iMedia Alert-ish

Even if you don't like auto racing, this is brilliant -- and bizarre. A full 35 major NASCAR drivers are starting a "virtual" iRacing series, broadcast on Fox Sports 1 with their regular announcers calling the iRace. Keep in mind that most drivers began with video games. And many likely already had iRace set-ups in their home, complete with a wheel and drivers seat to "drive" the virtual car and monitor.

The first race is on now as I type this (2:45 pm EDT), and it actually looks semi-real, including sound-effects, stats, in-race interviews with the drivers (skyping in videos from home), replays, and visual effects, like smoke from the cars and the weather changing. A funny moment came when one of the drivers tweeted that he had to go to the bathroom, and so to hold down the fort he attached a photo of his dogs in his chair and at the wheel..

And when I said that these were major NASCAR drivers taking part, I meant it.  Among the drivers participating are the defending Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin, defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, the 2018 champion Joey Logano, 2012 champion Brad Keselowski, seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson, and 2016 rookie of the year Chase Elliott.  What's more, even legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr. came out of "retirement" to join in.

The thought was that if this got a good response, they'd make a full series out of it.  Given that this is apparently trending #2 on Twitter, it certainly appears to have gotten the reaction they were hoping for.