CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Wednesday evening, the inaugural eNASCAR Heat Pro League championship was decided with drivers from all 14 teams gathered together in Charlotte, North Carolina, to compete on “NASCAR Heat 4.”
Between the bright lights, smoke machine and live studio audience that even included No. 24 team crew chief Chad Knaus, it created a one-of-a-kind atmosphere for the season finale.
Hendrick Motorsports Gaming Club drivers Sam Morris and Nick Jobes both scored top-10 finishes to cap the year and took time after the race to reflect on a night they will never forget.
“It’s pretty crazy being here and seeing all of the eNASCAR people,” Morris said. “The high-up executives coming to watch the show and everything like that, and the stage and the lighting are top-notch. Seeing Chad Knaus here was pretty crazy. I got to talk to him a bit.”
As for the final races themselves, after rolling off eighth in the Xbox event, Morris was able to work his way up to fourth before a caution shuffled him to the back. Ultimately, he finished the event in eighth.
“It went pretty well,” Morris said. “I ran up front, ran third or fourth the whole time. I had a little bit of an issue and I ended up eighth. All in all, it went pretty well.”
The action was plentiful in the PlayStation 4 race as well, and after a day of drivers meetings, NASCAR Productions tours and intense racing, Jobes was able to pull off a near-top-five finish, taking the checkered flag in sixth.
“We knew if we didn’t get them (leaders) at the start, it was going to be tough to gain position,” Jobes said. “We sat right there the whole race. Started seventh and finished sixth.”
While Hendrick Motorsports GC wasn’t in the running for the championship, both drivers enjoyed the pressure-packed feel with so much on the line.
“I love the atmosphere,” Jobes said. “I love being in pressure situations – I think I excel at situations like this. It was awesome.”
The season started with an in-person event to kick off the inaugural campaign at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and it fittingly ended with this week’s in-person championship showdown.
It served as a bit of a reunion for the gamers who have competed against one another online for months.
“It’s awesome to end the season live,” Jobes said. “I got to see everybody one more time in-person and get to mingle with them and hang out. It was a good time.”
After a whirlwind season, the drivers were happy to be a part of something special as the very first group of eNASCAR Heat Pro League gamers.
“Words can’t describe how happy I am to be a part of this,” Jobes said.