NASCAR driver rage quits the Bristol virtual race

https://triblive.com/sports/byron-wins-nascar-virtual-race-at-bristol-bubba-wallace-rage-quits/

"
“I got Bubbaed!” Bowyer shouted after he was moved out of line by Bubba Wallace. “I need a beer really badly.”

Wallace appeared to “rage quit” the race after the incident.

“That’s why I don’t take this (crap) serious. Peace out,” Wallace said on his gaming stream.

After fans ripped him on Twitter, he laughed at how seriously some are taking iRacing with his response.

“I ruined so many peoples day by quitting … a video game,” he wrote. “Bahaha. A video game. Damn quarantine life is rough.” He also admitted to rage quitting in a second post.

Blue-Emu, one of Wallace’s sponsors, apparently was not pleased. “Bye bye Bubba. We’re interested in drivers, not quitters,” said a tweet on the account of the topical pain reliever cream. The company added a second tweet using the image of Donald Trump uttering his “You’re Fired” catchphrase from “The Apprentice.” "

 

I think I would criticize Blue Emu more than Wallace in this case. To pull a driver's sponsorship just because of an incident in a video game (which is effectively what this was) will hurt their image more than ignoring the incident would have.

 

If I had to guess, I’d say Blue Emu used that as a (lame) excuse to cut expenses.

 

Maybe Rich Energy will pick him up?!

 

The whole idea is crap. Glad Wallace admitted it.

 

The concept of all this I-Racing is a novelty at best.

If the NASCAR versions are being televised, they're being blacked out in the Miami market in
favor of infomercials so they're not being seen in the country's tenth or twelfth largest markets
where (oh by the way) a NASCAR event takes place.

The Indy Car and F-1 versions are entertaining for about 10 minutes then interest wanes. Sure,
it's racing on TV but the fact that is, I can play a similar type game on my iPhone and have my own
fun.

No need to go into how NASCAR could screw this up.

BHW

 

Same here but they do help push me towards completing a chore in another part of the house. Peripheral benefit .

 

Bubba is a known hothead. no surprise there

 

All series could increase I-Racing interest if they could sim a post race discussion between drivers.

 

I refuse to watch any virtual or simulated racing (or sports of any type). I think it's rather silly how much attention is being paid to it.

 

100% agree. Maybe I'm just an old fart, but I don't get watching other people play computer games, which is all this is in the end. I spent the summer holidays when I was 14 in 1983 playing games on my ZX Spectrum (for the older UK readers!). When it was time to go back to school I realized I'd wasted my summer inside. Never played of watched computer games since. For me motorsport is at least as much about the cars as the drivers, and it's certainly about men and women putting their lives in actual, real danger. Life on the edge. Simulators might be great for driver and team training, but to me there's no difference between watching I-racing and watching other people play minecraft on youtube, it's simply a waste of time.

 

There have been a lot of 'real' drivers that have had their sponsorship pulled because of their antics,
or teams have fired guys because of their antics.
Kurt Busch/Penske comes to mind.
Yes, I know this is 'just' a video game, but regardless, it is publicity.

 

Ooooops.....

And a big one from eRichmond.

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nascar/news/kyle-larson-appears-to-use-racial-slur-on-nascar-iracing-live-stream/usre9twt1a9j1vilzuf5yelio

Kyle Larson suspended from CGR after using racial slur during one of his online races.

 

I dont know guys, I think you have to give it a little respect. Every top-tier racing team has a simulator. Every one. And they implement the simulator with their top drivers from F1, to Indy, to NASCAR, IMSA, Dirt racing, WRC, etc. Simulator drivers have crossed over to success in all racing series. One of the proper at home Sim Rigs can set you back in excess of tens of thousands of dollars. Corporate rigs can be over six figures. This is not a video game, its a simulation that has proven its worth for racing teams.

Look I have three racing cars, but I know the value of a simulator too. Just sayin'

 

No different from a true flight simulator.

 

Both of Kyle Larson's major sponsors have dropped him. Chevrolet not happy. Ganassi not paying him. NASCAR says suspension is indefinite. Larson says he's sorry.

 

Larson has made it no secret he's not particularly happy in the grind of Cup racing and really prefers to go dirt racing.

I think he just got his wish.

 

He'll do the NASCAR-madated Sensitivity Training. It'd be a crying shame for his immense degree of talent to go to waste.

 

Lucky for him then that his sprint car sponsor is the one that is sticking by him. Finlay Farms (or something like that) owner says everybody is entitled to make mistakes.

 

Larson stupid, just plain stupid. Who gets into this much hot water from a simulation race?

This notion of sim racing during this time is well intentioned, it gives racing fans something to watch. But,
the reality is despite the hype (and assuming as per usual NASCAR's is 1000% hype), you get about ten
minutes into these things and interest wanes.

So far, of them all, the Indy Car sim races have been the most interesting and enjoyable to watch.

BHW

 

The whole Larson thing is total nonsense and proof of how thin skinned and blind so many people are nowadays. How is it that rap music can say and profit by using the word n****r all day and night but a white guy says it and its a bad thing. Can't have it both ways.

Larson should have known better about the way things are in the world but the outlash that has come from his actions is equally silly. As for these E-races taking place I won't watch them for a second. Stirling Moss raced BECAUSE it was dangerous which gave the activity meaning and I too want to watch people skillfully pushing the boundaries of physics.

E-racing is like a fake gold Rolex or a Fierarri.

 

Think Ford or Toyota will want him behind the wheel? Me neither.

The good news is he’ll eventually become insanely good at sim....

 

And now Ganassi has fired Larson. So we've had one Cup driver lose his major sponsor and another lose his job. Maybe these guys should shy away from "sim" racing - it's costing them!