6/18/2026 – More Expensive Than Therapy – Episode 0537
iRacers Lounge Podcast – Conversation Topics
Show Introduction
On today’s show: The hardware guru, Chad McNeese visits the lounge, what happened to separate pace cars for multicast race starts?, big updates for the Sim Gaming Expo, the Simucube 3 Ultimate is here, the FIA is seeking a new sim racing partner, it’s week one and we already have patch notes and how are NASCAR drivers prepping for Coronado?
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/
Special Guest
Chad McNeese
Topics
Getting Reps
2026 Season 3 Patch 1 Notes
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/96916/2026-season-3-patch-1-release-notes-2026-06-12-02
Laguna Seca Re-built
Um, iRacing?
Turn Zero Sim Racing, CA
2026 Season 2 By The Numbers
#SOON
Side By Side Racing
Maximize Your Space
Series Specific Regulations
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/97084/series-specific-regulations-quick-reference/p1
Who Steps Up?
Is Noob Still A Thing?
Zalenski Wins At Coronado
A Reason For The Hobby
https://boxthislap.org/busy-dads-are-quietly-transforming-sim-racing-forever/
2026 Sim Gaming Expo
USE CODE SGE15 TO SAVE 15% ON TICKETS THROUGH JULY 10TH
September 18 – 20, 2026
Watkins Glen 6 Hour
https://forums.iracing.com/discussion/96784/2026-wakins-glen-6h-presented-by-vco
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
New Smyrna Speedway iRacing Series
This Week In iRacing
https://www.iracing.com/this-week-in-iracing-june-16th-to-june-22nd-2026
Podcast Housekeeping
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We are in the regular rotation… (Mike)
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Fantasy
Hardware/Software
Chad McNeese’s Ultimate Hardware Spreadsheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1i08zKjBSmSn5G_mCc9cHx07w7XLo03sfoytpVJkqbYk/edit?usp=sharing
Phoenix Is Getting Closer
Changed Sim Racing, Forever?
Mercedes F1 Cockpit By Sim-Labs
Reach A Little Deeper Into Your Wallet
DGX Station For Windows
It Has Arrived
Spend Mike’s Money
Results
NASCAR iRacing Series
Friday Open – NiS – Pocono
- Mike- P wrecked out early
- David – P 20, was just slow, couldn’t pass or hold position
- Tony -P29 wrecked out early. Caught when 2 cars decided to make love to each other couldn’t avoid
- Brad- P Big wreck – was having an ok race but the car got loose getting into T3 and when I tried to save it, it hooked to the right. I think this was one of the more violent hits that I have had. Other drivers were commenting on it right after it happened. Almost sounded like the radio chatter after the Elliott/Bell wreck at Michigan.
Sunday Open- NiS – Pocono
- David – P11 basically just had to not pit and play for track position, once single file no one passed
- Joe – P2
Sunday Fixed- NiS – Pocono
- Mike- P wrecked out at the very end. Had a alternate fuel strategy going put it under green with 36 to go with one other guy shortly after the caution came out we cycled up to the front but that I had a guy come across my nose and give me slight damage and I faded back to 11th before I got destroyed and then tried to limp at home. I got destroyed again and two subsequent cautions.
Wednesday Open -NiS – Coronado
- Mike- P.4
- Tony -P24 made it through til over drove into redbull wall
- Chris – P2
- David – P 5, stayed clean, gained a lot of sr, surprised by this result
- Brad- P11 – Top Split. I was nowhere near the speed of the other drivers but I did not wreck as much as they did. This was the ultimate, just keep it on the track. I had more issues with the second set of tire stacks. That was the one area that gave me the most trouble all of the race. The track is very challenging but really cool at the same time. If I had to choose, I would go back to Chicago over this. Probably one and done for me this week.
Thursday Open -NiS – Coronado
- Chris – P2
Official Series
Ring Meister
- Mike – P1. And the GT threes I get it done in the first attempt of the season winner winner chicken dinner started third and was able to stay there as the 2 L were faster than me. I had no hope but they ended up crashing each other out at the end of the long street and I was able to keep on trucking on for the win
- Tried to go for two in a row, started on first position, but he got by me quick and drove away and ended up in a good battle for a second and was able to keep it at P2
League / Hosted Races
Grass Roots Racing
GTP/GT3 League – Watkins Glen – Sprint Race
- Brad W – P wrecked out, twice. Never made it through the esses on lap one. We had a big bobble out of turn one and I started to think about making a pass on the car ahead but the driver behind looked to be making it three wide so I tried to tuck back in but was turned and from then on I think half of the GT3 field was collected. I took my tow back to the pits and my fast repair. Came out p28 and started to try and climb back. I was up to p25 and battling for position in turn 1 but would lose the car while making a pass on the inside. A big impact into the armco so I called it a night. Not a great way to start Season 8.
Hosted-
- Ellis – P ran the week 13 Coronado GEN seven got a PS five hit the wall quite a bit, but still finished
- Then started sixth and finished P3
- Then started second led some laps, but another guy got by me and I finish P2.
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
- More Expensive Than Therapy
Description
On today’s show: The hardware guru, Chad McNeese visits the lounge, what happened to separate pace cars for multicast race starts?, big updates for the Sim Gaming Expo, the Simucube 3 Ultimate is here, the FIA is seeking a new sim racing partner, it’s week one and we already have patch notes and how are NASCAR drivers prepping for Coronado?
So sit back, relax and join us on the iRacers Lounge Podcast.
iRacers Lounge Podcast is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play Music, Spotify, Soundcloud, Podbean, Spreaker, Podbay, PodFanatic, Overcast, Amazon, and other podcast players.
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Hosts:
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David Hall – https://x.com/dmixmage
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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/
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