The sixth season of iRacing‘s World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is upon us as the 2022-23 season, sponsored now by Carquest Auto Parts, is set to kick off tonight (28th November) at Volusia Speedway Park.
One of two top-level dirt racing esports on the iRacing platform, both sanctioned officially by the World of Outlaws, the Sprint Car Series will utilize the 410 Dirt Sprint Car throughout the series, the most powerful of the winged Sprint Cars within the service.
From the 10th of October until the 14th of November, hopeful drivers with an A-level Dirt Oval license were able to participate in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Qualifying Series.
Taking drivers who competed in the previous 2021-22 season and qualified in through the ladder, here are the 35 drivers that will compete in this year’s iteration:
- #00 Kendal Tucker
- #1 Mason Hannagan
- #4 Ross Keiser
- #5 Braden Eyler
- #7 Johnny L Anderson
- #07 Hayden Cardwell
- #9 Tanner Miller
- #11 Kenny Hoffman
- #12 Alex A Bergeron
- #13 Aiden Bierlein
- #14 JD Brown
- #16 Blake Giglio
- #17 Eric Witner
- #18 Austen Semmelmann
- #20 Aiden Forster
- #21 John Helms
- #22 Bryce Lucius
- #23 Kenny Miller
- #24 Tanner Pettit
- #25 Tyler Ducharme
- #33 Evan Seay
- #39 Andrew Hoefler
- #41 Logan Rumsey
- #42 Paul R Bryan
- #48 Dylan Yeager
- #49 Ryan Avila
- #50 Clayton Davies
- #51 Clayton W Tilley
- #52 James Edens
- #60 Shawn English
- #74 Adam Elby
- #85 Tyler Schell
- #86 Timothy S Smith
- #127 Blake Matjoulis
- #174 Loic Bernier
There is a $25,000 purse for the upcoming 2022-23 season, with the champion walking away with $10,000. Points paying positions down to 10th will receive at least $200, and every winner on the season can earn $600 per race win.
As for the schedule, many of the most well-known dirt ovals are included. Eldora will be the second race of the season while Knoxville is taken on in the eighth race week. There were three new tracks added to the service in 2022, but only Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 will grace the schedule in race five.
Bristol was updated in 2022 with new scan data and will be the host venue for the fourth week. The season concludes at The Dirt Track at Charlotte as usual, as it’s been in every season except 2019.
- November 28: Volusia Speedway Park
- December 5: Eldora Speedway
- December 12: Williams Grove Speedway
- December 19: Bristol Motor Speedway
- December 26: Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55
- January 2: Fairbury Speedway
- January 9: Cedar Lake Speedway
- January 16: Knoxville Raceway
- January 23: Weedsport Speedway
- January 30: The Dirt Track at Charlotte
If you’re new to the dirt oval racing scene, the way these races occur include the utilization of iRacing’s heat racing feature. As 35 cars are qualified for the series, only 20 drivers will make the main race of the night through a series of qualifying, heat races and consolation races.
The itinerary on WoOSCS race night, per the official rulebook:
- 35 cars max
- Race grids will be determined by qualifying (2 minutes)
- Heat racing will be utilized
- 4 heats, 10 laps—top 4 advance to final from each heat
- 2 consolation races, 12 laps—top 2 advance to final from each • Up to 15 drivers will not make the final
- Feature race
- 5-minute warmup
- 20 drivers, 35 green flag laps (caution laps do not count)
Some of the big names returning to the series this season include James Edens and Braden Eyler, winners in the series in the 2021-22 season. Also on the roster is perhaps the most decorated driver with three championships, that being Alex Bergeron.
Bergeron finished runner up last season to Cameron Merriman, but with Merriman not returning for this season, Bergeron may be the driver to beat once again.
The Sprint Car Series runs opposite on the year to the World of Outlaws ButtKicker Late Model Series, a top-level esports competition that also takes place on dirt ovals and utilizes the 410 Late Model. That title wrapped up at the beginning of October with Evan Seay claiming the championship.
Seay will also compete in the Sprint Car Series this season, as he’ll face off against the likes of other Late Model champions such as Hayden Cardwell (2020 champion) and Blake Matjoulis (2019 champion).
The action will be live starting at 9:00 pm ET and it will be available on both DIRTvision and on the iRacing Social Channels.
SOURCES: iRacing and World of Outlaws
