Author: Julia Khomyk

Driver Spotlight: Teagan Fox

Buckle up, because we’re about to put the spotlight on some of our most interesting (and maybe slightly crazy) drivers! From tire-screeching legends to the rookies who still can’t figure out the brake pedal, we’re here to give you the inside scoop on who’s tearing up the track. Get ready for some laughs, some racing tips (maybe), and a peek into the personalities that make our league the place to be. Let’s see who’s behind the wheel and dive into the minds of the drivers and see what really fuels their need for speed.

Teagan Fox – ETHiX Racing

Where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
Wichita, Kansas, and I right now am getting my high school degree.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sim racing?
I do speech and debate, and I’ve taken time off the league to make sure that is my #1 priority. I also do broadcasting every once in a while.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve never broken a bone, I’ve got autism, I’ve got a lot of things about me this could be a whole essay if I’m being honest.

What got you into sim racing, and how long have you been racing?
COVID, and the whole eNascar iRacing Pro Invitational got me into it, I thought I could get into it, and have fun. I started racing on NR2003 in 2020 and started racing on iRacing in the early summer of 2023.

Do you have any real-life racing experience, or is sim racing your main focus?
0 real-life racing experience, but the goal one day is to race a real car, for sure.

Do you have a favorite car or track to race on?
Anything Kansas or short track wise, I’m in.

What inspired you to join this online racing league?
The racing. I wanted to be in a league where I am able to race clean and green and allow myself to learn.

Do you have a particular racing style (aggressive, strategic, defensive)?
Honestly, I just want the goal to make the race, and then go for a finish on the lead lap. I want to shoot for a win at some point, but I know that won’t be the case for years down the line.

Are there any real-life drivers or teams that influence your approach to racing?
BJ McLeod. I know many people ask me why, but it’s pretty simple. Show up, keep the car in one piece, bring the car home with a decent finish.

What has been your most memorable race or moment in the league?
I say getting 5th at Talladega was good last season. I know it happened by pure luck, but that first top 5 took me to new heights.

Have you won any championships or notable races in the league?
I wish, but no.

What do you think makes this league special compared to others?
In my opinion, the driving style. No one is out to wreck each other, and it leads to good racing (sometimes we have our off days..)

What kind of equipment do you use (wheel, pedals, rig, etc.)?
Thrustmaster T80 Ferrari edition (yes, the one with 0 ffb), same pedals I got from the box, and thats pretty much it.

What’s your pre-race routine or superstition?
I usually get a drink of water right before. That and I pet my cat for a bit.

If you could race on any real-world track, which one would it be and why?
Kansas. It’s one of my favorite tracks and I usually love racing there on the sim.

What is your favorite track to go to or that you want to go to?
I like grassroots racing. My favorite track to go to is 81 Speedway in Park City. Very fun track to watch.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new racers joining the league?
Plain and simple- keep it slow, don’t rush trying to get up to the cup series!! You may have good irating, but that doesn’t mean anything, leagues are completely different!

Do your friends and family support your racing hobby?
Sometimes. Family usually does, friends sometimes, depends on the person.

Have you ever introduced someone else to sim racing?
No, but I wish I could.

How do you balance racing with work, family, or other responsibilities?
Racing is on the backburner of “responsibilities” for me. With trying to get my high school degree right now, and now the debate and forensics part being tougher and tougher, racing has taken a back seat a lot this year, but I hope for some days, I can relax and get behind the wheel and let those feelings get out.

Would you rather race in pouring rain with limited visibility or in extreme heat that pushes your car and body to the limit?
Pouring rain. Rain makes my body cooler, which makes me cooler with movements.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be in the next Driver Spotlight? Fill out this form to have a chance to be selected! Whether you’re a racing pro or just really good at pretending to be one, we want to hear from you!

Driver Spotlight: Phil Dodge

Buckle up, because we’re about to put the spotlight on some of our most interesting (and maybe slightly crazy) drivers! From tire-screeching legends to the rookies who still can’t figure out the brake pedal, we’re here to give you the inside scoop on who’s tearing up the track. Get ready for some laughs, some racing tips (maybe), and a peek into the personalities that make our league the place to be. Let’s see who’s behind the wheel and dive into the minds of the drivers and see what really fuels their need for speed.

