sophisticated motion simulations to compete. At FOX Sports, Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon, and Larry McReynolds called the action as if it were an actual Cup Series race. Some people’s learning curve was brought to light by early collisions, but sim-racing veterans like Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. soon took over. Timmy Hill, Garrett Smithley, and William Byron, all iRacing experts, occasionally took the lead while several cautions kept strategy in play.
Jr. was trying his best not to wreck on the last-lap shootout against Hamlin. Although both drivers did make contact while coming off Turn 4, they finished the race cleanly. “So I think I probably gave Denny a little more room than I really wanted to, but I had to keep from crashing him or anybody else. We got together off of [Turn] 4. I thought I might have been able to get a photo finish at the line, but we got together in [Turn] 4 and I about wrecked there.” Dale Jr. said after the event. Meanwhile, Hamlin had announced that all the winnings from this event would be added to the NASCAR foundation in their initiative to help communities affected by the virus in Miami.
March 22, 2020: The first NASCAR iracing ProInvitational event held during the pandemic. Denny Hamlin beat Dale Jr on the last lap to win Homestead
903,000 viewers watched the broadcast, at the time making it the most watched esports event ever on US TV pic.twitter.com/6XihVzRBPv
— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) March 22, 2025
“I like feeling the pedals. With shoes, I just can’t do it. I always go barefoot,” Denny Hamlin said. Earnhardt Jr. and Hamlin fought for the lead with less than ten laps remaining. After controlling his tires throughout the race, Hamlin started third and swiftly rose to second. Earnhardt Jr. held the favored line as they took the white flag, but Hamlin prepared his move. Hamlin dived low into Turn 3 and had a great run off Turn 4, narrowly winning the photo finish by 0.152 seconds. Incredibly, Hamlin won while competing in his home simulator barefoot.
Because the race demonstrated the authenticity of sim racing, NASCAR decided to add events at Bristol, Talladega, and North Wilkesboro to the iRacing Pro Invitational Series. Additionally, it caused a spike in interest in iRacing, with fans purchasing sim setups. For Hamlin, it was another victory—this time in a race that was unlike any other—and for NASCAR, it was evidence that innovation could sustain the sport.
The Impact of the Pandemic on NASCAR and Its Fans
The virtual Homestead-Miami race was the most-watched esports event on U.S. television at the time, making it a historic occasion. “It was fun to get to do some type of racing, especially with the Cup guys and some others that I don’t get to race against a lot. Hopefully, it was a way for the fans to escape from everything that is going on and enjoy some good racing.” Briscoe said.
The tournament, which included iRacing stars Timmy Hill and Garrett Smithley among celebrities like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, was well received by fans. It was more than just a race; it was a representation of tenacity. The race had actual stakes, despite the simulated environment. Along with matching contributions from NASCAR, FOX Sports, and Kevin Harvick’s foundation, Hamlin promised to donate $100 for each lap led and an extra $5,000 for the victory to support families impacted by the pandemic.
Brad Zager, Executive Producer for FOX Sports, discussed the continuation in a release: “This rapid-fire collaboration between FOX Sports, NASCAR, and iRacing has resonated with race fans, gamers, and television viewers across the country in a very positive way. We have learned so much in a relatively short period, and we are excited to expand coverage of this brand-new NASCAR esports series to an even wider audience.”
For drivers, the event presented a special challenge. Timmy Hill demonstrated that skill was more important than equipment when he battled with a simple wheel on a desk, whereas Denny Hamlin, an iRacing veteran, had a $40,000 rig. The battle was fierce, with nine warnings and several lead changes. Lately, Earnhardt Jr. held the lead, but Hamlin, riding the new tires, made contact and won by a slim margin.
Morning warm up @dennyhamlin @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/i5mOqv4RoV
— Michael Waltrip (@MW55) March 22, 2020
Tim Clark, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at NASCAR, added, “We’re overwhelmed by the positive feedback and encouragement sent by industry stakeholders, drivers, partners, media and most importantly, our fans. We all can’t wait to get back to racing and our partners at iRacing and FOX have worked with us to do just that – race. We are committed to running these eNASCAR iRacing events as long as necessary. Providing a platform for our fans to watch and engage with their favorite drivers is our number one priority.”
The success of the Pro Invitational Series emphasized the relevance of esports in motorsports and encouraged other sports to move toward virtual alternatives. Drivers continued to use iRacing for training even after actual racing started, demonstrating the long-lasting effects of NASCAR’s pandemic-driven innovation.
The post When Denny Hamlin Beat Dale Jr. in Front of a Million People at Virtual Homestead-Miami Race During COVID appeared first on EssentiallySports.
