The Green Flag Is Almost Here: SMASH HQ iRacing League Season 1 Begins in Days

By SMASH HQ — March 16, 2026

The wait is almost over.

After weeks of preparation, driver signups, and behind-the-scenes work, the

S.M.A.S.H iRacing League Season 1 is now just days away from its official opening weekend.

This Friday night, the green flag will wave on the first race of the season, kicking off a full weekend of competition across three series that will run throughout the next twelve weeks.

For many drivers in the community, the upcoming race weekend marks the beginning of something they’ve been looking forward to since the league was first announced.

A Full Weekend of Racing

Season 1 of the SMASH HQ League is built around a weekend format designed for drivers who want competitive racing without the weekday grind.

Each weekend will feature three different series:

• Friday Night Craftsman Truck Series

• Saturday O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

• Saturday Night Cup Series

This format allows drivers to compete in one or multiple series while giving the league a full weekend racing atmosphere similar to real-world motorsports.

The opening race weekend will begin at Daytona, one of the most exciting tracks in racing and the perfect place to launch the league’s first season.

Drafting, pack racing, and late-race strategy will all play a major role as drivers battle for the first wins in league history.

Broadcast Coverage Coming to SMASH HQ

Another major step forward for the league is the partnership with Slingshot Racing Media, who will be broadcasting select SMASH HQ events live.

Their broadcasts will bring professional-style race coverage, commentary, and live event production to the league, allowing fans and community members to watch the races as they happen.

Fans can follow their channel here:

youtube.com

Slingshot Racing Media

Welcome to Slingshot Racing Media, your ultimate destination for exhilarating live sim racing action on the iRacing platform every week! If your need for speed goes beyond Sunday NASCAR races, you've found your new home. Our cutting-edge broadcasts showcase nail-biting, heart-pounding racing at its finest. Looking for charismatic drivers? Look no further. Seeking insightful analysis and pro sim racing tips? We've got you covered! Hit that red subscribe button now and become part of one of the fastest-growing sim racing communities today!

More broadcast details and event coverage announcements will be shared in the SMASH HQ Discord as the season begins.

Teams Beginning to Form

As the opening weekend approaches, several drivers have also begun organizing teams within the league.

Team participation is encouraged and adds another layer of competition to the series. Drivers can work together, represent organizations, and build rivalries throughout the season.

Any drivers interested in forming teams can coordinate inside the SMASH HQ Discord, where team channels and adjustments can be made as the league grows.

Driver Profiles Coming Soon

The SMASH HQ team is also preparing to introduce driver profiles on the smashhq.gg website.

These profiles will highlight the competitors who make up the league and allow fans to learn more about the drivers on the grid.

Information being gathered will include:

• Driver name

• iRacing username

• Car number

• Hometown

• Favorite track

• Years of sim racing experience

• Team affiliation

More information on how to submit driver details will be posted in the Discord soon.

There Is Still Time to Join

Even with the opening weekend approaching, driver signups are still open.

New drivers are welcome to join before the season begins, whether they plan to compete full-time or as reserve drivers.

Anyone interested in joining the league can head to the # driver-signup channel in the

SMASH HQ Discord.

The Beginning of Season 1

The S.M.A.S.H League — Sim Motorsports Association Series of Horsepower — was created to build a structured, competitive racing environment for drivers who want organized weekend racing and a strong community.

Now, after months of planning and preparation, the first season is finally ready to begin.

The green flag drops this Friday.

And the first chapter of the SMASH HQ league story is about to be written.

Join the community

Discord: discord.gg/smashhq

— SMASH HQ Racing