Denny Hamlin closed the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series with a victory Saturday on a simulation of North Wilkesboro Speedway, the North Carolina short track that last hosted a Cup Series race in the mid-1990s.
The three-time Daytona 500 winner, including this year's on-track season opener, was instrumental in organizing his fellow Cup Series drivers for the virtual circuit that started after real racing was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hamlin, who races barefoot on a top-of-the-line simulator, won the opening iRacing event on March 22.
He also gained national attention three races ago at virtual Talladega Superspeedway when his daughter, Taylor, tried to ask him a question during the race and accidentally turned off the screen on his simulator with a remote control she was holding.
For the North Wilkesboro victory, Hamlin used four fresh tires to chase down leader Ross Chastain and nudge him out of the way. Chastain retaliated by hitting Hamlin's car after the checkered flag.
"Two guys going for the same spot," said Hamlin, who added that Chastain tried to block his move.
William Byron led the virtual series with three victories but did not compete Saturday in the seventh and final race.
NASCAR is scheduled to resume racing May 17 at South Carolina's Darlington Raceway without spectators.
"Can't wait to get back," Hamlin said. "Can't wait to see you guys in the real world starting next week."
North Wilkesboro, an original venue on NASCAR's schedule in 1949, was abandoned after the 1996 season as the stock-car racing sanctioning body began to expand outside its Southern footprint.
Jeff Gordon won the last race at the 0.625-mile short track that featured a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. After sitting idle for years, the track has been badly damaged by weather and neglect and overgrown with weeds.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., an early iRacing enthusiast, recently led a cleanup effort of the iconic speedway so that it could be laser scanned and added to the tracks on the virtual platform. The track has been simulated as it was in 1987 and will be available for the public to race in June.
NASCAR quickly pivoted from real racing when its season was suspended March 13 during the coronavirus pandemic to the virtual platform.
Its broadcasts set several esports viewing records for broadcast partner Fox, but the novelty wore off after Bubba Wallace was fired by a sponsor for quitting a race in frustration and Kyle Larson used a racial slur while on the platform Easter Sunday. He was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing for the incident.