Phil Dodge – John Connor Racing
Instagram and Twitch: TCM5377

Where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
Born in San Diego, CA but raised in Rio Rancho, NM. Currently a part time dishwasher at a local restaurant.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sim racing?
I really enjoy cooking, stop motion animations with action figures, and collecting Monster Jam/NASCAR/IndyCar diecasts

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I can squat 600lbs.

What got you into sim racing, and how long have you been racing?
My dad used to have a Logitech Momo wheel hooked up in our office, and we had a collection of racing games, from NASCAR Legends to IndyCar Series. I was around 4 on keyboard but 7 when I started on wheel and loved it since.

Do you have any real-life racing experience, or is sim racing your main focus?
We used to have a place in town that had sped up rental karts before COVID, but that’s about as close to real racing, everything else is sim.

Do you have a favorite car or track to race on?
I always loved Portland on any racing sim/game.

What inspired you to join this online racing league?
John Connor asked if I wanted to run since we’re in a different server and talked iRacing, so I said absolutely.

Do you have a particular racing style (aggressive, strategic, defensive)?
Somewhere between aggressive and strategic, really depends on the track and the speed in the setup that week.

Are there any real-life drivers or teams that influence your approach to racing?
Tony Stewart was always a big inspiration to my driving style.

What has been your most memorable race or moment in the league?
Finishing top 20 at Daytona in my first race despite a lot of mistakes on my end.

Have you won any championships or notable races in the league?
I haven’t been in long enough to get a win, but I’m sure there’s going to be a win at some point.

What do you think makes this league special compared to others?
Having the fully realistic rules, points, and broadcasting is really cool.

What kind of equipment do you use (wheel, pedals, rig, etc.)?
AMD Ryzen 5 2600, Nvidia 1050ti, 32GB RAM, 3TB storage. Fanatec CSL Load Cell pedals, Logitech G920, 27in Sceptre Monitor.

What’s your pre-race routine or superstition?
I typically fill my water up, walk around the house a few times to help my knees, get my stream set up, then do some breathing exercises that I learned in therapy to calm myself.

If you could race on any real-world track, which one would it be and why?
Eldora, love dirt and I’ve heard the owner is somewhat of a driver himself.

What is your favorite track to go to or that you want to go to?
Indianapolis to see the 500.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new racers joining the league?
Pay attention to your surroundings and let things come to you, you can’t win lap 1.

Do your friends and family support your racing hobby?
Absolutely. They’ve helped fund it when possible.

Have you ever introduced someone else to sim racing?
I introduced a mental health professional to iRacing.

How do you balance racing with work, family, or other responsibilities?
I spend my nights typically with my family and friends leaving most days to focus on racing.

Would you rather race on a track you know like the back of your hand with a car you’ve never driven, or race in your favorite car on a completely unfamiliar track?
That question depends on the discipline, but I feel I prefer driving an unfamiliar track if I know the car, I feel I can adapt to whatever.

Any additional information you would like to share?
“Remember you’re not alone, talk to someone if you’re struggling. Your mental health matters.”

Think you’ve got what it takes to be in the next Driver Spotlight? Fill out this form to have a chance to be selected! Whether you’re a racing pro or just really good at pretending to be one, we want to hear from you!

Driver Spotlight: Michael Deitch

Buckle up, because we’re about to put the spotlight on some of our most interesting (and maybe slightly crazy) drivers! From tire-screeching legends to the rookies who still can’t figure out the brake pedal, we’re here to give you the inside scoop on who’s tearing up the track. Get ready for some laughs, some racing tips (maybe), and a peek into the personalities that make our league the place to be. Let’s see who’s behind the wheel and dive into the minds of the drivers and see what really fuels their need for speed.

