2026-27 eNASCAR College iRacing Series Expands to Eight Tournaments With Historic IMSA Partnership
The 2026-27 eNASCAR College iRacing Series powered by PlayVS College League is set for its most ambitious season yet, expanding to eight tournaments with the addition of a groundbreaking IMSA partnership that brings road course racing to collegiate sim competitors for the first time.
The series, which returns with $100,000 in scholarships on the line, grows from its traditional six tournaments to eight, with two of those tournaments backed by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The expansion was officially unveiled on May 23, 2026, at the Sim Racing Expo in Charlotte during the eNASCAR College iRacing Series Showdown.
Tournament Expansion and New Format
The 2026-27 season introduces significant structural changes alongside the tournament expansion. All tournaments will now cap entries at 100 students, and the tournament format has been completely redesigned to emphasize competitive racing and winning.
The season runs across two semesters. Four tournaments will take place during the Fall Semester from September through November 2026, while the other four occur during Spring Semester between January and March 2027. Each tournament consists of a Time Attack qualifying round followed by two weeks of racing action.
The revised tournament format includes several new features. The Time Attack window has been condensed from 10 days to just six days, running Tuesday through Sunday prior to the Quarterfinals. The top 100 competitors from Time Attack advance to the Quarterfinals, where they are split into two groups of 50. Each group competes in two heat races of 25 competitors, with the top 13 from each heat advancing to the Semifinals.
The remaining competitors face Quarterfinal Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQs), where the top 10 from each LCQ earn a spot in their group’s Semifinal. This format eliminates 28 students from each tournament at the LCQ stage. The Semifinals bring together 36 students per group, with only 20 advancing to the Final Round, where the first tournament points are awarded. The Final Round features all 40 remaining competitors in a single race lasting between one and 75 minutes, with cautions in effect.
Points System Overhaul
The most significant change to the competitive structure is the new points distribution system, which now mirrors the real-world NASCAR points system with an emphasis on winning. The tournament winner now earns 55 points instead of the previous 40, with subsequent finishers earning the same points as in past seasons. Semifinal competitors now earn points for the first time, with the top 10 finishers in each Semifinal earning between one and 10 points based on their finish position.
Complete Tournament Schedule
The eight tournaments span six iconic tracks across North America. The season kicks off on September 23, 2026, with the Peachtree Pursuit at Echo Park Speedway in Atlanta.
Fall 2026 Tournaments
- Peachtree Pursuit (Echo Park, Atlanta) – NASCAR Trucks – Time Attack Sept. 15-20, Week 1 Sept. 23, Week 2 Sept. 30
- Queen City Crown (Charlotte Motor Speedway) – NASCAR Trucks – Time Attack Sept. 29-Oct. 4, Week 1 Oct. 7, Week 2 Oct. 14
- Big Apple Battle (Watkins Glen International) – IMSA Ford Mustang GT4 – Time Attack Oct. 20-25, Week 1 Oct. 28, Week 2 Nov. 4
- Great Lakes Gauntlet (Michigan International Speedway) – NASCAR Trucks – Time Attack Nov. 3-8, Week 1 Nov. 11, Week 2 Nov. 18
Spring 2027 Tournaments
- Monster Mash (Dover Motor Speedway) – NASCAR Trucks – Time Attack Jan. 19-24, Week 1 Jan. 27, Week 2 Feb. 3
- Clash on the Beach (Daytona International Speedway, Oval) – NASCAR Trucks – Time Attack Feb. 2-7, Week 1 Feb. 10, Week 2 Feb. 17
- Ocean’s Roar (Daytona International Speedway, Road Course) – IMSA Ford Mustang GT4 – Time Attack Feb. 16-21, Week 1 Feb. 24, Week 2 March 3
- Sunset Splash (Homestead-Miami Speedway) – NASCAR Trucks – Time Attack March 16-21, Week 1 March 24, Week 2 March 31
Historic IMSA Partnership
The inclusion of IMSA represents a watershed moment for the eNASCAR College iRacing Series. Two of the eight tournaments will be IMSA-sanctioned events featuring the Ford Mustang GT4, introducing collegiate competitors to sports car racing alongside traditional oval-track NASCAR competition.
The two IMSA tournaments, Big Apple Battle at Watkins Glen International and Ocean’s Roar at Daytona International Speedway’s Road Course, mark the first time IMSA has backed collegiate iRacing tournaments. Both Watkins Glen and Daytona host real-world IMSA races, including the iconic Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona.
All collegiate students competing in IMSA tournaments will drive the Ford Mustang GT4, which will feature the same liveries as their NASCAR Craftsman Trucks, ensuring brand consistency throughout the season. The partnership opens the door for collegiate sim racers to gain competitive experience on two of motorsports’ most prestigious road courses.
IMSA and iRacing have had a successful relationship for several years already, but the inclusion of IMSA race cars and tracks into the eNASCAR College iRacing Series opens the door to a whole new audience. eNASCAR College iRacing Series participants will soon have the opportunity to sample our brand of road racing in the incredible Ford Mustang GT4 on two of our most iconic race tracks, Watkins Glen International and Daytona International Speedway. We believe this experience will entice them to learn more about IMSA and eventually create even more fans for our sport.
John Doonan, IMSA President
Registration Now Open
Registration for the 2026-27 eNASCAR College iRacing Series is now officially open. All eligible student drivers must complete the registration form on the official iRacing website to participate. With $100,000 in scholarships available across the eight tournaments and the season launching on September 23, 2026, prospective competitors are encouraged to register early.
The expansion to eight tournaments, combined with the IMSA partnership and new competitive format, positions the eNASCAR College iRacing Series as a premier pathway for aspiring collegiate esports competitors and motorsports enthusiasts alike.