February 27, 2023 2:40 PM Central:
Developing: This Twitter post from Dale Earnhadt Jr. appears to confirm the pending release of a new iRacing Late Model Stock Car for the 2023 Season 2 build.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 27, 2023
I’ll continue to monitor this story and update as it happens.
February 27, 2023 2:55 PM Central:
Joining a myriad of popular race cars set to appear in the 2023 Season 2 build, iRacing will release a brand spanking new Late Model Stock car just in time for the new season which begins in March. In the iRacing simulator/game, the new car will be used in the iRacing CARS Late Model Stock Tour, the result of a new partnership agreement that will also make iRacing the Official Racing Game of the CARS Tour.
iRacing’s updated Late Model Stock is based on JR Motorsports’ CARS Late Model Stock Tour entry, which won both the driver and owner championships last year with Carson Kvapil. Weighing in at 3100 pounds, the Late Model Stock produces more than 400 horsepower and features fiberglass body panels designed to take the abuse of wheel-to-wheel short track racing. Dale Earnhardt Jr., iRacing executive director and owner of both JR Motorsports and the CARS Tour, was hands-on in the development of the car, spending hours testing and giving feedback to help tune the car to match its real-world counterpart.
“Late model racing is taking a big step forward in 2023, and it’s awesome to have iRacing be a part of that,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The Late Model Stock is a blast to drive in the real world, and I can’t wait for people to have that same experience in iRacing. It’s also great to be able to bring iRacing and the CARS Tour together—it adds further legitimacy to the in-sim product, while also giving CARS Tour fans an official home for their sim racing fix. We’re really excited about the future and can’t wait for the car to drop as part of 2023 Season 2!”
Current CARS tracks available in the iRacing simulation include
- Hickory Motor Speedway
- Langley Speedway
- North Wilkesboro Speedway
- South Boston Speedway
The new Late Model Stock car will replace the venerable but aging iRacing Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Late Model. If you own the Monte Carlo, you will receive the new Late Model Stock car for free.