The first race of the 2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series season takes place at Daytona Int’l Speedway tonight (14th February). With the new year comes a whole pack of new paint schemes for the 2023 season.
We’ve taken a look around social media (and asked around) to compile what everyone is going to be wheeling in tonight’s season opener. Have a look!
#1 and #27 – Elliott Sadler Esports
I suppose the biggest benefit to sporting the No. 1 is the fact that you’ll get mentioned first a lot. The leading number this year belongs to Darik Bourdeau, who moves over from the No. 42 for eRacr last year. As for the No. 27, that belongs to Cody Byus, the former driver of Mode Motorsports’ No. 24.
Last season, Elliott Sadler Esports fielded the No. 2 and No. 31, in partnership with Kaulig Racing. This season, ESE will represent Sim Seats in the opening round of the season with a pair of matching Camaros. Last season, ESE was with Next Level Racing, so this is a big switch in sim manufacturers.
#2 and #77 – Pittsburgh Knights
The Pittsburgh Knights are brand new team to the series with two solid number choices for the 2023 season. Moving from the No. 3 Chevy last season, Corey Vincent now finds himself in the No. 2 Toyota. His teammate will be Ryan Doucette, who will drive a number that he’s personally used in the No. 77.
Both cars will be inverse of one another, with the No. 2 primarily black and the No. 77 primarily yellow, the two main colors of the esports franchise.
#3 and #33 – Team Dillon Esports
Team Dillon Esports will once again return to the series in 2023 with the same numbers as before, but with two new drivers behind the wheel, and both a rookies to the series, at that.
Moving into the No. 3 is Jordy Lopez, filling the seat vacated by Corey Vincent over the offseason. As for the No. 33, that belongs now to Tucker Minter, taking over for Taylor Hurst who fell out of the series during the Contender round. Both new drivers come into the series from the Altus Esports camp.
Coca-Cola, the series sponsor, will be on the No. 3 car.
#4 and #95 – XSET
The home of the 2017 and 2022 eNASCAR Series champions, this team remains unchanged for the upcoming season. Ryan Luza, who won the title in his rookie season in 2017, returns to the No. 4 again. Meanwhile, Casey Kirwan will look to defend his 2022 title in the No. 95.
#6 and #17 – RFK Racing
With RFK Racing, they’ve got half of a new team for the upcoming season. While Kaden Honeycutt returns to wheel the No. 17 Mustang, the No. 6 will be filled by a brand new rookie to the series in Timmy Holmes, the youngest driver in the series. That seat was vacated by Parker Retzlaff between seasons.
As per the last few seasons, RFK will represent the same sponsors that they field in the NASCAR Cup Series. For Daytona, Holmes will rep a Castrol Edge machine that Brad Keselowski will drive. Honeycutt will be in the Fastenal Ford once more.
#7 and #15 – Jim Beaver Esports
Another team with a whole new look in 2023, Jim Beaver Esports lost Blake Reynolds to the virtual retirement home while teammate Michael Guest moved on to an opportunity with 23XI Racing. JBE also switches up one of their numbers, but they are bringing in two veterans of the esport to fill the void.
The No. 9 switches to the No. 7 and Malik Ray will be that driver. JBE retains the No. 15, Jim’s number, and Garrett Lowe takes control of the seat. Both rides are paying homage to the late, great Ken Block. Jim Beaver’s Misadventure IPA adorns the No. 7 and Big Green Egg returns to sponsor the No. 15.
#8 and #88 – JR Motorsports
The old guard, perhaps? While Michael Conti has one of the longest streaks of being in the top level series, his new teammate was there before he was… he just took a little bit of a break.
JR Motorsports, as expected, will host a pair of cars with eights on them. The single-digit No. 8 with WR1 Chassis on board once again belongs to 2014 champion Michael Conti in his farewell season while Ledford Billiard Supplies returns to sponsor Kevin King’s No. 88 in his return season.
#10 and #41 – Stewart-Haas Esports
Another team with minimal changes, and for good reason. The defending eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Team Champions both return to their respective rides in 2023. Steven Wilson will again be the Bacon man in the No. 10 while Dylan Duval returns to drive the No. 41 for a fourth straight season.
Smithfield adorns the No. 10 once again while the No. 41 will see Eckrich on the hood and Nathan’s on the side for Daytona.
#11 and #66 – Kanaan Esports
Tony Kanaan is now an eNASCAR member – as a Team Owner in 2023. He joins the series as head of Kanaan Esports and has two rookies from Norse Force Racing behind the wheels. Parker White will control the No. 11 and Tyler Garey will wheel the No. 66.
Their partners are TK’s partners, including Micro Center and 7-ELEVEn.
#12 and #14 – FGR Accel eRacing
Another new team joins the field in FGR Accel eRacing, but with their entry they bring two veterans of the series along board. Formerly with Elliott Sadler Esports, Garrett Manes moves from the No. 31 to the No. 12 in 2023. As for Joey Brown, he’s back after a long hiatus from the series, in his Contender No.14 ride.
Both cars will have getcoverseal.com on board, likely a partner of the FGR Accel real-world racing family of sponsors.
