By John Schutt
All official Nascar races have been suspended until at least May 3 due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The next scheduled Cup Race will be the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Va..
However, there was a new type of a race Sunday: The Pro Invitational Virtual Reality 150 at Homestead, Fla.. Nascar racers from many locations had cars assigned to them in a video game racing simulator with a driving seat, steering wheel, and a pedal setup to control the car assigned to them. The race had drivers, including retired drivers Dale Earnhard, Jr., Terry Labonte, and many other notable drivers.
The 150-mile race was eventually won by Denny Hamlin over Earnhardt, Jr.. Finishing in third place was Tim Hill, Chase Brisco was fourth, and in fifth place was the pole -sitter Garrett Smithley.
Watching this was similar to a regular nascar race. The accidents looked real, however some looked quite poor in simulation.
The pit action was nonexistent because cars would come in for fuel, or tires, but the action would occur automatically.
• Ryan Newman is doing well after his bad crash near the end of the Daytona 500. He was on television March 11 and said he was knocked unconscious and has a bruised spot on his brain. The Purdue University graduate said he wants to get back in his No. 6 Roush Ford this year if he is allowed to by his doctors.
• Roger Penski, team owner of Joe Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney, turned 83 this month.
• In non-racing news, Harbor Freight Tools store made a pledge to donate all the N95 masks, face shields, and nitrile medical gloves in its possession to hospitals.