NASCAR

10:26 AM ET ESPN News Services Chip Ganassi Racing has suspended driver Kyle Larson without pay after he used a racial slur on a live stream during a virtual race Sunday. “We are extremely disappointed by what Kyle said last night during an iRacing Event. The words that he chose to use are offensive and

8:17 AM ET Doug KezirianESPN Close ESPN Sports Betting Analyst Host of Daily Wager Behind The Bets podcast host As the world faces a global pandemic from the coronavirus, the sports betting community is adjusting to a new normal that includes an unprecedented economic hit and innovative wagering options that sportsbooks previously would never have

9:04 AM ET From protective masks and hospital gowns to drive-through tests and machines to help virus-stricken lungs fill with oxygen, the handiwork of racers from NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA and beyond can be found in every corner of the coronavirus fight. After all, at its heart, the COVID-19 pandemic is a race. A race to

3:10 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has added home-schooling elementary teacher to his resume. The sports stoppage from the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a red flag on Johnson’s farewell tour. He had planned a final season of racing a full NASCAR schedule, but so far that has lasted

4:26 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards were among the new nominees for NASCAR’s next Hall of Fame class announced Tuesday under a revamped voting protocol. Voters for 11 years elected five members per class first from a list of 25 candidates; it was trimmed to

4:32 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — William Byron led the most laps in NASCAR’s first two virtual races and had nothing to show for his gaming skills. The third time out, he got the win. Byron easily won the iRacing event Sunday at virtual Bristol Motor Speedway, where NASCAR would have been really

7:07 PM ET Start your engines and place your bets — Las Vegas is taking action on virtual NASCAR racing. Nevada Gaming Control on Friday announced that the state’s sportsbooks could offer betting on the 2020 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, beginning with this weekend’s events from virtual Bristol Motor Speedway. It’s the first time

5:58 PM ET Associated Press NASCAR has delayed the debut of its next generation stock car that was scheduled to hit the track next season. The car will now be delayed until 2022 because the coronavirus pandemic has slowed development. “Due to challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic, the debut of the Next Gen car

10:08 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The five 3D printers at NASCAR’s Research & Technology center — two delivered in February and installed less than two weeks ago — are typically focused on composite parts and working on an updated stock car. But when racing came to a stop March 13 amid the

9:43 PM ET Associated Press Gronk is coming to iRacing. Rob Gronkowski and WWE star Mojo Rawley are set to serve as the grand marshals for the NASCAR virtual racing event on Sunday. Gronkowski, the retired New England Patriots tight end, also is scheduled to host WrestleMania. WrestleMania, WWE’s signature event, is held over two

4:03 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead sang the national anthem from a remote location. Troy Aikman, borrowing Matthew McConaughey’s trademark phrase “Alright, alright, alright,” commanded drivers to start their, uh, simulators. NASCAR’s new normal resumed Sunday with another virtual event, the second in an iRacing series thrown

1:38 PM ET Associated Press Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has joined the field for IndyCar’s inaugural online race as he contemplates driving in that series following his retirement from full-time stock car racing. IndyCar has followed NASCAR, IMSA and Formula One in setting up a virtual racing series to give fans content during the

5:50 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR informed its staff Tuesday that pay cuts will be imposed across the company until the series returns to racing. NASCAR president Steve Phelps announced the moves in a memo to employees, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press from a person who requested

It was all so real. But it was also never real. “It sure felt real to me,” Hamlin said, laughing. Sunday’s race was the NASCAR equivalent to Tron, with an entire racetrack, garage area and grandstand digitized via iRacing, the hyper-accurate racing simulation software that has long served as an escape for gamers as well

4:59 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The stands were packed, Jimmie Johnson caused several wrecks, Denny Hamlin raced barefoot and damaged cars were repaired with the push of a button — a few virtual signs that NASCAR backed quite an unreal race. NASCAR eased off the brake in the real sports world brought

1:00 PM ET NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently found out that his wife, Amy, is pregnant with their second child — and his confused reaction to the news may be just the funny moment we need today. On Wednesday, Amy shared an Instagram video of Dale finding out that he’ll be having another child,

9:53 PM ET Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch will be among the NASCAR greats back on the racetrack this weekend — the virtual racetrack, that is. NASCAR and iRacing on Tuesday announced the Pro Invitational Series, an exhibition esports series that will pit drivers from the Cup, Xfinity and Truck series, as well as

3:15 PM ET Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR plans to reschedule the seven Cup Series races already postponed due to the the COVID-19 pandemic. Figuring out how to cram the events and the All-Star race into the crowded 36-race schedule could be difficult. NASCAR has already postponed its season until May 9 at Martinsville