Michael Deitch – Kalhoff-Deitch Racing

Where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
I live in Huntington, New York, which is located in Long Island about an hour east of Manhattan. Currently, I’m working as a high school paraprofessional for a third-party staffing agency that connects people with job opportunities in school districts.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sim racing?
I’m a multi-talented musician and primarily play piano and saxophone. I’ve played in multiple groups and organizations throughout high school and college.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I was a gold rated solo pianist for 4 years in a row at NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association), which provides performance opportunities for students to be assessed by certified music educators across New York State. I was also the social media manager for a year during my time with the University of Akron Athletic Bands.

What got you into sim racing, and how long have you been racing?
I have played console NASCAR games on Xbox since I was 8 years old. I later found iRacing clips all over YouTube and couldn’t stop watching them. When COVID started in 2020 and I saw all the real cup series drivers run that Pro Invitational, I thought to myself, “If the professionals can do well in iRacing, then maybe I can too.” So later that Christmas, I first subscribed to iRacing as a gift to myself. At the time, I was having a hard time getting through my very first college semester in the midst of a global pandemic and iRacing was my escape from all of that. I still enjoy it to this day!

Do you have any real-life racing experience, or is sim racing your main focus?
I don’t have any real-life racing experience whatsoever. It has been all been on the sim.

Do you have a favorite car or track to race on?
My favorite (and most successful) car in iRacing has been the Indycar. I’ve won more races with it than any other car. I’ve also been really enjoying the GEN6 ARCA cars and I can’t wait to race them in a league setting.

What inspired you to join this online racing league?
I found Crown Jewel in the fall of 2023 back when it was known as The Show. It was through a YouTube broadcast network that I’ve been associated with for a few years now.

Do you have a particular racing style (aggressive, strategic, defensive)?
I try to be more strategic than anything. I’ve found that if I try to do anything else, I’m likely going to crash.

Are there any real-life drivers or teams that influence your approach to racing?
Not a driver, but a crew chief actually. I’ve always liked how Larry McReynolds would explain things that pertain to pit strategy on the FOX broadcasts.

What has been your most memorable race or moment in the league?
My favorite race that I’ve been in was last year’s ARCA finale at Texas. Our team at KDR had our best performance between me and Henry and I made the best 3-wide pass in my life during that race. It was that very race that made me decide I was going to run for this year’s ARCA championship.

Have you won any championships or notable races in the league?
I have 1 single win in my time racing leagues…..that was over 2 years ago.

What do you think makes this league special compared to others?
Crown Jewel is as authentic of a NASCAR league that you’ll find on iRacing, especially when all 4 top series are covered and have full race distances and encourage custom setups.

What kind of equipment do you use (wheel, pedals, rig, etc.)?
I use a Logitech Xbox G920 wheel and pedals. It’s been the only equipment I’ve had since I started.

What’s your pre-race routine or superstition?
I don’t do this for iRacing, but on my commute to work every morning, I listen to the same 3 Greta Van Fleet songs in a row in the hopes that I just get through the day and have a good time doing what I do. Most of the time, things work out in the weirdest way.

If you could race on any real-world track, which one would it be and why?
Pocono – it’s a very unique track and I’ve historically done well there in the sim.

What is your favorite track to go to or that you want to go to?
Dover – it’s my most visited track. After checking Indianapolis off my bucket list a couple years ago, and Talladega, New Hampshire, Pocono, Riverhead Raceway (which is in Long Island), Mid Ohio (Indycar and IMSA), and Toledo Speedway (ARCA) well before that, I really want to go to Daytona and Charlotte.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new racers joining the league?
You can’t win the race on the first lap but you sure as hell can lose it. Be patient and let the race come to you

Do your friends and family support your racing hobby?
Yes – they understand that I run in leagues at night as a way of relaxing my mind after work.

Have you ever introduced someone else to sim racing?
Only that I do it as a hobby, but that’s it.

How do you balance racing with work, family, or other responsibilities?
Family and work come first. I try to prioritize that now that I’m out of college. At the end of the day, I play on iRacing because it’s fun for me. If I start taking it too seriously, it doesn’t become fun for me anymore.

Would you rather win a race by a photo finish after an intense battle or dominate the entire race with a huge lead from start to finish?
If dominating the race is like having an easy stress-free work day, I’d take those all the time!

