CONCORD, N.C. – The inaugural season of the eNASCAR Heat Pro League has come to an end. Hendrick Motorsports Gaming Club drivers Nick Jobes and Sam Morris took some time to reflect on the unforgettable season after competing in last week’s championship race.
Racing live from “Arena 43” at NASCAR Productions in Charlotte, North Carolina, No. 25 driver Jobes finished his final race of 2019 in sixth. After the finale was over, he was practically speechless when thinking about his season in its entirety.
“Words can’t describe how excited I was to do all of this,” he smiled.
The final event gave the drivers time to see their fellow competitors, most of whom they had only seen in-person during the first race of the season. Throughout the year, the competitors became friends and all enjoyed a time to be together one last time while putting the cap on the 2019 campaign.
“Being able to see everybody and talk to everybody and say our final goodbyes for the season is pretty amazing,” No. 5 driver Morris said.
Between their visits to the Hendrick Motorsports campus, two visits to Charlotte Motor Speedway and all the Heat Pro League events throughout the year, Morris explained that it still had not set in that he completed his final race of the year as a professional gamer.
“It feels like yesterday that I heard Chase Elliott call my name and say that I got drafted by my favorite team,” he said. “That still hasn’t set in. So, to play in the last race of the season, it’s surreal.”
Throughout the season, both drivers spent plenty of time near the front of the pack. They were helped along the way to improve their setups and strategies by working with their fellow teammate and crew chiefs.
“Our crew chiefs have been a big help, especially since we started playing ‘NASCAR Heat 4,’” Jobes said. “They helped a lot with what setups we needed, and my teammate Sam and I have always talked to each other throughout each week to help get our cars where they needed to be. There has been a lot of teamwork throughout the year.”
Though they weren’t able to compete for a championship in the playoffs, the drivers were proud of what they were able to accomplish together. And now that the season is officially in the rear-view mirror, both teammates said they’ll continue to race and hone their skills moving forward.
“NASCAR hasn’t announced what the draft format will be, I would love to stay racing, but we will see hopefully soon what the 2020 season will be for the league,” Jobes said. “I just hope I get to be a part of it.”