Short Oval Racing is sometimes overlooked by sim racers across many different simulators. Whether it's the dirt stock series in iRacing or the crazy world of Wreckfest, short oval racing can be one of the most intense and high-octane racing disciplines.
It would be nearly impossible to include every single series in every title. So, let us know in the comments below what we missed!
Online Wreckfest Banger Raicng. Image Credit: Online Bangers Wreckfest
There is a free (ish) entry into the series. The UMP Modified is included with every base iRacing subscription and therefore, a well-populated series. Be warned, safety rating is especially hard to keep and grow for beginners in such a small and hectic environment!
iRacing Rookies Legends Series. Image Credit: iRacing.com
iRacing has many different series across the safety and driver rating levels for Dirt Oval. The Legends cars are available for rookies at a 3.0 or above but you can go all the way up to the Pro/World Championship Dirt Oval Series.
Ever heard of the World of Outlaws? It's a real-world racing series represented within iRacing, that also has its own game, based on the real-life series (see below).
Sprint Car Series. Image Credit: Worldofoutlawsgame.com
If this is the first time you've heard of World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing, or you want to learn more about it, check out our review for World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing on the OverTake.gg YouTube channel!
The car list strikes a great balance for a title based on one genre of motorsport. The cars vary from the Sprint Car Series to the Pro Late Models and street stocks. If you want the Big Block Modified series, DirtCar UMP Modified or the Midgets, you'll have to pay for the respective DLCs.
Image Credit: Worldofoutlawsgame.com
With a tracklist of over 40 tracks and layouts, World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing has fantastic replayability and variety. The track list has only six registered DLC tracks on their official website. A variety of fantasy tracks are also available to keep even the most experienced short dirt oval driver on his or her toes!
Before this game, the team also made SRX: The Game - the official title of the short-lived real-world SRX series, and it too features several small oval layouts.
Tarmac Short ovals in NASCAR Heat 5 include Bristol Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Phoenix Raceway and Richmond Raceway. Check out Ross Chastain's incredible videogame-like wall ride to qualify for the Championship 4 at Martinsville as an example of what can be done on these short ovals!
Image Credit: Paul Jeffrey
Race everything from TQ Midgets to the insanely powerful 900 HP 410 Winged Sprint Cars in Tony Stewart Stock Car Racing. Generally well received, the title has 24 Dirt Tracks to compete on across the country, from small-town rural tracks to elite stadiums.
Sprint Car Series. Image Credit: Monster Games, Inc.
There are two DLCs available including, of all things, a road course. Palm Tree Motorsports Park provides a fresh challenge for the otherwise dirt-based game.
The track is called Northern Isle Speedway and it's a fictional track set in the USA. It's 0.56 miles long, meaning it can officially be classified as a 'Short Oval' in NASCAR terms.
Northern Isle Speedway, Gran Turismo 7
Races can be held here during the day or at night. The recreation of races will need some creativity and imagination, but it certainly isn't impossible!
NASCAR will return to this iconic venue in May 2024 after a 25-year hiatus. Short oval racing within the series is highly rated and always throws up a fantastic spectacle.
North Wilkesboro Speedway. Image Credit: Historic Sim Studios LLC
The team at Historic Sim Studio have started work on some of the legacy versions of North Wilkesboro Speedway alongside the 2023 layout. These versions are on dirt, a surface very rarely used or covered in Assetto Corsa!
The best bit? There's an entire community on the PC version of Wreckfest that allows you to race and recreate iconic banger race meetings and moments. Wreckfest Online Bangers has a discord community and Facebook community to organise racing.
The cars used in this huge mod pack replicate the real cars that are popular in real life. Expect to see Ford Granadas, old Volvo's, a plethora of Jaguars and the occasional supra!
Getting started is very easy. The steam workshop for Wreckfest has everything you need to get into the public lobbies and special events! Check out the 'How to get started' page for more details and a step-by-step process.
Online Banger Racing Pileups.Image Credit: Online Bangers
The mod includes so much content it can be overwhelming. however, the installation and setup process is very easy and you will have full unrestricted access to:
- 42 Car additional car models with full customisation
- 200+ replica paint jobs
-13 Short oval tracks for use with the cars. Floodlit night racing on some of these tracks.
-Ai sets to split cars by year/country and size
-Custom damage, deform rates and collisions
-Custom surface physics
-Custom particle effects
-All assists disabled for competitive online balance
I took part in an event at Greater Yarmouth for my University Degree video final project. If you are interested in seeing what banger racing is all about, check it out on my YouTube channel below!
Have you given short oval racing in your favourite simulator a go? Let us know your experiences on X @OverTake_gg or down in the comments below!
It would be nearly impossible to include every single series in every title. So, let us know in the comments below what we missed!
Online Wreckfest Banger Raicng. Image Credit: Online Bangers Wreckfest
iRacing Dirt short Ovals
Starting with one of the big hitters in the world of short ovals, iRacing. The sim is at the top of the pyramid when it comes to the representation of the genre. You have everything from the Dirt Midget Cup to Late models and the Legends series.There is a free (ish) entry into the series. The UMP Modified is included with every base iRacing subscription and therefore, a well-populated series. Be warned, safety rating is especially hard to keep and grow for beginners in such a small and hectic environment!
iRacing Rookies Legends Series. Image Credit: iRacing.com
iRacing has many different series across the safety and driver rating levels for Dirt Oval. The Legends cars are available for rookies at a 3.0 or above but you can go all the way up to the Pro/World Championship Dirt Oval Series.
