Even with NASCAR returning, drivers still set for another virtual-reality race Sunday – Anniston Star

Even with NASCAR's Cup Series set to start up again May 17 at Darlington, the iRacing Pro Invitational Series isn't going away.

The virtual-reality circuit will race again Sunday at noon on FOX and FS1. NASCAR drivers will get behind the wheel of their iRacing rigs to compete in the Finish Line 150 from a simulated Dover International Speedway. The green flag is expected to drop at 12:13 p.m.

The entry list includes 39 drivers, including 16 who have won either a Cup or Xfinity race at the track.

The field will include Kevin Harvick, who was the 2014 NASCAR Cup champion. He has won twice at Dover in real time.

He has raced in two iRacing events, including last week at virtual Talladega, where he finished 12th.

Its been a crash course in how to do all this and Ive been able to get everything going and get up to speed and make it enjoyable now to where its not just trying to figure out what buttons to push or how to reset the wheel," Harvick was quoted as saying in a news release. Its been a lot of fun."

The entry list also includes seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who has run all five previous iRacing events.

I belly-flopped so bad in the first event I ran that people were reaching out to me," Johnson said in a news release. Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. actually sent me a text saying, I know you need help. Theres a four-time Cup Series champion in iRacing that wants to help you and he knows what hes doing. You should get in touch with him."

Even so, his best finish has been 19th.

The entry list does not include Jeff Gordon, who ran for the first time last week in the iRacing event at virtual Talladega Superspeedway.

Finish Line 150 entry list

Car number, driver, car owner

2, Brad Keselowski, Penske

8, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Invitation

15, Brennan Poole, Premium

17, Chris Buescher, Roush

19, Bobby Labonte, Invitation

21, Matt DiBenedetto, Wood Bros.

34, Michael McDowell, Front Row

38, John Hunter Nemechek, Front Row

51, Garrett Smithley, Invitation

66, Timmy Hill, Invitation

77, Parker Kligerman, Invitation

89, Landon Cassill, Invitation

95, Christopher Bell, LFR

96, Daniel Suarez, Gaunt Bros.

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Even with NASCAR returning, drivers still set for another virtual-reality race Sunday - Anniston Star