Short answer
Yes, if you mainly want to race NASCAR and you’re after the best oval racer on console. No, if you’re buying it for the visuals. The graphics are better than last year’s, but not good enough to carry the game, and that’s where the criticism comes from.
Honest disclaimer first: I haven’t played NASCAR 26 myself. This piece is built on iRacing’s own announcements, the Steam page and the first reviews. No test laps of my own, but an opinion all the same.
What exactly is NASCAR 26?
NASCAR 26 is a standalone racing game from iRacing Studios, not an add-on to the iRacing.com subscription. On Steam it’s listed as “iRacing® Studios NASCAR 26” (Steam). Lots of sim racers say ‘iRacing’ and mean the subscription sim. That’s not what this is. You buy it once, like any other game.
The facts:
- Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-platform multiplayer.
- Release: Gold Edition owners got early access on September 15, 2026, and the Standard Edition launched on September 18 (iRacing.com).
- Price: iRacing lists $59.99 for the Standard Edition and $79.99 for the Gold Edition with the Season Pass (iRacing.com). In Europe, Steam listed it at €61.99 and €80.99 at the time of writing. Check the current price yourself, as it varies by store and region.
- Content: four series (Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Craftsman Truck and ARCA), a new standalone mode built around The Chase, a training mode and ‘dynamic track’, where grip changes over a race weekend.
This is attempt number two
NASCAR 26 is iRacing Studios’ second NASCAR console game. NASCAR 25 came out on consoles in October 2025 and on PC a month later (Wikipedia). It got mixed reviews, and even before launch fans complained about missing tracks and questionable graphics (EssentiallySports). No surprise, then, that OverTake titled its first look at the new one “iRacing Studios’ Second Attempt” (OverTake, YouTube).
For NASCAR 26, iRacing promises improved graphics, skies and dynamic lighting, better replay cameras, a new particle system for smoke and debris, and an overhauled tire and braking model (iRacing.com). That’s marketing. What do the reviews say?
So what’s wrong with the graphics?
Traxion gave NASCAR 26 a 7 out of 10 and is the most specific (Traxion). The good: lighting is clearly better, especially with a low sun. The bad:
- smoke that triggers far too easily;
- trackside detail popping into view;
- shadows that seem to run ahead of the car;
- an odd shimmer between the cars and the road;
- no photo mode and little visible damage.
Bleacher Report is kinder and mainly sees obvious upgrades to the skies and the smoke (Bleacher Report). My read: progress, not a leap. If you expect the visuals of a modern AAA racer, you’ll be disappointed.
And the driving?
That matters more, if you ask me. After an hour you stop noticing the graphics. How the car behaves in the draft and on the banking, you feel every lap.
The reviews are split here too. Bleacher Report finds the game tougher but more realistic and rewarding, thanks to the new tire and braking model and the dynamic track. Traxion calls the handling fairly benign, with a lot of understeer. It praises the AI for using multiple grooves and bump drafting, but also flags odd AI lap times and tire wear that gives fresh rubber an unrealistic advantage. Traxion calls it unquestionably the best NASCAR game of the last decade, yet sums it up as: “Good enough, but we expected more.” And no, it’s not iRacing on console, Traxion writes. It’s easy enough to tame with a controller, but in their view a wheel is the best way to play it.
Who is it for?
| Situation | My advice |
|---|---|
| You want NASCAR on PS5 or Xbox without a subscription | Buy it. Traxion calls it the best NASCAR game in ten years |
| You’re buying mainly for the graphics | Skip it, or wait for a sale |
| You already race NASCAR on iRacing.com | Doubtful. This is a separate game, not iRacing content, and it isn’t iRacing on console |
| You had NASCAR 25 and didn’t like it | Watch some gameplay first. It’s better, but not on another level |
On the fence on PC? Steam usually refunds a game if you ask within 14 days of purchase and have played less than 2 hours (Steam). That’s enough to find out whether the driving works for you.
Hardware that matters more than the graphics
How a racing game feels depends heavily on your wheel and pedals. Do check that NASCAR 26 properly recognizes your hardware, because I couldn’t find a complete official compatibility list.
On PS5. You need a wheel that works on PlayStation, such as the Logitech G RS50 System, a direct drive set for PlayStation and PC.
On PC. More choice there. The Simucube 2 Pro delivers 25 Nm, the Simucube 2 Ultimate 32 Nm. Both need a rigid aluminum rig, and neither works on console. For pedals, the Heusinkveld Sprint 2-pedal set is a strong choice: 120 kg load cell, six brake resistance settings, no clutch, Windows only. You brake less on ovals than on road courses, but a precise brake into the corner is still worth a lot.
Screen. A fast screen makes high speeds look smoother. The AOC G4 C24G42E is a 23.6-inch VA screen with 180 Hz and 0.5 ms MPRT, for not much money. Not top image quality, and per AOC it only tilts, but for smooth motion it does the job.
So, should you buy it?
NASCAR 26 is the best NASCAR game in ten years according to Traxion, but that bar wasn’t very high. The graphics are better, with some distracting glitches here and there. If you love racing NASCAR on console, I’d just buy it. On PC and already have iRacing? Then I’d rather put the money toward a better brake.