Ever heard of the World of Outlaws? It's a real-world racing series represented within iRacing, that also has its own game, based on the real-life series (see below).
World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing
Hailed as the best oval racing game to come to consoles in a very long time by many, World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing is a simulator created by Monster Games under the stewardship of iRacing. This has brought competitive dirt oval racing to both online competition and AI racing at long last for those on current PlayStations and Xboxes.Sprint Car Series. Image Credit: Worldofoutlawsgame.com
If this is the first time you've heard of World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing, or you want to learn more about it, check out our review for World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing on the OverTake.gg YouTube channel!
The car list strikes a great balance for a title based on one genre of motorsport. The cars vary from the Sprint Car Series to the Pro Late Models and street stocks. If you want the Big Block Modified series, DirtCar UMP Modified or the Midgets, you'll have to pay for the respective DLCs.
Image Credit: Worldofoutlawsgame.com
With a tracklist of over 40 tracks and layouts, World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing has fantastic replayability and variety. The track list has only six registered DLC tracks on their official website. A variety of fantasy tracks are also available to keep even the most experienced short dirt oval driver on his or her toes!
Before this game, the team also made SRX: The Game - the official title of the short-lived real-world SRX series, and it too features several small oval layouts.
NASCAR Heat 5
NASCAR Heat 5's latest major update was the Next Gen Car Update. While it was nothing groundbreaking, the update introduced the legendary Bristol short dirt track as a playable option. The other three dirt tracks included are at Las Vegas, Charlotte and Texas Motor Speedway. There is also one fictional track as well, Drebin Motor Speedway,Tarmac Short ovals in NASCAR Heat 5 include Bristol Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Phoenix Raceway and Richmond Raceway. Check out Ross Chastain's incredible videogame-like wall ride to qualify for the Championship 4 at Martinsville as an example of what can be done on these short ovals!
Image Credit: Paul Jeffrey
Tony Stewart Stock Car Racing
Developed in collaboration with Sprint Car champion and NASCAR racing legend Tony Stewart, this racing game (another from Monster Games, but before its iRacing partnership) offers fans of dirt racing another alternative to World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing.Race everything from TQ Midgets to the insanely powerful 900 HP 410 Winged Sprint Cars in Tony Stewart Stock Car Racing. Generally well received, the title has 24 Dirt Tracks to compete on across the country, from small-town rural tracks to elite stadiums.
Sprint Car Series. Image Credit: Monster Games, Inc.
There are two DLCs available including, of all things, a road course. Palm Tree Motorsports Park provides a fresh challenge for the otherwise dirt-based game.
Gran Turismo 7 Short Oval
Despite the simulator's popularity, Gran Turismo 7 leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to short oval racing and oval racing in general specifically. With no stockcars, sprint cars or modifieds the choices are few and far between. Classic hotrods are available so they are a great stand-in option if you are looking to recreate some short oval racing in Gran Turismo 7.The track is called Northern Isle Speedway and it's a fictional track set in the USA. It's 0.56 miles long, meaning it can officially be classified as a 'Short Oval' in NASCAR terms.
Northern Isle Speedway, Gran Turismo 7
Races can be held here during the day or at night. The recreation of races will need some creativity and imagination, but it certainly isn't impossible!
North Wilkesboro Speedway in Assetto Corsa
Historic Sim Studios LLC have created some of the best mods for Assetto Corsa available on OverTake! Its rendition of North Wilkesboro Speedway is no outlier.NASCAR will return to this iconic venue in May 2024 after a 25-year hiatus. Short oval racing within the series is highly rated and always throws up a fantastic spectacle.
North Wilkesboro Speedway. Image Credit: Historic Sim Studios LLC
The team at Historic Sim Studio have started work on some of the legacy versions of North Wilkesboro Speedway alongside the 2023 layout. These versions are on dirt, a surface very rarely used or covered in Assetto Corsa!
Wreckfest: Banger Racing
If you are from the UK or some parts of Europe, you will likely have heard of 'Banger Racing'. The sport consists of old and no longer road-worthy cars being painted and prepped for full-contact racing. There is no other sport like it and American demolition derby could certainly learn a few lessons!The best bit? There's an entire community on the PC version of Wreckfest that allows you to race and recreate iconic banger race meetings and moments. Wreckfest Online Bangers has a discord community and Facebook community to organise racing.
The cars used in this huge mod pack replicate the real cars that are popular in real life. Expect to see Ford Granadas, old Volvo's, a plethora of Jaguars and the occasional supra!
Getting started is very easy. The steam workshop for Wreckfest has everything you need to get into the public lobbies and special events! Check out the 'How to get started' page for more details and a step-by-step process.
Online Banger Racing Pileups.Image Credit: Online Bangers
The mod includes so much content it can be overwhelming. however, the installation and setup process is very easy and you will have full unrestricted access to:
- 42 Car additional car models with full customisation
- 200+ replica paint jobs
-13 Short oval tracks for use with the cars. Floodlit night racing on some of these tracks.
-Ai sets to split cars by year/country and size
-Custom damage, deform rates and collisions
-Custom surface physics
-Custom particle effects
-All assists disabled for competitive online balance
My Personal experience
Banger racing holds a special place in my heart, growing up in rural Cornwall. Racetracks like Silverstone and Donington Park were always so far away. However, United Downs Raceway in Redruth gave me the racing bug and I've never looked back since!I took part in an event at Greater Yarmouth for my University Degree video final project. If you are interested in seeing what banger racing is all about, check it out on my YouTube channel below!
Have you given short oval racing in your favourite simulator a go? Let us know your experiences on X @OverTake_gg or down in the comments below!
