Before the launch of NASCAR 25, fan sentiment was anything but universally positive. Fans voiced frustration over what they saw as delayed footage, missing tracks, and questionable driver ratings. One article, even titled “Fans lose faith in NASCAR 25 just a month before release,” pointed to discontent about the silence from developers and unclear features.

On Reddit and forums, players highlighted issues such as wheel-force feedback problems, track-limit penalties, and game crashes during early access, suggesting that the project might already be heading into release with unfinished elements. But cut to the chase, and the tables have turned with 200,000 units sold.

NASCAR 25 roars past doubts

After a two-year uphill climb in development, iRacing Studios dropped its new console version on October 14, 2025 (for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S). Within a month, the numbers show the gamble may already be paying off. According to the official article on Jayski, “Not including its launch on PC earlier this week, roughly 200,000 copies of ‘NASCAR 25’ have been sold through PlayStation and Xbox users.”

From the horse’s mouth, iRacing’s longtime executive vice-president Steve Myers told Jayski: “We needed to do something like that to have it be a success. Nowadays, with what you’re spending to make these games, it’s a tough road.”

He acknowledged how formidable modern console racing-game development has become. His message: not even just for the sim-crowd anymore, this is about broad appeal, brand profiling, and building a long-term platform, not a one-off launch.

The numbers help prove the point.

Industry tracker GameDiscoverCo estimated the game sold around 52,200 units on PlayStation (ranking ninth among new releases in October) and about 60,200 on Xbox (fourth among new releases). Being one of the only sports games to crack the top 10 on both major consoles is a big deal, especially given how crowded the sports-game field is with franchises like EA’s Madden, NBA 2K, and FIFA. Meanwhile, Sports Business Journal noted that NASCAR 25 “topped 100,000 units sold on console in the first weeks” and made serious headway.

Part of what makes this launch so noteworthy is the backstory.

iRacing is traditionally known for ultra-serious simulation, the sort of product real-life racers use, not necessarily the casual console crowd. Yet this new title straddles those lines.

The game features 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney, rising stars William Byron and Christopher Bell as cover athletes. It includes all four national NASCAR series (Cup, Xfinity, Craftsman Truck, ARCA) right out of the gate.

That breadth of content shows iRacing is leaning beyond its “driving-wheel serious” roots and aiming for wider accessibility. Looking ahead, the most interesting part is what this could mean for NASCAR gaming and for iRacing’s ambitions.

Myers noted the development timeline was actually quite compressed by industry standards: about two years. Having much of the content (tracks, cars) already built into iRacing’s simulation platform allowed them to accelerate development.

Meanwhile, the launch coincides with NASCAR’s evolution, including new tracks, formats, and media consumption, making a game like this a tool for fan engagement and brand extension. For players and fans alike, the message is clear.

NASCAR is back in the gaming conversation.

Whether or not every gamer loves the simulation-style handling or the career-mode depth, this launch resets expectations for stock-car gaming. The big test now will be retention, updates, and how the next installment performs. For now, the console-release success of NASCAR 25 is a win for NASCAR, for iRacing, and, perhaps, for racing-game fans who’ve been waiting for something fresh.

Meanwhile, the real-world series keeps the buzz going by tinkering with its own big-picture changes

Championship format hangs in the balance

NASCAR has not yet disclosed details of its new championship format, as final decisions are pending. But one aspect is confirmed. The 2025 season was the last to use the playoff format that culminates in a ‘final four’ chasing the championship in a one-race, best-finisher-take-all season finale. The one that was in use from 2014 to 2025.All sorts of ideas were rapidly passed back and forth over the past year by industry influencers, including Hall of Famers, drivers, broadcasters, television executives, media, and owners. Finally, on Tuesday, NASCAR’s managing director of racing communications, Mike Forde, shared an update on the process on his Hauler Talk podcast.

“Where it stands right now… I don’t think the playoff committee is going to meet again. I think we have gotten all the feedback that we needed from them. Awesome job, by the way, from the playoff committee. … Now, it’s in NASCAR’s hands,” Forde shared.

“They’re going to take all the feedback they got from every walk of life and every thought on the spectrum from no playoffs whatsoever to keeping it how it is and really beating that all up. They are announcements to come.”

“We clearly want to make sure that we have been very thorough on this one. Obviously, it will be before Feb. 5 in The Clash, but it could be sooner than later; it could be in January. Still discussions to be had on where we are in the discussion of the playoff format. I think we feel good about the directions and the possibilities here because of the playoff committee and the work that they’ve done and the feedback we got from the industry.”

Kyle Larson won his second championship on November 2 at Phoenix Raceway, his second in five years. This came in a season where he scored the most points of anyone in the Cup Series. But it was only during overtime that he won the championship. The race was dominated by Denny Hamlin. Yet, he lost because of a William Byron blown tire and the results of the ensuing pit stop decision and restart.

The decision to move away from this championship format was made before the weekend. But this particular race and how the format denied 10-race Xfinity Series winner Connor Zilisch the championship only proved how the fanbase largely felt about it.

It’s a fitting parallel to the game’s turnaround, where early glitches give way to polished play. As iRacing tunes its virtual tracks for broader appeal, NASCAR fine-tunes its playoffs to reward the full grind, not just one chaotic lap. Whatever lands for 2026, it’ll shape the stories fans chase, both on screen and in the stands.

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