Lightning-fast colors and outlaw logos have always been part of NASCAR’s soul, and nowhere is that legacy more obvious than in the sport’s storied paint jobs. Colorful conflicts define the sport’s history, like the legendary negotiations between Richard Petty and STP in 1972, where Petty famously compromised “Petty Blue” on his signature for Day-Glo Red.

NASCAR’s own galleries and longform pieces catalogue how schemes like the Quicksilver Goodwrench special or STP’s flaming reds. That reverence for authenticity is precisely why the launch of NASCAR 25 carried heavyweight anticipation inside the garage.

iRacing’s console project has been framed as a simulation-level return to form, with Cup drivers invited to test builds and offer feedback. Noah Gragson publicly tweeted, “I gotta say, impressed is an understatement! It is a true racing game with good physics…This game will revive nascar console gaming. I’m so hyped!” This helped fuel fan expectations that the game would capture both the look and the feel of modern Cup racing.

However, one sudden twist has all NASCAR fans in a twist. JR Motorsports recently revealed on X, “We made our Cup debut in February. Now, you can drive the No. 40 Chevrolet across the entire Cup Series schedule in @Nascar25Game. 👀” This seemingly celebratory message quickly became the main angle for censorship scrutiny.

The No. 40 Chevrolet’s Cup debut in February 2025 was driven by Xfinity Series veteran Justin Allgaier at the Daytona 500 for JRM and was sponsored by Traveller Whiskey, linking the on-track spectacle and in-game access unmistakably, only to leave players disappointed with the new censorship laws, removing the literal trademark associated with the iconic car.

Simulation platforms and publishers have long drawn a line around certain sponsor categories, and iRacing’s public policies make that boundary explicit. The iRacing paint scheme and Terms/EULA documentation enlist, “Your Paint Schemes may not be indecent, libelous, defamatory, obscene, threatening, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, abusive, illegal, harassing; contain expressions of hatred, bigotry, racism or pornography, promote or otherwise refer to tobacco products, alcohol or illicit drugs, constitute or encourage a criminal offense, or otherwise objectionable. Political content is strictly forbidden.” 

This helps explain the outcry when a much-talked-about car shows up in a game, but its real-world branding does now. Fans noticed and then exploded. Some wanted the exact Traveller Whiskey aesthetic, while others suggested cheeky substitutes.

Fand flood social media with outrage and humor after NASCAR 25’s latest announcement

One fan wrote, “Maybe one day @iRacing can alter their paint scheme policy to include alcohol schemes with an age verification system.” This cutoff has long fueled simmering requests from gamers and motorsport fans alike, as a chorus of people asked for an age-verification toggle so adults could access authentic liveries while younger players saw an altered version.

Another added to that sentiment, saying, “Not the same without the traveller brand. Hate the restrictions.” Traveller Whiskey was not just a sponsor slapped on a car, but a talking point, a marketing tool, and a bold gambit for crossover appeal. JRM‘s official gallery highlights multiple angles of the No. 40 in its full Traveller branding before any censorship, showing how integral the logos and color gradients were to its identity.

While others were busy scrutinizing every digital detail, one comment cut through the chatter, “Since we couldn’t get the original whiskey scheme, should have just put @Jerkyboys_jerky on the car. We need great scheme for the worlds best jerky.” The humor echoes a long NASCAR tradition of wild schemes being fan-favorites. It also taps into Dale Jr.‘s actual connection with the Jerky Boys, as JR invested in the brand and often praised its product publicly.

Another jokingly commented, “Gonna drown my sorrows with a bottle of JR Motorsports,” adding to a previous comment, suggesting, “either make the scheme right or dont include it at all.” The absence of the sponsor logo takes the actual fun out of the realistic racing that was promised to the players. It also has fans joking that instead of logos, the game might print “TBD” or “CENSORED” where sponsors once stood, as though the missing paint schemes have left them parched for authenticity.

In the end, even if the whiskey’s gone from the paint, the fire in NASCAR fans’ hearts clearly hasn’t faded one bit.