A.E. Engine and Out of the Groove Team Up to Uncover the “Legend of Groovy Hollow”

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A.E. Engine and Out of the Groove are proud to announce their partnership on the Legend of Groovy Hollow. Coming to Out of the Groove’s YouTube channel on October 27, Eric Estepp and other creators in the community will uncover the legendary Groovy Hollow racetrack in an exciting once-in-a-century iRacing esports event culminating with the reveal of the mysterious driver of the Halloween Machine.

Groovy Hollow (www.groovyhollowraceway.com ) is a competitive online iRacing event featuring 30 drivers from around the community benefiting Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program.

The car paint schemes recognize some of A.E. Engine’s motorsports clients, and feature custom designs for each sponsor. Drivers are competing for more than $2,000 in cash and prizes, and all proceeds of the event will benefit Extra Life. Viewers are also encouraged to donate, and contests for viewers in the live chat will take place throughout the broadcast.

“I’m thrilled to work with A.E. Engine and Podium eSports to make the Legend of Groovy Hollow a reality,” said Eric Estepp of Out of the Groove. “It’s even more exciting to be raising money for children in need through Extra Life. We’ve had a ton of fun theming this event for the Halloween season, and I hope fans tuning in enjoy the spooky festivities!”

The special Halloween event will recreate the fictional “Groovy Hollow Raceway” in iRacing, and feature a 200 lap race in Xfinity Series race cars, all racing under spooky Halloween-themed conditions. The race will also feature an appearance by the mysterious driver of the Halloween Machine.

In what may be a first in NASCAR, the Mystery Driver will debut the virtual Halloween Machine on YouTube on Wednesday night during the Groovy Hollow 200 and then race the identical paint scheme live on the track in the Dead on Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday at 6 p.m. The race will be broadcast on NBCSN/NBC Sports app.

“We are excited to bring the fictitious Groovy Hollow Raceway and the Halloween Machine to life for fans,” said Craig Baroncelli of A.E. Engine. “To see the A.E. Engine and Out of the Groove teams — plus our extended family of content creators and partners — work together to build out this storyline over the last two months has been inspiring.”

“Thousands of hours have been poured into this project with a common commitment to help our charitable partner, Extra Life, and also the desire to produce 30 slick customized paint schemes for some of our 2021 partners. They are both the force behind our effort.”

Thirty drivers will race in the inaugural Groovy Hollow 200. Twenty-seven of the drivers were determined via iRacing qualifying events. The race will feature three VIP drivers: Jordan Anderson, NASCAR Xfinity, and Truck Series owner and driver, Spencer Boyd, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, and the Mystery Driver, who will drive the No. 31 Halloween Machine. The Mystery Driver will be unveiled during the race.

The Legend of Groovy Hollow premieres October 27 at 7pm EST, and will feature a fun Halloween-themed pre-show. The entire series will be produced by Podium eSports, and will broadcast live on Eric Estepp’s Out of the Groove channel, the No. 1 NASCAR content creator on YouTube. The show will feature expert esports commentary from the broadcast team at Podium eSports, as well as some surprise guests along the way!

For more information, visit the Groovy Hollow Raceway website, and view the trailer HERE on Eric Estepp’s Out of the Groove YouTube Channel.

Fast Facts on the Legend of Groovy Hollow

Website: www.groovyhollow.com
Premieres October 27, 2021
Channels: YouTube.com/EricEstepp, Twitch.tv/PodiumEsports
Pre-race at 7 p.m. EST, Green Flag at 7:30 p.m. EST
30 drivers selected from the best of the iRacing Community
Over $2,000 in cash and prizes for the drivers
All proceeds go to benefit Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program
Features the reveal of the Halloween Machine, set to debut in the Dead on Tools 250 Xfinity race at Martinsville on October 30
Produced by Podium eSports and featuring all-new paint scheme designs from Max Grafix
Host: Eric Estepp, Out of the Groove
Broadcasters: Podium eSports
Producer: Robbie Clavey

About the Stakeholders

A.E. Engine

Founded in 2005 by publishing and marketing executives, A.E. Engine has earned a reputation for creating quality, impact publications, digital media, websites and events. They specialize in delivering premium quality content to the most core, passionate fans in sports. www.ae-engine.com

Out of the Groove

Out of the Groove is the No. 1 NASCAR News and Talk Show on YouTube. With fresh episodes produced five times weekly, Eric’s audience — the Groovy Gang — tunes in daily not only to stay up to speed with the sport, but also to be a part of the spirited and fun online conversation.

Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program

Extra Life is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraising program that empowers the gaming community to make a difference in the lives of local kids. Participants fundraise year-round including a 24-hour gaming marathon, an annual gaming tournament in early spring, and a weekend of tabletop gaming.

Podium eSports

Podium eSports is the industry leader in NASCAR iRacing broadcasting, producing the Replacements 100 and eTruck Series Night in America Rumble at Richmond Raceway. Podium eSports aims to move sim racing beyond the current model of leagues and broadcasters and help realize sim racing’s full potential in the world of esports.

Danny O'Donnell

Danny co-founded Cowboy Lifestyle Network (CLN), now a western media powerhouse with over 4 million fans. CLN’s success reflects his deep understanding of the western community—not just its spirit, but its economic heartbeat—connecting businesses, events, and enthusiasts in a thriving industry. With this massive reach, Danny has become a trusted voice on rodeo culture, horse care, and Western traditions, covering events from the Houston Livestock Show to the Super Bowl Party Trophy Bar. His journey to building this platform began in Arizona, where he spent eight years in Pinal County’s 4-H program, learning ranching by caring for lambs and getting to know the land like an old friend. At Arizona State University, Danny shone as a two-time "All American" diver and team captain, graduating with a business degree that sparked his entrepreneurial drive. After a decade in corporate management sharpening his leadership skills, he launched CLN. "Giving back has always mattered to me," Danny shares. His support for Horses Help, Harris Brothers Charity Foundation, and a 25-year CLN Christmas Toy Drive proves it, building community trust through action.