What Nascar 25 Is—and Why It Matters

Nascar 25 is the first official NASCAR console game in years and the first made by iRacing Studios, the team behind the long-running, subscription PC sim. It launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on October 14, 2025, with **Windows/Steam slated for November 11, 2025. The console versions are a traditional buy-once package; no subscription required.

iRacing’s pedigree shows up where it counts: physics, track fidelity, and racecraft. Official materials and early coverage emphasize laser-scanned circuits, multiple national series (Cup, Xfinity, Trucks), and a full-day-at-the-track presentation.

Curious how Nascar 25 feels on a controller vs. wheel in real life? I share short setup notes and clips in my race-day Telegram notes—join in here.

The Drive: Fast, Fierce, and (Mostly) Faithful

Lines, pace, and patience

Oval racing lives and dies on air and angles. The game makes lane choice—bottom, mid, high—feel consequential from superspeedways to short tracks. AI fields generally hold lines, swap lanes wisely, and draft credibly, creating long, tense runs rather than demolition derbies. Reviewers and guides consistently praise the AI slider and tuning options that let you match the pack to your speed.

Controllers vs. wheels

Nascar 25 is tuned to be welcoming on a controller, with assists and a simple tight-to-loose setup slider to keep you on the edge without needing a race engineer’s notebook. Wheel users get the richer feel you’d expect from iRacing DNA, bolstered by the laser-scanned surfaces that transmit each track’s quirks.

Career Mode: A Clean, Workmanlike Build

From rookie haulers to Cup contenders

Career mode threads a familiar loop—budget, repairs, reputation—across multiple series. It’s substantial rather than flashy: enough systems to reward smart progression but short of F1-style theatrics. That restraint will suit players who want to race more than role-play.

Liveries and identity

There’s a modern paint/livery editor and team identity hooks, though some critics find it undercooked beside genre leaders. If custom cars are your thing, expect iterative updates rather than day-one perfection.

Multiplayer: Smooth Netcode, Light Feature Set

Online stability is solid—no surprise from the studio that runs daily races at global scale—but Nascar 25’s console lobbies are intentionally simple at launch. If you’re seeking the scheduled series, safety ratings, and governance of the iRacing service proper, that still lives on PC. This package is more “jump-in-and-race” than “live ops league.”

Is Nascar 25 “Like iRacing”?

Short answer: partly. It shares physics sensibilities, laser-scanned tracks, and a respect for racecraft. But Nascar 25 is a standalone console game with a self-contained career, a one-time price, and streamlined online, not a subscription-run ecosystem with safety licensing and 24/7 scheduled splits. If you’ve always wanted iRacing-flavored NASCAR without the PC commitment or a monthly bill, this is it; if you crave organized leagues with stewarding, you’ll still prefer the original service.

What Car Is NASCAR Using in 2025?

The NASCAR Cup Series continues with the “Next Gen” (Gen-7) car platform introduced in 2022. In 2025, the manufacturer bodies are:

• Chevrolet ZL1 (with Camaro road-car production ended, 2025 branding emphasizes ZL1/Chevrolet),
• Ford Mustang Dark Horse (introduced for 2024 and carried forward), and
• Toyota Camry XSE (also new for 2024 and continuing).

Game models in Nascar 25 mirror the current Cup/Xfinity/Truck specs and rosters, which is part of the sim’s appeal—modern cars, current tracks, current stars.

Why Did EA Stop Making NASCAR Games?

EA Sports’ NASCAR series ended after 2009’s NASCAR Kart Racing, with reporting pointing to budget cuts and the expiration of EA’s NASCAR license. After that, licensing changed hands and eventually, in 2023, iRacing acquired the NASCAR console rights—setting the stage for Nascar 25.

Buying Advice: Who Will Love It (and Who Should Wait)

You’ll love it if…

• You want credible, offline NASCAR. The AI difficulty and behavior knobs make single-player sticky and satisfying.
• You prefer console convenience with iRacing-tinged handling. No PC rig, no subscription.

You might wait if…

• You want league-style online with schedules, licenses, and penalty systems—iRacing (the service) still does that better today.
• You live for ultra-deep career theatrics or exhaustive livery tools—good now, likely to grow with patches.

Final take

Written the way I’d file it for a weekend print edition: Nascar 25 is the most convincing official NASCAR game in two decades—not because it chases spectacle, but because it respects the discipline. The physics are persuasive, the AI can be tailored to your tempo, and the career loop keeps you turning laps. The online suite is barebones, and the livery/career dressing could use a coat of gloss. But as a console-first, single-purchase way to experience modern stock-car racing with iRacing DNA, it’s a winner on points.

Want weekly patch tips, AI slider sweet spots, and track-by-track lines? Tap into the garage chat on Telegram here—its where I post quick updates first.

FAQ

Is NASCAR 25 going to be like iRacing?

In feel and track fidelity, yes. In structure, no. Nascar 25 is a standalone console sim with career mode and simple lobbies; iRacing remains a subscription service with scheduled races, licenses, and a deeper online ecosystem.

Why did EA stop making NASCAR?

EA ended its NASCAR line after 2009, citing budget constraints and license expiration; the rights later moved, and iRacing now holds them for 2025’s console entry.

What car is NASCAR using in 2025?

The Next Gen Cup car platform with Chevy ZL1, Ford Mustang Dark Horse, and Toyota Camry XSE bodies.