SMASH HQ iRacing League Opening Week Approaches — Race Distances Finalized

By SMASH HQ — March 15, 2026

The countdown to the S.M.A.S.H iRacing League Season 1 is officially entering its final stretch.

With the March 20 season kickoff just around the corner, preparations are ramping up across the SMASH HQ community as drivers begin finalizing their entries, forming teams, and preparing for the opening weekend of racing.

As part of those preparations, league officials have now finalized the race distance format that will be used across all three series this season.

The structure is designed to keep races competitive, strategic, and broadcast-friendly while fitting within a reasonable race window for league nights.

Three Series. One Championship Season.

Season 1 of the S.M.A.S.H League will feature three separate series running across the weekend:

• Friday Night Trucks

• Saturday O’Reilly Series

• Saturday Night Next Gen

Each series will follow the same race distance format, ensuring consistency across the league while keeping race nights manageable for drivers.

Most events will fall within the 100–150 mile range, producing races that should last roughly 45–70 minutes depending on cautions.

This format keeps races long enough to reward strategy and racecraft, while maintaining a fast-paced broadcast experience for fans.

Season 1 Race Distances

The official Season 1 race distance schedule is as follows:

Week 1 — Daytona 60 Laps (150 Miles)

Week 2 — Las Vegas 100 Laps (150 Miles)

Week 3 — Bristol 225 Laps (119 Miles)

Week 4 — Atlanta 90 Laps (138 Miles)

Week 5 — North Wilkesboro 175 Laps (110 Miles)

Week 6 — Homestead 100 Laps (150 Miles)

Week 7 — Talladega 55 Laps (146 Miles)

Week 8 — Kansas 100 Laps (150 Miles)

Week 9 — Charlotte 100 Laps (150 Miles)

Week 10 — Martinsville 200 Laps (105 Miles)

Week 11 — Texas 90 Laps (135 Miles)

Week 12 — Darlington (Championship Race) 110 Laps (150 Miles)

The season will culminate with a 150-mile championship finale at Darlington, where the Season 1 champion will be decided.

Opening Weekend Starts This Week

The first weekend of racing begins this Friday night, when drivers take the green flag for the opening race of the season.

Daytona will serve as the perfect kickoff event for the league, bringing pack racing, drafting strategy, and unpredictable finishes right from the start of the championship.

With drivers already beginning to form teams and prepare for the opening races, the grid is expected to be one of the most competitive fields the league has seen.

Broadcast Coverage and Growing Community

Season 1 will also feature live broadcast coverage of select events thanks to a new partnership with Slingshot Racing Media.

Their broadcasts will bring professional-style race coverage, commentary, and live event production to SMASH HQ races throughout the season.

Fans can follow the broadcast channel here:

youtube.com/@slingshotracingtv

Broadcast schedules will be announced in the SMASH HQ Discord as race nights approach.

There’s Still Time to Join the Grid

Drivers who are still interested in competing still have time to sign up before the season begins.

The league is actively welcoming:

• Full-time drivers• Reserve drivers• Teams looking to compete together

All signups and league coordination take place inside the

SMASH HQ Discord.

Drivers can head to the #driver-signup channel to register before the opening weekend.

The Start of Something Bigger

The S.M.A.S.H League — Sim Motorsports Association Series of Horsepower — was created to give sim racers a structured weekend racing environment built around competitive racing and strong community.

With the opening weekend approaching, the stage is now set for what could become the beginning of something much bigger.

More updates, race announcements, and broadcast details will be coming soon.

Join the community

Discord: discord.gg/smashhq

— SMASH HQ Racing