This thread seems to be quite the honeypot for bots.
In reality, I would say that videogames close to a race are usually a negative thing. Watching a a TV show, browsing social media, etc are relatively mindless activities. You can do them one moment and forget about them a moment later since you don't have to use your brain. Playing some sort of game on your phone or on a Wii-U might require repeated precise inputs.
I have found that some games are definitely no-go's before a race because of the Tetris Effect. This basically means that you continue to visualize playing the game and the ideal moves even when you aren't playing. You might end up midway through your race and realize that you are playing the game in your head rather than racing. I get that issue playing things like Tetris, Minesweeper, Bejeweled and the like.