Last July, Motorsport Games Inc. dropped the NASCAR Heat 5: Next Gen Car Update. The update gave gaming fans a thrilling shot at driving the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series lineup, featuring the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Ford Mustang GT, and Toyota Camry TRD Next Gen cars. Decked out in their real-deal paint jobs and full team rosters, these rides were a blast to take for a spin. Available for download on Steam, Xbox Store, and PlayStation Store, this update had gamers buckled up for some high-octane fun.

But, the party might be over—rumor has it, this could be the end of the road for racing these next-gen cars in the game, according to some player buzz.

Is the checkered flag waving for NASCAR’s iRacing games?

Back in October, iRacing scooped up an exclusive license for NASCAR’s simulation-style console games from Motorsport Games Inc. The deal transferred the rights from 704Games, a part of Motorsport Games, straight to iRacing, which also planned to roll out a brand-new NASCAR console game by 2025. The move looked to beef up iRacing’s already strong NASCAR connection that’s been running strong for over a decade.

But before the gamers could even see what 2025 had in store, it looked like the existing games might have hit a major block. Players have been lighting up Twitter with updates that the “NASCAR Heat 5 servers are officially down for both Xbox and PlayStation.“ To add to the chaos, there are also whispers like “Hearing reports that NASCAR 21 servers are down, NASCAR Heat+ Servers are down, NASCAR Rivals Servers are down.“ It seems gamers are parked at the pit stop for now!

iRacing kicked off its partnership with NASCAR back in 2010 by launching a licensed sim-racing game, and over the years, it’s become a crucial player as NASCAR’s “official simulation partner.” Every day, thousands join in on the action, from late models to Cup cars, across various NASCAR official series on iRacing. Highlights include the $100,000-to-win eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, which was a hit during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Back in 2018, Motorsport Games stepped into the scene, acquiring the NASCAR simulation-style console gaming license when it took over 704Games. Their lineup has included fan favorites like NASCAR Heat 5 and NASCAR Rivals. Besides console gaming, NASCAR has been all-in on creating top-notch virtual experiences for fans. Last year alone, they launched the NASCAR Speed Hub on Roblox, rolled out the arcade-style NASCAR Arcade Rush, added team decals to Rocket League, kicked off a mobile game development with Hutch, and wrapped up another action-packed season of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series.

However, with the recent hiccup of all servers crashing at once, fans are biting their nails, fearing that this might spell the end of iRacing’s run.

Fans are starting to sweat over the fate of iRacing

Even though Motorsport Games’ NASCAR titles weren’t exactly a hit because of their graphics and gameplay, iRacing enthusiasts still had a blast with the games. However, last October threw everyone for a loop when Motorsport Games hinted they were running low on funds and might even transfer the license.

Now, with game servers crashing left and right, the fanbase is buzzing with worry. Comments have been flooding in like, “I think it’s over…” and others expressing frustration, “Gonna be so disappointed if it’s down for good, just started to get my friends into nascar playing it😩” or “Both platforms and both switch games are done,” and even “I restarted mine, and it went thru, now it just shows no races and no racers online“

One fan got caught mid-race when the server crashed: “I was in the middle of a race…. Like there is ZERO racing games to play now that are worth anything.“ Another shared his frustration about wasting money on a gaming subscription, “Damn it I just bought a fucking Xbox live 3 month card. At least I have madden 23 and the 2022 outlaws game.”

It might not look like a big deal, but losing iRacing would hit hard, not just for the gaming community but for aspiring drivers too. iRacing has been a stepping stone into the real NASCAR world for some. Take William Byron, who leveraged his iRacing skills into a NASCAR Cup Series seat, or Rajah Caruth, who sharpened his driving chops online before catching the eye of NASCAR development programs.

If these games really go offline for good, it’s not just a loss of entertainment—it will be a setback for fans and budding racers dreaming of their big break.