User Story: Josh Edmundson, The Pro in Short Course Racing

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User Story: Josh Edmundson, The Pro in Short Course Racing

In the high-stakes world of short-course off-road racing, where every second is spent either 80 feet in the air or sliding sideways through a wall of virtual dust, experience is the only thing that keeps you on the track. For Josh Edmundson, that experience spans years of competing at the highest levels of the sport, earning him a reputation as one of the "OGs" of the short-course sim racing scene.

While Josh has been a professional force for years—battling for podiums in the inaugural iRacing Off-Road Championship and driving for elite teams like Jim Beaver eSports and Nitro Circus—his career entered a new chapter in 2023 when he integrated VR into his championship hunt.

  • July 2023: Josh secured a massive win at the Crandon Short during the iRacing Off-Road Championship Series using the Pimax Crystal.

  • September 2024: At the iRacing Short Course World Cup, Josh took P2 with Crystal Light.

  • December 2025: Josh dominated the rounds at Bark River, entering the iRacing Short Course World Finals as the points leader.

  • March 2026: Most recently, Josh took a commanding win in the iRacing Short Course Series Pro 4 (Round 3) at Wild West. While he missed one round of the season for a trip to Pastranaland (Travis Pastrana’s compound), his victory at Wild West officially locked him into the playoffs.


The Professional Edge

During an interview at CES 2026, Josh pulled back the curtain on the technical requirements of pro-level off-road racing. For a driver who has spent years on traditional setups, the shift to VR wasn't just about immersion, it was about reclaiming the natural instincts of a driver.

"VR is huge for off-road racing because you're sliding the trucks into the corner. Having that awareness of people next to you and being able to look out the side windows is a big advantage." — Josh Edmundson

  1. Beyond the Virtual Mirror

In the most competitive iRacing series, virtual mirrors are often disabled to mimic real-world truck racing. Josh explained that being able to physically turn his head to check his "blind spots" is a game-changer during door-to-door battles.

  1. Mastering the "Diamond" Line

Off-road racing requires a "diamonding" technique—squaring off corners by using the inside banking to rotate the truck. Josh credits the depth perception of his headset for allowing him to judge the banking of the dirt, which shifts and moves throughout the race. Without that 1:1 spatial sense, hitting those shifting apexes becomes a guessing game.

  1. Listening to the Limit

Josh also highlighted a "pro secret": audio. By turning up tire sounds in the sim, he uses the high-fidelity audio to "hear the slip" of his tires. This allows him to feel the limit of grip before the truck even begins to spin, an essential skill for managing the massive horsepower of a Pro 4 truck.

Follow the Playoff Hunt

As Josh Edmundson prepares for the championship playoffs, you can follow his journey and see his high-level driving in action on his official channels:

 

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