Josh Wise’s Reddit-sponsored Dogecoin car was quite the sensation at the Talladega Superspeedway this year. The cryptocurrency labeled No. 98 Ford Fusion was so popular, that it will be featured in this year’s racing simulator, NASCAR ’14.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the now infamous Doge Car, let’s rewind for a moment. Earlier this year, Reddit user Denis Pavel noticed that professional racer Josh Wise’s black Ford Fusion was lacking a sponsor. At the time, his car was black, with no emblems other than the 98 on the sides. After seeing this, Pavel took to the subreddit r/NASCAR in hopes to raise money for Wise, and give him a sponsor. Doing so would also allow Wise to race in the Aaron’s 499 race at Talladega Superspeedway. In just under a week, the r/NASCAR community raised 67 million in Dogecoins- a cryptocurrency named after the silly “Doge” meme- or roughly $55,000. The raised amount would cover the cost of a full wrap decal over the car, and sponsorship in the Aaron’s 499 race.
Reddit also helped to send the Jamaican bobsled team back to the Sochi Winter Olympics, as between crowdfunding and Dogecoins, the Jamaica Olympic Association raised approximately $93,000.
While the sponsorship was supposed to be a one-off deal, Josh Wise and the Dogecar returned once again last night, as the car was present in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte. According to CNN, the tour won’t stop there, as Wise’s famous No. 98 will be added to NASCAR ’14 as part of an upcoming DLC pack. Apparently, the process has been underway for some time, as according to developer Eutechnyx’s Twitter feed, the NASCAR ’14 creators have just been “waiting on a confirmation” before it becomes an official part of the digital roster.