The world of motorsports is undergoing a digital revolution. iRacing, the leading racing simulation platform released in 2008, is rapidly emerging as a breeding ground for future NASCAR stars. From Vegas Truck race winner Rajah Caruth to 2024 Daytona 500 champion William Byron, the list of iRacing alumni achieving success on the real tracks is growing. But is iRacing a little late for the rapid advancement of technology in racing?

Caruth’s Spire teammate in the #7 Silverado, Rowdy Kyle Busch, a seasoned NASCAR champion, chuckles at the suggestion that he may have missed out due to not having access to such advanced simulators and elaborated on his own pre-iRacing methods of honing championship-winning driving skills.

From Papyrus to Podiums: Kyle Busch and iRacing Alumni are Shaping the Future

In the pre-race interview for the upcoming Pennzoil 400 Cup race, Busch reflected on all the buzz around iRacing in the current season. When asked about his son Brexton Busch, the next generation, potentially using the simulator experience for his development, Busch responded with an air of familiarity, “With the release on iRacing coming this week of our home track Milbridge and the microprogram being on there, he’s going to get a lot of seat time on iRacing to prepare himself for the season.”

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However, the conversation took an interesting turn when journalist Jerry Jordan of Kickinthetires inquired about Busch’s own experience, specifically, “Looking at your upbringing coming through the ranks of racing, how would an iRacing and Sim have helped you along the way?” 

Busch, ever the competitor, couldn’t resist a playful jab at the suggestion of feeling left behind: “Well Jerry, I’m not that old,” he chuckled. “They had this thing called NASCAR 2000 on Papyrus if you remember?” He revealed his fondness for the earlier racing classics of the ’00s. KFB continued,” I burned laps on that thing like it was nothing, I mean the R button was my favorite button… restart, restart, restart, restart, you know.”

He then went on to explain his self-driven approach to honing his skills, even with the limited resources (and graphics) compared to today’s sophisticated simulator experiences. “I think I was so good at restarts throughout my entirety because I would restart, restart, restart… but uh no, I’d always try to if I didn’t qualify good on a race or something, I’d always try to figure out how fast I could get to the lead you know and pass cars, so I wish I could turn the competition down here in real life you know, um and get back towards the front again, but these guys are tough.”

Despite his humorous anecdotes, Busch provided a glimpse into the technologically evolving landscape of traditional motorsports. “I did some of that stuff, you know. I remember being a kid, I think I was 13-14, just starting racing Legends cars, and I ran a full season on the cup calendar with the cup cars, you know, like every Sunday while the cup race is happening on TV, I’d either be watching or I’d be running my own.”

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While iRacing serves as a valuable training ground for the ‘drivers of tomorrow’ like Rajah Caruth, Busch’s resounding story serves as a potent reminder that the core elements of racing excellence – dedication, passion, and a relentless pursuit of improvement remain timeless.

Speaking of Caruth, NASCAR’s newest ‘sim-racing champion’ and his victory at Las Vegas mark two consecutive wins for Spire Motorsports trucks early into 2024, with Busch himself, securing their prior victory, his 65th in the Truck Series at Atlanta. Moreover, an alumnus of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, Raja Caruth, etched his name in history as only the third African-American driver to win a NASCAR national series race, joining the ranks of the legendary Wendell Scott and 23XI’s Bubba Wallace.

The 21-year Georgia native’s pit crew played a pivotal role in his run for the checkered flag, executing a flawless pit stop during a late green-flag run. This move, orchestrated by crew chief Chad Walter, positioned the #71 Silverado at the forefront of the pack, ultimately securing his victory with a narrow lead over hopeful Tyler Ankrum.

Nevertheless, the future of motorsports promises to be an exciting blend of cutting-edge technology, timeless racing spirit, and the unwavering dedication of these drivers as well as the newest innovators.