All in-real-life forms of racing are postponed until further notice. This is due to the small matter of a massive global pandemic that’s impacting everyone right now. An increasing amount of real racing organizers are turning to the digital world to get their fix. NASCAR, Formula 1, IMSA, IndyCar, and others are filling their time slots on TV and streaming with virtual racing instead, mostly through iRacing. But yesterday the most prestigious name in all of motorsport threw its hat into the ring. That’s right, LeMons is coming to iRacing.

The first question you may be asking (other than “why???”) is whether iRacing has the means to faithfully recreate the madness that is Lemons. After all, the sim is geared more towards super serious endurance racing. And no other series requires you to do a mime routine complete with face paint to serve penalties. But fear not because almost all of the cars they’re using are objectively terrible. They’ll be using three classes with two cars each.

Class A is the Street Stock (unofficially a 2nd-gen Camaro) and Ford Mustang FR500S. Class B is the Global MX-5 Cup and the environmentally-friendly VW Jetta TDI Cup. Last and least is Class C with the 2010 MX-5 Roadster and the Pontiac Solstice Club Sport. The MX-5 Cup is a pretty fun car, but the rest are… let’s just say Lemons worthy. Especially that Slowstice. Back when I had to race that car to get a license promotion I would be sure to blow up the engine after each race with an “accidental” money shift into first.

As for the venues, the first and I think hopefully not last season runs at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Lime Rock Park, Summit Point, and Barber Motorsports Park. The first virtual noise restrictions are getting violated this Thursday at 9 pm Eastern with two 24-minute races at Laguna Seca.

How to tune in or apply

Lemons is partnering with Nemesis Lab to stream the races live with full commentary. Check their profile or the Lemons social media channels for links when the stream goes live. More info and instructions to apply can be found here. It seems that anyone can apply but they’re prioritizing entries with real Lemons teams. After all, the main purpose of this league is to provide their competitors with the means to get some kind of racing while we’re all stuck inside. Even if you can’t get an entry in, this is a league race you won’t want to miss. Hooniverse will be there in some way. Either with a beer in hand in the peanut gallery or in the virtual driver’s seat… also with a beer in hand.