Think you’ve got what it takes to be in the next Driver Spotlight? Fill out this form to have a chance to be selected! Whether you’re a racing pro or just really good at pretending to be one, we want to hear from you!

Driver Spotlight: Noah Spaulding

Noah Spaulding – Eternal Phoenix Motorsports
TikTok/Instagram: NoahLycan66
Facebook: Noah Lycan

Where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
From Waynesville, Missouri. I am a Stocking 1 & Health and Beauty Associate for Walmart.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sim racing?
I love to go plane spotting and fishing with my friends!

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am a Los Angeles Chargers Fan!

What got you into sim racing, and how long have you been racing?
Stewart Harding as well as myself. I wanted to try something new and it has been a journey. I’ve been sim racing for almost a year now.

Do you have any real-life racing experience, or is sim racing your main focus?
Sim racing is my main focus but I’d love to drive a real race car one day.

Do you have a favorite car or track to race on?
I love the cup car and my favorite track is Kansas.

What inspired you to join this online racing league?
Stewart Harding had mentioned it when I was asking around about leagues to join and I saw how awesome the people were!

Do you have a particular racing style (aggressive, strategic, defensive)?
I would say I’m all three. I’m more strategic although I make sure moves are smart and safe but I’ll play offense and defense if needed.

Are there any real-life drivers or teams that influence your approach to racing?
Jeff Gordon was my favorite driver who inspired me. In terms of teams, a lot of small teams inspire me watching them go from underdogs to winning races!

What has been your most memorable race or moment in the league?
My most memorable moment for me was finishing 3rd in The Dash series race at Kansas. Also, as a funny one finishing 9th at Bristol in the same series being 131 laps down.

Have you won any championships or notable races in the league?
I have not, but I am trying to use all the opportunities I can to learn.

What do you think makes this league special compared to others?
The people that run in it and the work that’s been put in by admins and Cory.

What kind of equipment do you use (wheel, pedals, rig, etc.)?
I use a Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback wheel with paddle shifters and a gas and brake pedal. I am working on upgrading it when more funds become available.

What’s your pre-race routine or superstition?
Listening to Battle Tapes and clearing my mind, also making sure my team is ready for the race!

If you could race on any real-world track, which one would it be and why?
Kansas Speedway! I Love the speed and it’s a mile and a half!

What is your favorite track to go to or that you want to go to?
I wanna go to Daytona at some point if funds become available!

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new racers joining the league?
Learn the car and don’t try to be a hero in it every week. Also, make sure to practice!

How do you balance racing with work, family, or other responsibilities?
I usually try to do stuff first before I race.

Would You Rather race in pouring rain on a road course with poor windshield wipers OR race on a superspeedway at night with flickering headlights?
Road course with poor windshield wipers because at least I’d be able to see.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be in the next Driver Spotlight? Fill out this form to have a chance to be selected! Whether you’re a racing pro or just really good at pretending to be one, we want to hear from you!

Driver Spotlight: Nathan Fuller

Buckle up, because we’re about to put the spotlight on some of our most interesting (and maybe slightly crazy) drivers! From tire-screeching legends to the rookies who still can’t figure out the brake pedal, we’re here to give you the inside scoop on who’s tearing up the track. Get ready for some laughs, some racing tips (maybe), and a peek into the personalities that make our league the place to be. Let’s see who’s behind the wheel and dive into the minds of the drivers and see what really fuels their need for speed.

Nathan Fuller – Majors Garage Esports
X: https://x.com/Racer_RL
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@racer_RL

Where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
I grew up in South Carolina and I currently live in Valencia, Pennsylvania. I just got out of the US Army, and I am now a Field Service Technician for the largest printer company in the US.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sim racing?
I am a big gaming fan in general. I have been playing a ton of the new Civilization VII recently. I also enjoy working on, modifying, and driving my BRZ as well.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am an aviation and drone aficionado. I have been fully trained on everything from handheld drones to drones the size of regular planes. I am also currently working on getting my Private Pilot’s License.