#18 and #54 – Joe Gibbs Racing
After losing Ray Alfalla to forced retirement from the series (don’t worry, he’s going to try and un-retire in the 2023 Road to Pro ladder system), the former No. 51 car needed a new driver for the upcoming season.
While Championship 4 competitor Bobby Zalenski returns to the No. 18, it’ll be rookie Daniel Faulkingham taking the reigns of the newly-minted No. 54. Both drivers will be sponsored by Interstate Batteries, not too different than how all four NASCAR Cup teams will have Interstate Batteries presence this year.
#20 and #31 – Kansas City Pioneers
With the successes of Charlotte and the Phoenix team in 2022, a local esports team based in North Carolina, two more similar programs are joining the fold this season as well. The first are the Kansas City Pioneers and they’ve got a pair of Norse Force Racing teammates to contend with as well.
Rookie driver Wyatt Tinsley will pilot the No. 20 Camry while veteran Derek Justis moves from the now disbanded iRacing Motorsports and takes over the No. 31 Camry for the new team.
#23 and #45 – 23XI Racing
This team wound up confusing themselves over the offseason. When Mitchell deJong didn’t return to the series, that left a gap in the flagship No. 23. Michael Guest was signed on to fill the void and at the Clash two weeks ago, drove the No. 23 around the temporary Coliseum circuit.
Well, 23XI meant to have Keegan Leahy, who drove the No. 45 the last few seasons, move into the flagship ride. Now that has been rectified, however it is weird to see a VRS brand ambassador in the No. 23 Logitech G Camry… while Guest is driving a sponsor-less No. 45 at Daytona.
#25 and #97 – William Byron Esports
Speaking of Logitech G, another ambassador to the popular peripheral company is William Byron, and once again his esports team will adorn the famed Logitech G logo and colors for the upcoming season.
Series Champion Nick Ottinger returns to his usual spot inside the No. 25 Camaro. Logan Clampitt was another retiree, and with Mode Motorsports leaving the series during the offseason, it was an easy guess as to who would fill the No. 97 seat but none other than their setup teammate Matt Bussa.
#34 and #38 – Front Row Motorsports
While Front Row Motorsports is a well-known commodity in the NASCAR Cup Series garage, this is the first year the organization will field cars in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series level. They’ve brought their two famous numbers along for the ride as well.
In the No. 34 will be series veteran Allen Boes, behind the wheel of the Love’s Mustang. His teammate is a rookie, that being Michael Cosey Jr, the first eDriver of the No. 38. Cosey Jr will have gener8tor Skills along for the ride at Daytona.
#36 and #40 – Letarte Esports
The 2023 eNASCAR grid wouldn’t be complete without the likes of Steve Letarte and his namesake organization. Letarte Esports returns as well in 2023 and so does Dylan Ault to the No. 40. He’ll drive with the Coke Zero colors on the machine.
As for the No. 36, with Brian Mercurio falling out of the series in Contender, Brandon McKissic has stepped up to fill the seat. He will be the eNASCAR Camaro at Daytona.
#42 and #69 – eRacr
What once was Burton Kligerman Esports, then just Kligerman Sport, and now for the last two seasons, a Parker Kligerman and Landon Cassill combined effort in the form of their promoter company eRacr, the 420 69 combo returns for another dose of memes and fun for the 2023 season
Collin Bowden will return to drive the No. 69 again, but the No. 42 was vacated by Darik Bourdeau who left for Elliott Sadler Esports. Good thing there was Kollin Keister available, as he now will wield the No. 42 Camaro to complete the newly-formed Collin and Kollin duo.
#43 and #48 – Charlotte Phoenix
With Kollin Keister moving away from the No. 43, the dominoes continued to fall until one stopped with Charlotte Phoenix picking up another 2022 playoff driver in his place. While Championship 4 driver Graham A. Bowlin returns to the No. 48, he’ll drive alongside Femi Olatunbosun in the No. 43 this year.
Looks like these might be the closest schemes to last season, but hey, at least these new ones have that metallic sheen on them.
#46 and #75 – Rise Esports
We’ll probably see quite a number of different paint schemes on the Rise Esports duo as the new management of Mamba Smith, NASCAR’s Chief HYPE Officer, takes on the role of promoting Sunoco through NASCAR’s 75th anniversary.
They’ll have the same two drivers they’ve had for years in Jimmy Mullis returning to the No. 46 and Zack Novak returning to what was the No. 5 but is now the No. 75. Mullis vibed and Novak celebrated the 2001 Pepsi 400 this weekend… You’ve got to wonder what other paints are on the way this year.
#51 and #55 – Williams Esports
The final team, Williams Esports, is expanding on their similar 2022 presentation, also with the same drivers returning in 2023. Vicente Salas moves from the No. 19 over to the No. 55 this season. Donovan Strauss will take on the No. 51 ride after a season of being the No. 20.
Both cars are sponsored by multiple Williams Racing partners, including Duracell, Chillblast, Gulf, BenQ, Razer, Playseat, Fanatec and Heuskinveld. Also, both now have their preferred number choices.
The broadcast begins at 8:30 pm ET with the Countdown to Green over on eNASCAR.com/live.
