National Racing Network Announces Ten-Week Hyper Racing eSports Series

Story By: CHRIS GRAHAM / NATIONAL RACING NETWORK – WARMINSTER, PA – With a dearth of weekly racing at local tracks due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the National Racing Network is taking the 2020 season virtual.

Beginning on April 11, the Hyper Racing NRN eSports Series takes to the track with weekly races on Saturday nights which will offer a top prize of $150 weekly and $250 to win the season championship.

“We understand that virtual racing isn’t for everyone; but overall the response to our other broadcast iRacing events tells us there is a market for eSports during these tough times,” NRN Executive Producer Chris Graham said.

Hyper Racing will serve as the entitlement sponsor of the series, as a continuation of their existing partnership with NRN.

Hyper Racing owner Mike Dicely said, “I have seen young drivers who have excelled quickly in the 600 Sprint Class because they spend a lot of time on iRacing. Kyle Spence, who had never driven a 600 but had spent a lot of time on iRacing came to dominant form very quickly, winning a couple very big races in his first year including his very first race in a 600 at the Lanco Labor Day shootout.”

Ten weeks of Saturday night racing is on the schedule, with a combination of USAC Midgets and 305 Sprint Cars on the bill. Race nights will feature fixed setup races, which will focus the action on driver skill, rather than the setup skills of longtime sim racers. “This combination of cars and fixed setups opens the door to the multitude of new sim racers who have recently joined eSports world,” Graham added.

Real-world venues on the ten race schedule include Lanier National (GA), Volusia, Williams Grove, The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Eldora, Kokomo, Knoxville, and the Chili Bowl Nationals. The mix includes bullrings and longer speedways, each with a unique test of skill for the drivers.

Series entries will be limited to 60 drivers, which is near the maximum for a single iRacing server. All events will be broadcast on the National Racing Network, beginning at 7:00 PM each Saturday. Entry fees for competitors are only $10 for the registration fee and $5 weekly to compete.