Lernerville Speedway joins virtual ranks on iRacing

Lernerville Speedway has a virtual twin on the most popular sim-racing platform in the world.

On Tuesday, iRacing released Lernerville on its platform, giving fans around the world an opportunity to drive on the track without getting behind the wheel of a race car.

The Buffalo Township speedway has been featured in dirt track racing games before, but being on iRacing is a different standard because the sim is known for the detail and accuracy it puts into its race tracks.

Started in 2008, iRacing is a subscription-based online racing simulation that is played on gaming computers. The track costs $11.95 plus tax, plus the monthly subscription to the service.

Lernerville got on the sim by winning a fan vote on the iRacing Twitter account.

“The fans spoke, and we listened,” iRacing marketing and communications director Chris Leone said. “iRacing users can also buy multiple sprint cars, dirt late models and dirt modifieds up to the premier classes used in World of Outlaws to use on the track. As part of a subscription to iRacing, two Dirt Oval cars — a legends car and dirt street stock — are provided free of charge.”

? Lernerville Speedway

4/10 mile
10/10 action pic.twitter.com/Q1MHYGAxQm

— iRacing.com (@iRacing) November 25, 2019

Being on iRacing provides Lernerville exposure to sim racers from all over the world, something those involved with the speedway don’t take for granted.

“It’s a great thing for us, our fans and our sponsors,” Lernerville public relations director Gary Heeman said. “The graphics are spot on. It gives our fans an opportunity to see what it’s like to take some laps and introduces the speedway with great imagery to folks whom have never been there and may want to come check us out. Plus our sponsors get more visibility.”

iRacing has partnerships with NASCAR and World of Outlaws. The platform hosts series for both organizations that feature to top sim racers in the world.

Retired NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and current NASCAR Cup Series drivers William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell are among a large number of professional racers who have used iRacing to prepare for races.

To get the accuracy of the layout of a track and the realistic feel of how a surface races, iRacing scans every track surface with laser scanners and takes thousands of photos in and around the track. Then, all the data is uploaded to a computer program for recreation. iRacing also has the technology to make dynamic conditions for track conditions and weather. Track conditions change throughout a run similarly to how a track changes throughout a real race.

“It typically takes us about four months to build a track from start to finish once we’ve collected all of the data we need and begin development work,” Leone said.

iRacing started as an asphalt racing platform but launched its dirt racing program in 2016.

Lernerville is the 12th dirt track available on the sim joining other prestigious dirt racing facilities such as Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway, Eldora (Ohio) Speedway, Williams Grove (Pa.) Speedway, Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway and The Dirt Track at Charlotte (N.C.).