Going full throttle: APSU freshman competing in eNASCAR College iRacing Series

By: Ethan Steinquest September 28, 2026

A rendering of the Austin Peay State University-branded vehicle Van Drugmand is driving in the eNASCAR College iRacing Series. The series kicked off on Sept. 23, with $60,000 in scholarships on the line. | Contributed photo

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Van Drugmand knew he wanted to be a NASCAR driver from the moment his father brought him to the Talladega Superspeedway, where he saw a pack of cars tearing across the iconic track at nearly 200 mph.

Over 10 years later, Austin Peay State University is helping him make that dream a reality. Drugmand is representing the Govs with a university-branded vehicle in the 2026-27 eNASCAR College iRacing Series, and will make his next appearance in the final round of the Peachtree Pursuit on Sept. 30. Events will be livestreamed via YouTube.

“I’m the biggest NASCAR fan you’ll probably ever meet, and I knew once I got to college, I was going to do this series,” said Drugmand, a freshman sports communication major. “I’m excited to represent Austin Peay because it’s my hometown college and the place my mom graduated from. On top of that, I think it’s the first time anyone from the university has ever done this.”

The series features eight tournaments with realistic simulations of tracks from Daytona to Watkins Glen, and the competition is stiff. Drugmand will need to measure up against hundreds of other students in time attack rounds just to qualify for each point-scoring event.

He is already off to a strong start, having earned 5th and 11th place finishes in the first tournament bracket at EchoPark Speedway to secure a spot in the finals.

“It’s a full-throttle track, and now that we’re onto the main race, track position is going to mean a lot,” he said. “There are two strategies you can run on these types of tracks: stay in the back and let everyone wreck in front of you, or play lanes and go on the offensive. Making the right moves and having a strong game plan is ultimately what it’s going to come down to, and I feel like I’m going to have to try to be up toward the front as much as I can.”

Thanks to his years of iRacing experience, he is confident he has what it takes. He started practicing at 12 years old and is currently ranked among the top 0.5% of players.

“I’ve always taken it very seriously, because I know this is one of my only chances to get opportunities as a racer,” Drugmand said. “There are a lot of successful drivers that came from iRacing, like William Byron, Josh Berry, and Rajah Caruth. If I’m able to make a NASCAR start one day, that would be amazing.”

The skills Drugmand picked up from iRacing have already allowed him to compete in real-world events at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. He also aims to participate in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, and a strong performance in collegiate events could take him there.

“My practice schedule is really about to ramp up,” he said. “This is my freshman year, so I have four years to do the college series. My name is already out there, and when it comes down to the free agency next year, [teams in the Coca-Cola series] are more likely to sign me if they see what I can do.”

Drugmand is part of Nexxus eSports’ team for the college series and is working with his teammates to stay well-prepared for the variety of tracks.

“If you’re doing super close pack racing, you’re going to be full throttle all the way around — using your mind and eyes more than your hands or feet,” he said. “Other races really focus on the driver skill it takes to move the weight of your car around the track, like making sure you get the max amount of braking power into the corner. You have to be very knowledgeable and feel what you’re doing.”

No matter what approach he brings to a race, Drugmand has one guiding principle: “go win.”

That same perspective guides his studies at APSU, where he is balancing a full class schedule with work and competition.

“School comes first, and it helps that it’s the first part of my day,” Drugmand said. “I’m taking things day by day, but I love that I’m finally getting to take communications classes and hone in on something I really enjoy.”

Ultimately, Drugmand’s goal is to become a sports analyst or anchor. He hopes to gain experience through student media organizations like APSU-TV and WAPX-FM after settling into college life.

“I want to get involved down there because I’m a good speaker and I can project my voice, but sometimes I’m not the most articulate,” he said. “Being in the studio would help me work on that, and when you spend enough time around a group of people who are good for you, you’re eventually going to develop the right habits.”

Van Drugmand learned that lesson from iRacing, having made some of his biggest strides by competing against higher-ranked players — and he is eager to keep putting himself to the test this semester.

“Being under the eNASCAR branding is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid,” he said. “It’s not going to be easy, but I think you’ve got the right person for the challenge because I’ve taken it to these guys before. They know what I’m capable of, and I’ve just got to go execute.”