Episode 0539 - iRacers Lounge Podcast

7/8/2026 – Man Crush – Episode 0539

iRacers Lounge Podcast – Conversation Topics

Show Introduction

On today’s show: we ride along with Zalenski, more Sim Gaming Expo updates, another Simucube 3 Ultimate review, was the MOZA Mbooster a big mistake?, are paying customers now beta testers?, a new Stream Deck plugin and is Week 13 the best place for a special event?

And remember you can follow along with us on your PC or mobile device in real time as you listen to the show and see for yourself all of the great topics and products we’ll discuss by visiting iracerslounge.com and selecting show notes. Hope to see you there..

TITLE SPONSOR READ:

https://www.premierracingsetups .com/

Topics

Cosworth Free For Spa24

https://www.iracing.com/cosworth-pi-toolbox-plus-free-trial-returns-updated-features-for-iracing-spa-24

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

The RWD Record

Why?

How To Have Two Spotters

Is SVG Ready For F1?

iRacing Pro Jersey

Ride Along With Bobby

Changes Are Needed

https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/97750/inproper-pit-lane-driving-is-not-protestable-even-if-they-wreck-someone-as-a-result

Bound To Happen

Outlaw Motor Speedway: Open For Business

Week 13 Special Event?

https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/96491/suzuka-1000km-is-in-week-13

Wait You Must

https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/97512/spa-24h-official-post

2026 Sim Gaming Expo

USE CODE SGE15 TO SAVE 15% ON TICKETS THROUGH JULY 10TH

September 18 – 20, 2026

Mercedes Motorsports Virtual Championship Returns

https://www.iracing.com/mercedes-amg-motorsport-virtual-championship-returns-to-iracing-for-2026-time-attack-open-now

Fire Cracker Summer Classic

ANNOUNCING THE SIMPERIOR FIRECRACKER SUMMER CLASSIC! We are thrilled to officially unveil this special event! Get ready to take on the high banks for an incredible cause. We are bringing you high-intensity sim racing action with massive stakes, all while supporting The Headstrong Project.

For this event, we are throwing it back with an absolute dream combo: the 1987 NASCAR Cup cars at old, bumpy Daytona! Drivers are going to be fighting the wheel, managing their tires, and sliding around the high banks all night long. It is going to be an incredible show.

About the Charity The Headstrong Project provides completely free, confidential, and barrier-free mental health care to military veterans, service members, and their families. By racing in this event, you’re directly helping them deliver trauma-informed treatment to those who have sacrificed so much. 100% of the money raised from this event goes directly to the charity.

https://forms.gle/31YPf45xHDFP5D9U9

Fire Cracker 400

https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/97416/2026-firecracker-400

Spa 24

https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/97720/2026-24-hours-of-spa-presented-by-falken

FIA F4 Global Championship Returns

This Week In iRacing

https://www.iracing.com/this-week-in-iracing-june-30th-to-july-6th-2026/

Podcast Housekeeping

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Check out our Discord https://discord.gg/rvRas4DDqF

New Website – Leave Comments https://www.iracerslounge.com/

We are in the regular rotation… (Mike)

https://performancemotorsportsnetwork.com/

iRacers Lounge Merch!!!

You can now order fantastic looking merchandise for your favorite iRacing show, The iRacers Lounge Podcast!

Visit iRacerslounge.shop to get yours Today!

Fantasy

Hardware/Software

Chad McNeese’s Ultimate Hardware Spreadsheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1i08zKjBSmSn5G_mCc9cHx07w7XLo03sfoytpVJkqbYk/edit?usp=sharing

But Wait

The Phoenix Is Rising

James Baldwin Asks…Necessary?

Is This The Real Reason?

A Monster Setup

UniTorque Vanta-F

21R-P1X

One Year Later

A Pricing Problem

Operation-al Support From DNR

This Trend Needs To Stop

Throttle Cut-Off?

DNR Stream Deck Plugin

Display Dash Update

Results

NASCAR iRacing Series

Friday Open – NiS – Sonoma

Mike- P wrecked out, got dumped in the air pan again from behind and then I wrecked out later on cause I was frustrated
Chris- P – DNF. Wrecked taking the lead with 2 to go.
Tony -P3 led 63 laps had fastest lap but killed the right front after 25 laps
Brad- P17 Top Split again. Never really had any issues in this race. I let the fast guys go and kept it very clean with only one 1x. I will say that the car definitely felt better this year on the road courses than it did last year.
Steven – P13 ran top 7 the whole race started P3 first green white checker. A dummy pulled down in front of me before the start line I ran into the back of him and spun out. He pulled down as soon as it went green.
Kyle – P3 stayed top 10 and just ran my ass off for the last 12 laps.

