Halfway through Duel 1 at Daytona and I have a few observations.
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This is the first real race of the Next Gen cars. We won't count last week as a "real" race, as fun and as entertaining as it was.
The entertainment value for a televised NASCAR race is about the same, if not better. The action is just as fast, and the engine noise is more growly -- like in that growly sense that makes me want to grab a lug wrench and restore that Fastback SS I've always dreamed of since I was eight years old and ...
See? Just the sound is nostalgic. Whether they planned it or not, it's kind of a neat feature.
Also, it's been fascinating watching NASCAR push further into e-sports venues. I watched the iRacing Daytona 500 earlier this week, and it was just as interesting and entertaining as this Duel. Not quite on par with a feature race, but damn entertaining as it was.
Plus, the connection between the two just makes itch with "I could do that." With a good simulator setup at home, I could be competitive in iRacing. With my background? Easily.
That's likely hubris, but the point is that NASCAR has stumbled on the future: an immersive experience that crosses various media channels, gaming endeavors, and simulations. And I don't know if NASCAR even realizes it itself.
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