Close

iRacing Guide: SK Modified Weekly Series

The SK Modified is a great entry into open wheel oval racing and this guide shows you the ropes.

Any drivers that have campaigned iRacing’s SK Modified machine will likely attest to how fun the vehicle is. The SK Modified car has less power than most of the other oval-based vehicles on the service and, combined with its lighter weight, this makes it a little more accessible than some. This article will guide you through the D Class SK Modified Fixed and Open Series that makes use of the unique oval racer.    

The Car

The SK Modified car is built from the ground up as a tube-framed chassis, meaning it doesn’t use the base from a road vehicle. The advantage of using this kind of chassis, other than the enhanced safety aspect, is that it keeps the vehicle extremely light, with the machine coming in at just 2,600 pounds (1,200 kg.)

The SK Modified weapon is built solely to race on short ovals of less than half a mile in length, so thus features pretty much nothing in the way of downforce. Much like similar oval racing machines, the lack of any turbocharging on its 358 ci V8 ensures that throttle response is linear.

There are two types of Modifieds, the SK and the ones run by the NASCAR Whelen Tour Modified series. The former vehicles feature a cheaper V8 that only produces around 385 hp, while the latter run more developed units that produce between 625 and 700 hp. For this reason, most lower-level series in real life favor the cheaper SK version used in the D Class encounters rather than the NASCAR Whelen version. The latter also has its own series on iRacing, at the C Class level. 


Need Setups For The Series?

Did you know Coach Dave Delta now offers Oval setups? Our partnership with Team 53 brings all this to fruition. You can now become a pro of the short-track oval racing scene with The Coach Dave Delta Setup Subscription, allowing you to focus purely on your on-track performance. Installing them couldn’t be any easier with Delta.

Every week of the iRacing season Team 53 provides all you need to win in 5 particular series:

  • Qualifying setups
  • Race setups
  • Lap Guides
  • All were created by Team 53

You’ll definitely need a setup if you want to be running at the front in the SK Modifieds, as these nimble machines turn into mini beasts thanks to the open setup series, transforming the car entirely, get them today: Coach Dave Delta


Race Series Format

The SK Modified Series is run as a single-driver fixture, with a brief five-minute qualifying session preceding a race that runs for around 15 minutes. There are two separate series available at the lower D Class entry level, an open setup championship and a fixed one. Both feature the same length of race, and neither have cautions enabled.  

Both events are set to have realistic weather, so the track conditions will match how they are at the real-life venue. Don’t be concerned about rain when looking at the forecast though, as the SK Modifieds don’t run in the wet. 

A small tab allows you to view the forecast before you enter, so you’ll know what to expect before you hit the circuit. 

  • Races run for around 15 minutes 
  • Each features a five-minute qualifying that grants two flying laps
  • Cautions are switched off
  • Every session is set to a realistic weather forecast

What License Is Needed To Race

Both the Open and Fixed SK Modified fixtures require every driver to reach a D-Class oval racing license to take part.  

The best way to reach D-Level is to race in either the Street Stock rookie series or the Legends Cup rookie series. Completing clean races in either will soon grant you the safety rating needed to escape your rookie rating and reach D. With the Legends car being lighter than the Stock Car, the former is closer to the driving style of the SK Modified. 

  • If you feel you need to make a few alterations to your driving style before climbing behind the wheel of the SK Modified, why not check out Coach Dave Academy’s extensive Never Lift guide

Series Costing

With the SK Modified Series running purely on short ovals, newer iRacing members are in luck. A good chunk of the short ovals on the service are included with the base membership, so you won’t need to pay huge money to complete the entire calendar. 

Six of the 12 rounds of the 2024 Season 2 schedule will need to be purchased, which adds up to just under $72. When the SK Modified is added to the equation, this rises to $83.65. The final total would be in the region of $100 when the 20% tax is added on. 

Only eight rounds need to be completed to secure iRacing credits at the end of the season, so only two circuits would need to be purchased to make up the eight. 

What’s So Special?

Due to the lightweight and rather lazy throttle response of the SK Modified car, it’s one of the easier-accessible oval racing series on iRacing.  

This makes it great for those who want to focus on purely racing, rather than having to keep the car on the straight and narrow like those in higher-powered fixtures. The delayed throttle response from the small-block V8, combined with the strong grip from the rear tires, means you can get on the throttle earlier than you think. It’s key to optimize this to ensure you don’t get left behind under acceleration. 

As the tires on the SK Modified provide a lot of grip, it can be trickier to make the difference under braking or acceleration versus your rivals. This makes the series great for practicing consistency, as taking advantage of mistakes will be the best way to make up positions.  

  • If you want to practice your racecraft at the forefront of any race you enter, why not bolt on a setup tirelessly worked on by Coach Dave Academy’s expert engineers.

Tire conservation isn’t so critical

One of the best things about the SK Modified class is that you won’t need to concern yourself with the state of your front right tire as much, which normally takes a pounding on heavier oval racers. This means you can focus purely on the important stuff – going fast and finding a way past rivals. 

  • Using as much rear brake bias as possible is advised to help with turn-in
  • This should help with consistency over a race run, as the heavy V8 will tend to push the front on through the corner 
  • Overtaking can be tricky given the good amount of grip produced by rubber, so pressuring the driver in front into slight error could allow you to slip up the inside, or potentially get a better drive out of the corner to allow you to draw alongside
  • The same goes for defending, getting the car stopped and flowing through the corner will make it tough for chasing cars to get a run

The SK Modified Series is excellent for those who just want to jump in a high-powered oval car and send it, though if you want to move through the ranks you’ll need to ensure abusing the front-right tire doesn’t become a habit. 

  • Also, remember to download the free Coach Dave Delta app today to access the full range of setups to fight for supremacy whenever you hit the track! 

If you buy something from a Coach Dave link, we may earn a commission.

This post was written by
Do you know why your friends are faster?

Remove the mystery with Delta 3.0. The sim racing companion app that is your data, setup, lap time, and race engineer.

Discover League Racing on SimGrid

Tired of getting smashed to pieces in T1 of Public Lobbies? Join SimGrid and enjoy your Sim Racing again.

Subscribe to the Coach Dave. Join tens of thousands of subscribers who get the best of sim racing in their inbox every day.

Do you know why your friends are faster than you?

Remove the mystery and unlock lap time with Delta 3.5. The sim racing companion app that is your data, setup, lap time, and race engineer.

Related Posts

iRacing Guide: The Best Oval Cars To Buy in 2025
iRacing Guide: The Best Oval Cars To Buy in 2025
Here are the best oval cars to buy in 2025 according to Coach Dave Academy.
iRacing Guide: The Brand New BMW M2 CSR
iRacing Guide: The Brand New BMW M2 CSR
This new pocket rocket has entered the iRacing chat and we take an in-depth look at it for you.
iRacing Guide: Rookie Mini Stocks Explained
iRacing Guide: Rookie Mini Stocks Explained
Rookie Mini Stocks are here for you oval racing lovers. No setup work needed. Easy to thrash around. Easy to love.
iRacing Guide: SK Modified Weekly Series