Canadian sim racer Connor Yeroschak capped off his 2026 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series season with a second-place finish in the championship finale, held October 13 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Driving the No. 40 for Letarte eSports, Yeroschak was one of four drivers competing for the championship title. The 2025 eNASCAR Coca-Cola Rookie of the Year became the first Canadian to reach the Championship 4 since Keegan Leahy, marking an important milestone in his young sim racing career.
For Yeroschak, the journey to NASCAR’s premier sim racing championship began just six years ago.
From Racing at Home to the Championship Stage
Yeroschak first discovered iRacing in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Already a NASCAR fan, he decided to give the simulation platform a try, initially racing for fun before gradually becoming involved in more competitive events.
“About a year or two into it, I joined a team and started doing it more competitively, and I kind of grew from there,” Yeroschak explained.
His interest in NASCAR has always been rooted in the close competition that characterizes the sport.
“It’s not so much about just racing the track and total race time. It’s more about the wheel-to-wheel racing, the constant battles and how you manage your runs throughout the race,” he said.
An oval racing enthusiast, Yeroschak counts Dover, Auto Club and Kansas among the tracks where he particularly enjoys competing.
Away from the simulator, he is currently in his third year at the University of Calgary, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture.
A Breakthrough 2026 Season
Yeroschak’s path to the Championship 4 was built on a consistent regular season followed by a strong playoff performance.
A fourth-place finish at Dover and a third-place result at Atlanta helped him accumulate valuable points and secure a place in the playoffs. However, it was during the final stretch of the season that he and Letarte eSports found their strongest form.
“I had a good regular season, but nothing really special,” Yeroschak said. “Once the playoffs started, all three playoff races at Michigan, Texas and Kansas were races that I could have won.”
He ultimately secured his first career eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series victory at Kansas Speedway, earning his place among the four championship contenders.
With a championship opportunity ahead, Yeroschak and his team focused on extensive testing and preparation.
“Everyone knows that your other three opponents are going to be testing a lot too,” he explained. “It’s just about how you put in a good amount of work, and how you make sure you’re not just wasting time. You’re always trying to make the car better and yourself better.”
A New Experience at the NASCAR Hall of Fame
The October 13 finale brought the Championship 4 together in Charlotte for an in-person competition at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, offering Yeroschak an experience unlike his usual races from home.
Despite expecting to feel nervous, the Canadian approached the event with a positive mindset.
“The whole trip that I was there, I was just excited that I was getting to participate in something like this, and everything just felt like an opportunity,” he said.
“I didn’t go in thinking I needed to win. I just saw it as a great chance to do another race and do what I enjoy.”
With friends and family in attendance to support him, Yeroschak took on the challenge of competing in a new environment, adapting to the atmosphere of a live event.
“Normally, you have no noise at all and you’re just driving,” Yeroschak explained. “But up there, there were people yelling and music. Adapting to that different atmosphere was definitely the biggest challenge.”
Yeroschak ultimately finished second in the championship, closing out his strongest season to date.
For the Canadian, one of the most satisfying aspects of the finale was the performance delivered by his team when it mattered most.
“Just proving to ourselves that in the biggest moment we brought the best car we brought all year and were able to perform, I think we should be proud of that.”
Looking Ahead
Following his runner-up finish, Yeroschak has already set his sights on returning to the championship stage.
“I think it’s gotta be to try to get back to the finale again,” he said. “It’s such a good run, and to finish second, now that that taste is in your mouth, you have to try to get back there.”
He also credited Letarte eSports and team owner Steve Letarte for providing him with the opportunity to compete at this level.
“He gave me an opportunity last year to drive his cars in the professional series, and I owe a lot of my success to him,” Yeroschak said.
After earning his first career victory and finishing second in the championship, Yeroschak now looks to build on his 2026 season and return to the Championship 4 next year.