Sunday Open- NiS – Sonoma

Tony – P5 ran ok. Stayed on track and away from wrecks. I think this is my best road finish in the next gen ever. Something clicked with me last week on how I brake which carried over to Sonoma. But glad this is the last road course of the year

Wednesday Open -NiS – Chicagoland

Mike- P wrecked out I was in the first caution got my damage fixed went from the back to the front as high as P4 just passed halfway car with a rocket ship, but I got a little loose that over corrected and it’s stuffed into the wall DNF
Tony -P3 ah back to oval racing. Ran a great race. Jumped to lead early and pretty much ran my front right off after ½ way through a run and losing the lead. Ended up leading 63 laps even had fastest lap. But was about 15 laps short of having a win with me not able to save my right front. Felt good to actually have a good race
Kyle – P3 Started P10 and just ran a fast consistent race. Setup was crazy fast. I’ll take my podium P3.
David – P18 , had a top five car. Late caution by dumbass back markers, then 2 guys stay out with 40 lap old tires wreck each other on the restart, i don’t hit them but have to stop and fall from 5th to 18th.
Brad- P 32. Started 18th and had driven into the top 10 within the first 15 laps. There was a spinner on the front stretch and I tried to go to the apron to avoid him but did not get low enough and he came down. Too much damage, we’re done.

Thursday Open -NiS – Chicagoland

David – P19, had a leading car, wrecked at the end by a someone who might be seeing me if i continue iracing

Official Series

Toyota GR 86cup Series fixed

Mike- p last at Summit point started 16 out of 18. Had moved up to at least 11th, but then got into some trouble and actually turned on the light and finished dead last.
- Top split. Start a 15th out of 19.
Super Formula Lights
Mike – P okayama- wrecked out

BMW M2 cup at Outlon park

Ellis– P6 start a 10th out of 12 Made my way to finish P6
- Then start 10th and finish P7
- Send me switch tracks to Road Atlanta and I get wrecked out

A Open

Brad W – P27 Wrecked out early. I tried to clear myself coming off on turn 2. I thought I had room but did not. On me but had I been the guy behind me I probably would have lifted. Being that it was early in the race.

League / Hosted Races

Grass Roots Racing

GTP/GT3 League – Spa – Endurance Race

William W – P1 Put it on the pole and didn’t look back. 90 minute race. I thought I was going to run away, but 2nd place kept me honest once the gap got to about 3 seconds. Had one scary moment coming out of Stavelot, but otherwise just focused on keeping it clean. 2 in a row.
Brad W – P7 I had decent speed but nothing for Westbrook. Still trying to get myself comfortable in the McLaren but finding pace. Week one was bad but making progress each week.

Elbows Out Racing League (LMP2 and GT3 Wednesday Nights)

William- P3 Spa Man the racing up top here is something. Weaver put it on the pole by .05 over me and we rode 1-2 nose to tail until the traffic started. Was about 3 seconds back after traffic and kept that until the pit. Almost had team mate on team mate violence when Pax GTP driver JD Daniel locked the brakes in the bus stop, but no harm no foul. However later the LMP2 traffic was absolutely atrocious. Hit by at least 3 different ones at different parts of the race. With about 8 laps to go I got into a battle with another GT3 for 3rd. Some of the best, tightest racing i’ve had on the service. Words won’t do it justice, so I’ll post a video of it later on discord. Traffic caused havoc again and I fell to 4th but third place spun with 4 to go and I gained the position. 3rd is a great finish here, but feel a little let down at the same time. Weaver picked up a nice P2 after leading a majority of the race.

Broken Wing Racing League (GT3 Only)

William – P14 Motegi Picked up a GT3 single class series to scratch the non-multiclass itch. Lots of fast guys at the top here. I don’t have a lot of laps at Motegi, and I’m struggling a little bit to adapt to the open qualifying we do here. Started P24 and made it to 14 though so not bad. Missed the podcast last week but went from 20-10. I maybe have pace for top 7 here, but gotta figure qualifying out. Moving through the field in 45 minutes is quite tough.

Hosted-

Ellis – P carb cup got wrecked out at Charlotte
- Pick up cup at Charlotte

Final Thoughts

Words Spoken in Closing Audio Clip -“”Thank you for listening to the iRacers Lounge podcast make sure to go subscribe to us on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Google Play, Facebook & Twitter, See You On The Track .”

TITLE

Man Crush

Description

So sit back, relax and join us on the iRacers Lounge Podcast.

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Hosts:

Mike Ellis – https://x.com/mikedeanellis

David Hall – https://x.com/dmixmage

Greg Hecktus – twitter.com/froozenkaktus

Donnie Spiker – https://www.instagram.com/spikerman19/

Brad Wrenn – https://x.com/bradwrenn

John Kerley – https://x.com/KerleyJohnE

Justin Pearson – https://www.facebook.com/justin.pearson.5811

Bobby Jonas – https://x.com/bjonas71

William Westbrook – https://www.facebook.com/william.westbrook.35

Kris Randall – https://www.signalcraftstudio.com/