What got you into sim racing, and how long have you been racing?
I adored watching racing from a young age. I played a lot of NASCAR Thunder 2003 and Gran Turismo 3 on my PS2. I really dove into competitive sim racing in 2015, including league racing on Gran Turismo and the GT Academy. In 2020 I made the jump over to iRacing and haven’t looked back since.

Do you have any real-life racing experience, or is sim racing your main focus?
Sadly, I have no real-life experience, so sim racing is my main focus. I would love to race in real-life if I ever get the chance.

Do you have a favorite car or track to race on?
My favorite oval is Charlotte, and my favorite road course would have to be Tsukuba.

What inspired you to join this online racing league?
I am always looking for new and better leagues to run. As part of Major Garage, we were encouraged to join CJR.

Do you have a particular racing style (aggressive, strategic, defensive)?
I would put myself between aggressive and strategic. I can put it all out there if I need to, but I also love to toss strategy around when the chance arises.

Are there any real-life drivers or teams that influence your approach to racing?
I would say that a lot of my style comes from watching Jeff Gordon when I was younger. He had that aggressiveness, when necessary, but the strategy in the late stages with smart pit stops, two tire stops, etc., was also in play.

What has been your most memorable race or moment in the league?
I am relatively new to the league, so the most memorable would have to be this week’s race at COTA in the TCSPDS. The practice and setup tuning paid off and it was an absolute blast!

Have you won any championships or notable races in the league?
Gonna have to say COTA again, finally got to finish a race and I put it in Victory Lane. With the playoff lock, now just gotta do the work later in the season and see if we can make a fight for the championship.

What do you think makes this league special compared to others?
For CJR, it would definitely have to be the professionalism and quality of the league as a whole. I haven’t had any other league with a website, news posts, and consistent quality streams like I have seen here.

What kind of equipment do you use (wheel, pedals, rig, etc.)?
I use a Fanatec CSL GT DD Pro with a Clubsport Red Bull Racing 2024 Formula wheel. I pair those with a set of Clubsport V3 pedals, all of which is installed on a Playseat Trophy rig. And to top it all off, I race in VR with a Samsung Odyssey+ headset.

What’s your pre-race routine or superstition?
I have a little simple routine, just gotta make sure to hit the bathroom first, top off my water, and get some practice in for the race to come.

If you could race on any real-world track, which one would it be and why?
I would love to race on Tsukuba, I fell in love with it on GT4 and have watched a lot of videos of real-life racing there. Feel like it would be a blast to whip around.

What is your favorite track to go to or that you want to go to?
Charlotte, the only NASCAR race I have been able to go to was there, and I would love to watch NASCAR there again.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new racers joining the league?
Practice, practice, practice. Even if your setup is not as fast, consistency and staying clean will get you results.

Do your friends and family support your racing hobby?
Yes, I send the stream links for any races I am in, and my family watches it on the living room TV every week.

Have you ever introduced someone else to sim racing?
I have had a few friends in the Army who became interested after seeing my setup. I even gave one of them my old setup, and he has kept racing and even upgraded to newer equipment!

How do you balance racing with work, family, or other responsibilities?
Racing mainly just later in the afternoon or at night.

Would you rather be the fastest on the track but always get caught up in accidents, or be the king of consistency and finish every race in the top 5, but never first place?
Definitely the king of consistency. In one of my other leagues, I am the only driver to have made playoffs back-to-back without logging a win and I am currently on track to make it 3 in a row. Sometimes you just gotta stay alive and be there when the checkered flag flies.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be in the next Driver Spotlight? Fill out this form to have a chance to be selected! Whether you’re a racing pro or just really good at pretending to be one, we want to hear from you!

Driver Spotlight: Jim Mott

Buckle up, because we’re about to put the spotlight on some of our most interesting (and maybe slightly crazy) drivers! From tire-screeching legends to the rookies who still can’t figure out the brake pedal, we’re here to give you the inside scoop on who’s tearing up the track. Get ready for some laughs, some racing tips (maybe), and a peek into the personalities that make our league the place to be. Let’s see who’s behind the wheel and dive into the minds of the drivers and see what really fuels their need for speed.

