Getting to know Road to Pro: Brandon McKissic

Editor’s Note: Over the next few weeks, we will be profiling and featuring drivers that can be seen on the Road to Pro Qualifying series broadcasts on the Podium eSports Twitch channel. We hope you enjoy reading these and learning about the drivers. This time we have sat down with Brandon McKissic. You can view all of our Getting to Know profiles on this page.

What was the first racing game you ever played?

The first racing game I got into was NASCAR 2011. I had been watching NASCAR since 2007 and jumped at the opportunity to play this game once I saw that it was available on the WII. 

When did you first discover iRacing and what got you hooked?

I discovered iRacing from a YouTube video in 2011. I then researched more about the sim and became hooked on watching lots of iRacing content on Twitch and YouTube. In 2013, I discovered a YouTuber named “RutgersKev,” and I would watch his NASCAR iRacing Series content weekly. This is the YouTuber who motivated me to join iRacing in May 2014.  

How did you get connected with your current team that’s assisting you in Road to Pro?

In 2020 and 2021, I raced Road to Pro with Nexxus eSports. In 2021, many of my teammates, including Tucker Minter, Dave Walsh, and Will Cline, were always willing to help me with tracks that I had struggled at in 2020, and as a result, I became a much-improved driver. This led to a successful Road to Pro campaign, as I won round 1, and later went on to make the contender series.

After four contender series races, I received the opportunity to join Legacy eSports. This team includes many people that I have worked with over the years, such as Dave Siltman and Garrett Lowe, and I knew that it would be a perfect opportunity to not only take my eNASCAR campaign to the next level, but to also reunite with several of my longtime friends.    

Who is your favorite race car driver? And why?

My current favorite race car driver is Chase Elliott. He was the driver who I began to root for after my previous favorite, Jeff Gordon, retired in 2015. I was impressed by Chase in the Xfinity series and knew that he would succeed at Hendrick Motorsports.  

If you could go to any racetrack and watch a race live, where would you want to go?

I would choose Auto Club Speedway. It is one of my favorite tracks on the schedule and I enjoy the type of racing it produces. A 1.5 or 2 miler with a worn-out surface is my favorite type of racing to watch in NASCAR, due to the challenges of managing tire falloff and the ability to race in multiple groves at high speeds.

What is a skill or talent that you have that not many people know about?

I did track and cross county all throughout middle and high school (2011-2018). I also always enjoy playing frisbee.

For anyone watching you race, who wants to end up where you are, what advice do you have for them?

Put emphasis not only on practicing, but the way you practice. Enter practice with a goal in mind and focus on improving what needs to be worked on. Over time, you will naturally find a comfort zone, and going through this process before each race begins to feel natural. Secondly, always have an open mind no matter how fast or slow you feel. To improve, you need to allow yourself to soak up information from friends and teammates who are trying to help you. In my opinion, this mentality ensures that you will continue to improve on the track, year after year. Thirdly, before joining a team, make sure that you will be a good fit. Comfortability with your surroundings will help you become more successful, while also keeping iRacing fun.

If you want to learn more about Daniel, you can follow him on Twitter by clicking here. You can watch Parker and others race in the Road to pro series on the Podium eSports Twitch Channel