eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Race 1 average viewers 2020-2021
The COVID-19 pandemic that spread across the world in 2020 and into 2021 was not only a big threat to public health, but also to the entire entertainment industry. While cinemas and sporting events closed their doors to try to stem the spread of the disease, many people turned to home entertainment and eSports during periods of self-isolation. NASCAR tackled the problem of its cancelled live events by holding virtual races featuring top drivers and announcers. The first race in the 2021 season, at a virtual version of Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway, attracted an average of 292 thousand viewers on Fox Sports 1.