Jim Mott – Palmetto Motorsports

Where are you from, and what do you do for a living?
I currently live in Lexington, South Carolina. I was born in Wichita, Kansas and have lived over ten years in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. I work as a Regional Customer Service Manager for the world’s largest tire manufacturer.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sim racing?
I enjoy going to concerts with my wife. Mostly country-bands from the 90s to current, as well as classic rock.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I have a baseball card collection that is over 20,000 cards. Ranging from the early 60s to mostly early 90s.

What got you into sim racing, and how long have you been racing?
My son Cory started sim racing, and I was interested as I ran NASCAR 2002 on the computer when it came it out. I was in a league back then racing via a dial up connection. I have been a NASCAR fan since the late 80s, and rarely miss a Cup, Xfinity or Truck race, so I was excited to get back on the sim. I have been on iRacing for 2.5 years.

Do you have any real-life racing experience, or is sim racing your main focus?
I have never drove a car on the track in the real world but in Las Vegas I did a 3 lap NASCAR ride along.

Do you have a favorite car or track to race on?
I enjoy racing the trucks the most, but I have had the most success in the ARCA car. My favorite track to run is Bristol.

What inspired you to join this online racing league?
Cory and I were racing in another league, and he was thrown out. I wanted to join another league, so it was a natural fit. I stayed and finished out the season in the other league as well.

Do you have a particular racing style (aggressive, strategic, defensive)?
Strategic/defensive. I have more success in ARCA, because I tend to stay back, but it hurts me in other divisions due to a lack of stage points. I generally try to use the early part of the race to get a feel for the track and how everyone is running. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work a lot of the time due to incidents on the track.

Are there any real-life drivers or teams that influence your approach to racing?
No. I was always a Dale Earnhardt fan, but I definitely don’t model my driving like he did. I try not to be overly aggressive, unless I have a very good opportunity for a strong finish.

What has been your most memorable race or moment in the league?
2024 ARCA Champion. I didn’t win a race but showed up and ran consistently.

What do you think makes this league special compared to others?
There is a great mix of drivers here. There is a small group of us who have been here since the beginning. There are those who have come in, left and came back. Lately, some very good drivers have joined the group who make all levels ultra-competitive. All and all, each level is competitive, and I look forward to racing each week.

What kind of equipment do you use (wheel, pedals, rig, etc.)?
Ask Cory-he is my IT guy! All I know is that I got a Moza Racing setup for Christmas and every time something breaks Cory uses TeamViewer to fix it.

What’s your pre-race routine or superstition?
Just the little things. Make sure I have a cold beverage, and my pillow is set right in the chair for my back.

If you could race on any real-world track, which one would it be and why?
Charlotte. I have been to 16 Cup races there since the early 90s. It is the center of the NASCAR world, and I always enjoy going there. The atmosphere for the Coca-Cola 600 is my favorite, and it would be great to race there.

What is your favorite track to go to or that you want to go to?
That’s tough. I really like Charlotte, but also Darlington and Atlanta. I have been to Cup races at 9 tracks. I haven’t been to Bristol but would love to go there.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new racers joining the league?
Don’t be overly aggressive right out of the box. Be respectful to those around you. Follow the rules. Know that you will make a lot of people mad, just try to correct your mistakes and move forward.

Do your friends and family support your racing hobby?
Yes. Everyone needs a hobby; it is important to do things you enjoy and let other around you do the same. Our family realizes that.

Have you ever introduced someone else to sim racing?
I have spoken to a lot of other people about iRacing but have not really gotten anyone into it.

How do you balance racing with work, family, or other responsibilities?
Family and work come first, but I do my best to meet racing obligations. Fortunately, my schedule is now flexible enough that I don’t miss a lot of races.

Would you rather have the fastest car but no brakes, or the slowest car with perfect handling?
Slowest car with perfect handling.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be in the next Driver Spotlight? Fill out this form to have a chance to be selected! Whether you’re a racing pro or just really good at pretending to be one, we want to hear from you!