The game was easily adaptable because “the mechanics are basically the same,” says Jeff Kaplan, VP of strategic marketing for Penn Interactive. Scott Warfield, NASCAR’s managing director of gaming, says the league was happy with the game’s initial results and gave the go-ahead. When it became clear NASCAR was going to shift strategy with the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, Penn asked if NASCAR would be interested in a game adaption. In early January, Penn National Gaming entered into a $450 million deal to buy Barstool Sports so it could, as Penn National CEO Jay Snowden put it, “attract a new, younger demographic.” A few weeks later, it entered into a multiyear deal as the first authorized sports betting partner of NASCAR.īefore sports came to a standstill in mid-March, the U.S stock car racing series was able to host four races with Penn’s new free-to-play mobile game, NASCAR Finish Line, which offers users a weekly chance at a $50,000 jackpot.
(Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesĮven as the global pandemic makes the return of sports uncertain, Penn National Gaming is expanding its footprint in sports betting to hopefully offset the aging audience of its more traditional casino games. 11 FedEx Delivering Strength Toyota, celebrates after winning the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series North Wilkesboro 160 at virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 9.
