Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a Midas touch when it comes to the NASCAR world. From his successful tenure behind the wheel of the #8 car to taking his team, JR Motorsports, to the Xfinity series where they claimed four championships, he’s made his mark. Not content with his on-track achievements, Earnhardt Jr. ventured into the world of podcasts with the ‘Dirty Mo Media’ brand, creating an empire of his own. In 2020, he ventured into another arena, joining iRacing as an executive director.
iRacing has seen remarkable growth under Earnhardt Jr.’s leadership. The recent release of their ‘season 2 2025 build’ has introduced new ARCA cars and tracks for users to explore, including the addition of Portland International Raceway. These additions are a boon to the racing world, as both drivers and fans alike utilize these simulators.
Among those impressed by iRacing’s progress is Rajah Caruth, a professional iRacer who transitioned to the Truck Series. Caruth’s career trajectory is reminiscent of other NASCAR personalities who started as sim racers, like William Byron, one of the top drivers in the next-gen era.
Caruth, who joined iRacing in 2018 with a dream of becoming a race car driver, made significant strides by 2023, becoming the third black driver with a NASCAR win and securing HendrickCars.com as a sponsor. His roots in sim racing remain strong as he continues to use the platform for both practice and leisure.
Recently, Caruth praised iRacing’s updates to the Bristol and Las Vegas tracks. He expressed his admiration in a social media post, saying, “.@iRacing did an amazing job with the rescan of Bristol and Vegas. Most realistic tracks I’ve driven online so far. Can’t wait to try the other places.”
Since Earnhardt Jr.’s inclusion, iRacing has followed an upward trajectory. The latest ‘Debris Refresh’ update made debris an integral part of the simulation, in line with real races. The update, as described by iRacing, “improves the physics, appearance, and generation of debris, and how it moves around the track over time.”
Further strides were made last year when iRacing partnered with technology giant Microsoft to incorporate artificial intelligence into simulators. iRacing president Tony Gardner expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating their goal is to “create new and improved features that will benefit all iRacers.”
With Earnhardt Jr. at the helm, iRacing is taking significant steps forward. His passion for simulator racing dates back to the 1990s when he would spend hours playing ‘NASCAR Racing.’ His dedication led to NASCAR’s introduction to iRacing and he even won the inaugural race of the eNASCAR division launched by iRacing in 2010.
The upcoming ‘NASCAR 25 game’ by iRacing is another testament to Earnhardt Jr.’s influence. The game allows users to simulate a career in NASCAR, starting off as an ARCA driver and climbing the ranks while securing sponsors and signing contracts. The game aims to shed light on smaller series like ARCA, embodying Earnhardt Jr.’s affinity for supporting lower-tier series.
The release date for ‘NASCAR 25 game’ is anticipated for the fall of 2025. Fans are eagerly awaiting a more refined product, thanks to iRacing’s acquisition of the NASCAR license. With Earnhardt Jr.’s involvement, the excitement is justified as players look forward to experiencing the best of NASCAR in the virtual world.
