iRacing’s NASCAR 26: Everything We Know (So Far)
What’s Happening? Last year, iRacing Studios delivered the first multi-platform NASCAR console game since 2021. But just as fast as NASCAR…
This week, NASCAR 26 took center stage. With the three NASCAR National Series taking the week off, and after months of waiting, iRacing Studios finally released a gameplay trailer for the second game in its NASCAR console-game series
Of course, the trailer, which sat at only 57 seconds in length, had its moments that helped add to the anticipation of NASCAR 26’s September launch. But the community wasn’t entirely complimentary of what iRacing had to present.
The Small Details
Much like last season, players thought the game looked great and at times even better, with not too many details, such as the flaps opening on Josh Berry’s No. 21 car when it spun during the trailer.
Now, NASCAR 25 looked better than the last batch of NASCAR console games when it came out (as it should have), but for players worrying that iRacing was not focused on continuing to shave down the fine details, things are shaping up to be solid in 2026.
New Features
Of course, there were new features announced as well, such as the trophy room and the game’s Chase Mode. Though these are small, they are fun additions that have been missing from some of the sport’s more recent titles.
Still, announcing all these features through an extremely fast montage definitely did not please anybody.
Focus on Longevity
Speaking on continuing to improve the game each year, as is the case with almost any sports game nowadays, some players were worried from the start that iRacing’s series would become “Madden-fied,” where it is merely a reskin of the same game each year.
This was something iRacing addressed in their first Dev Diary for NASCAR 26, and it looks like they are touching up some things.
For one, the trailer made note of many fixes, including some to track limits on road courses, a more realistic version of COTA’s short layout, and DNFs are welcome surprises. Each of these, specifically the first and the last, was a major problem players had with NASCAR 25.
Split Screen Multiplayer
For NASCAR fans who have played the games through all of their rights transitions, one of the fondest memories in NASCAR gaming is having the ability to play local or split-screen multiplayer.
This feature existed throughout the bulk of past NASCAR games and even featured in the Heat Series of releases on PS4, but did not make its way to NASCAR 25.
Much like last year, the lack thereof, at least for the time being, is an actual deal breaker. It doesn’t matter what form of social media you go to for the gameplay trailer; there is a growing movement for the feature to be added to the series.
Lack of New Career Features
One key reaction from some online users was that while the trailer was focused on gameplay, it did make mention of career mode additions like Team Facility Upgrades, Door Bumper Clear, and All-new Race Shops.
With a focus on how the game actually plays, the trailer did little to quell fears that stemmed from issues with NASCAR 25’s career mode, especially given the fact that career mode was not entirely ignored in the trailer.
It’s no secret that there are many things that players would like to see fixed in career mode from year to year. Furthermore, there are features from games over 20 years old, like Silly Season transfers, that could realistically not be in NASCAR 26, as they were not in NASCAR 25.
For now, most are hoping there is more to come on this front, while others have already given up hope on their requested improvements from NASCAR 25.
The Unknown
If you were to dig through the comments section of this trailer, the phrase “I hope” or “holding out” will likely come up a lot. With a 57-second run-time, there likely wasn’t that much space to fit every new detail in.
The players commenting on this (much like those worried about career mode) are still holding out that something will be addressed in future Dev Diary episodes, or even some trailers of their own.
Among the list of things that fans are worried about is AI strategy, specifically pit strategy and racing, and on a much larger note, online.
Online was a major talking point in the community last year, with some agreeing that the lobby system was a drag on the online racing experience. While iRacing has announced the addition of crossplay, there are still those wishing for a matchmaking system to create online races.
The Standard Edition of NASCAR 26 is set to launch on September 18, though players who buy the Gold Edition will have 72 hours of early access beginning on September 15. Until then, fans expect more to come from iRacing about their next game.
For more on NASCAR 26, make sure to check out the story linked below.
What’s Happening? Last year, iRacing Studios delivered the first multi-platform NASCAR console game since 2021. But just as fast as NASCAR…
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