MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 28, 2023) -- The Milwaukee Mile, located on the grounds of Wisconsin State Fair Park, is a throwback to the very beginnings of motorsports.

The 1-mile track in West Allis, Wis. has hosted motorsports events since before automobiles were widely owned by Americans. The first race there was in 1903 on the then-dirt surface, and races were conducted every year since except during World War II.

It and tracks like it fueled the boom in popularity of motorsports across the country, as barnstorming open-wheel drivers visited state fairgrounds in various states in preparation for the Indianapolis 500…which started in 1911, eight years after competition began at The Milwaukee Mile.

Tonight, the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series will add its name to the list of sanctioning bodies that have run on the venerable speedway. JR Motorsports drivers Michael Conti and Kevin King will be in the field for the event, the first staged by NASCAR's eSports arm there.

Conti, who drives JRM's No. 8 WR1 Sim Chassis Chevrolet, is excited to see The Milwaukee Mile on the schedule, especially since his #ItsBeenGr8 farewell tour is under way. He will step away from full-time competition at the end of the season.

"Throughout my eNCCiS career, I've found a lot of success at flat short tracks," the New Jersey native said. "Being that Milwaukee fits the bill and is one of the more unique venues that we'll visit this season, I'm excited about our prospects heading into the race. It's always cool to win the series' first race at a new track and a win at the historic Milwaukee Mile would be no different." 

King, driver of the No. 88 Ledford Billiard Supply Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, has a feeling tonight's race will be a good one.

"Going to Milwaukee is going to be very interesting for everyone this year," the California driver said. "It's one of those race tracks that awards being smooth and consistent and, with the surface being a little bumpy in a few areas, should provide some opportunity for good racing. We have put in a ton of work and feel really good about how the car handles."

JRM has competed in six NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the paved 1-mile oval, with Brad Keselowski earning the best finish (third) in 2009, Keselowski also finished eighth there in 2008, starting from the pole and leading 168 of the 250 laps before sliding down the order at the end.

Shane Huffman started fifth and finished 10^th for JRM in 2007, and Mark McFarland was involved in a crash and finished 33^rd there in 2006.

Justin Allgaier is the lone driver currently with JRM to have raced at Milwaukee in the NXS, finishing 17^th in the 2009 event.