I treat my sim racing career with the seriousness of a professional athlete. This involves intense focus, rigorous practice, and blaming my equipment with unwavering conviction when I lose.
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NEWS FLASH
Recreation of Bottas being American, but even more American this time.
Bottas and Perez to Cadillac: In a move that's shaking up the F1 paddock, Cadillac just confirmed its debut driver lineup for 2026, pulling veteran racers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas out of their brief hiatus and back into the driver's seat. The American powerhouse, backed by General Motors, is banking on the duo's immense experience to build its new team from the ground up after both drivers lost their respective seats at the end of the 2024 season. It's a clear signal of intent from the sport's newest team, choosing seasoned leadership and race-hardened instincts to help transform an iconic brand into a legitimate F1 contender.
iRacing's One-Two Punch: iRacing just dropped a massive one-two punch on the racing game world, announcing two completely different titles for both casual fans and hardcore purists. First, they're launching "iRacing Arcade" this fall, a vibrant, over-the-top game that swaps a serious sim for approachable, action-packed fun. Then, answering prayers from sim racers everywhere, they're releasing a dedicated, standalone INDYCAR game in 2026—the first in over two decades—promising the deep, authentic racing experience fans have been demanding for years.
A Radical All-Star Shake-Up: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Chase Briscoe are proposing a radical overhaul for the NASCAR All-Star Race, suggesting a multi-class format where playoff drivers from the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck series all compete on track at the same time. Junior argued the event should be more exclusive and invitation-only, rather than simply adding more cars to the field. The inspiration for this wild idea came from Dale Jr.'s experience broadcasting IMSA's 24-hour endurance race, which made him want to see NASCAR try something similar.
SIM RACING SNIPPETS
Premium Feel, Rookie Price: Asetek, a big name in high-end sim racing gear, is now targeting newcomers with its affordable "Initium" product line, ensuring you don't have to mortgage your house to get a taste of realistic racing. This new lineup offers everything an aspiring racer needs, from steering wheels to complete cockpits, providing a high-quality, entry-level experience that grows with your skills.
Motion Free Commotion: Qubic System's new QS-Pivot accessory offers a clever shortcut into the world of high-end motion sim, promising the immersive feeling of a premium setup without the eye-watering price tag. This add-on bolts onto your existing rig to replicate the crucial sensations of elevation shifts and weight transfer, giving you a serious dose of realism without the complexity of a full-motion platform. See Race Beyond Matter’s review of it [here].
Stay Cool Under Pressure: Next Level Racing is tackling the sweaty sim racers problem with its new ERS3 Hypercool seat, integrating six powerful fans directly into the base and backrest to keep you focused and comfortable. This plug-and-play solution brings a feature once reserved for premium, out-of-reach setups to the masses, all without the mess of DIY mods or a hefty price tag.
If you enjoy this content and you’re looking to buy some gear. Please check out our list of affiliate links with discounts here: GRID GEEKS DISCOUNTS
MOTORSPORTS REPORT
A Promised Cash Injection for WRC: FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has promised that any income from the upcoming sale of the World Rally Championship's promoter rights will be injected directly back into the series. This investment is part of his plan to personally oversee a major overhaul aimed at slashing car costs and attracting more manufacturers to a championship he believes cannot rely on just three.
Just a 'Clickbait' Story? Chip Ganassi is forcefully shutting down rumors linking his newly crowned four-time IndyCar champion, Alex Palou, to a 2026 Red Bull F1 seat, calling the story baseless "clickbait." Palou himself not only denied the talks but added a spicy twist, suggesting the rumor was planted by the manager of a rival IndyCar driver hoping to poach his seat.
The Ultimate Playoff Primer: The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are just days away, and with Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen making a stunning run into the final 16-driver field, the stakes are higher than ever. The format isn't straightforward; it's a multi-stage, 10-race elimination series where the field is progressively cut down before a final, winner-take-all showdown. For those new to the format or needing a refresher check this article out here.
THE SPOTLIGHT
Cosworth: How they made their mark on the grid.
You might know Cosworth as the company that made the legendary DFV engine, which powered champions for decades, but their biggest revolution might be the one you're about to see on the virtual grid. Cosworth's story isn't just about pistons and combustion chambers; it’s about a company that saw the future of racing in data and telemetry.
Back in 1987, the company laid the groundwork for its new identity with the founding of Pi Research, an electronics division designed to give race teams a competitive edge. This was a quiet, strategic move that anticipated the coming digital revolution in motorsport. Pi Research quickly became a leader in the field, developing sophisticated data logging, engine control, and telemetry systems. They even created VIDS1, a technology that synchronized in-car video with logged data, allowing engineers to analyze a car's performance with a precision never before possible. This expertise was so trusted that Cosworth eventually became the sole electronics supplier for major series like Champ Car and IndyCar.
This is how they came to be the "silent partner" that provides the "nervous system" for the world's most cutting-edge machines. And now, they're taking that hard-won expertise to the virtual world. Their partnership with iRacing allows them to make their professional-grade software like Pi Toolbox available for free to sim racers. This move is a strategic one, turning the hobby into a potential proving ground for future drivers and engineers by standardizing talent evaluation using real-world data metrics.
This isn't just a simple brand deal. Cosworth is bridging the gap between real and virtual racing by making the same tools used by professional teams accessible to everyone. It's a powerful statement from a company that isn't just adapting to the future; it's building it, one high-performance, data-driven system at a time.
MEMBER FEATURE
Member Spotlight: Andrew Cardinale IV
Meet Andrew Cardinale IV, a man who chased his racing dream all the way from his hometown of Independence, CA, to the heart of motorsport country in Catawba, NC, right after high school. He quickly found his true calling in broadcasting, a journey with Pit Row TV that has already earned him a prestigious 2022 Telly Award for his work as a Broadcast Director on the CARS Tour.
With his sights firmly set on the ultimate goal of announcing a NASCAR broadcast on TV, Andrew keeps busy with his current projects, PitStop TV and Whiplash Sim Cams. When he’s not behind the camera or mic, you can find him enjoying valuable family time or cheering on his favorite NFL, MLB, and NHL teams.
Follow his journey and check out his work with PitStop TV!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PitStopTV
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PitStopTV1
TikTok: @PitStopTV1
What an awesome journey from the west coast to the broadcast booth.
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SRN RECAP AND UNFILTERED THOUGHTS
We had our first group coaching session and it went amazing. Thanks to Marc’s incredible idea and suggestion and Max’s help co-hosting with Marc, they knocked it out of the park and members who joined, found the session practical. We’re hoping to see more of these soon.
Super Formula is going well, we have secured a couple sponsors for next season and we’re excited to have them on board. More details to come!
Outlier’s corner: My Outlier Speed Co Setup this week felt incredible at Darlington in the C Class Trucks, Johnny over at Outlier ran a race in the same split. He gave me some tips and we were off to the races. I was running in 8th with the lead pack and we were beginning to create a good gap from the rest of the pack, but disaster struck. I kissed the wall a little hard and got a couple minutes of damage but the car still felt fine. The yellow flag dropped from some other incident and I eventually repaired, but was starting from the back. A few cautions later, all my damage was repaired and a final shootout happened. I missed my pit entry and dove in late, making some last minute spring adjustments and had to drop to the back. I was able to go from 14th to 6th on the grid within the last 8 laps of the race. The setup felt great the whole way and I felt in control of the car. Two days later I ran a fixed setup with a friend. Wow.. that setup felt loose and was tough to tame, I still managed to perform well, but my thanks goes out to Outlier for creating amazing competitive setups week in and week out.
If you need a competitive setup from Outlier Speed Co, visit my partner link [here].
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