Ask any old NASCAR fan about their favorite racing game of all time, and you'll get one of three answers: NASCAR 2003, Dirt to Daytona, or NASCAR Thunder 2004. Now that NASCAR 25 has been in our hands for a few days following its recent launch, we're seeing the developers behind all three of those legendary titles recapturing the early 2000s magic.
My personal verdict so far? This title is exactly what NASCAR gaming needed after more than four years without a game being released. This also isn't just any other annual racing game release either, rather, it's a full-circle moment for the title and the genre as a whole.
iRacing, which is known for its sim racing platform, has assembled what can only be described as the Avengers of NASCAR game devs. They've got the original Papyrus team that created NASCAR 2003, the Monster Games crew behind Dirt to Daytona, and three lead designers from EA Sports' NASCAR Thunder series all working under one roof.
The All-Star Dev Team Behind NASCAR 25
The story of how this dream team came together reads to me like something out of the Moneyball movie starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. iRacing acquired Monster Games back in January 2022 to bring Rich Garcia, the creator of Dirt to Daytona, into the fold. Garcia had actually started designing a NASCAR game before they even had the NASCAR license, and he was working on sheer faith alone that the opportunity would come, and here we are.
Nick Rend, NASCAR's vice president for Interactive and Emerging Platforms, called it a "dream team" of devs who know both the sport and the genre inside out. But what makes this even more impressive is the scale.
While NASCAR 2003 had about 20 people working on it in total, NASCAR 25 employed more than 100 artists just for track details alone. At certain points, as many as 150 people were working on this game. It truly is a massive undertaking worthy of the legacy it's trying to honor and the future it's trying to define.
Laser-Scanning Tech Makes NASCAR 25 Look and Feel More Realistic
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This is where things get really interesting. For the first time in NASCAR game history, every track has been laser-scanned to create exact replicas of the real-world surfaces. We're not talking about Google Maps or track photos here, but a more precise tech that's able to let us experience every hill, bump, and elevation change as they exist in real life.
In the words of Greg Hill, executive vice president and producer for iRacing, "With many racing titles, they just kind of piece it together and generalize this world that approximates a Daytona, Indianapolis, or Richmond. But with this, everything is exactly the right size and in the right place."
That's what we've all wanted to hear, but it doesn't end there. NASCAR 25 features dynamic track surfaces where "rubber buildup" affects handling throughout races, just like in the real world. It's this kind of authenticity that we've always been excited about, and NASCAR 25 finally delivers.
Career Mode Delivers Decades of Racing with Branching Storylines
The career mode in NASCAR 25 isn't limited to just participating in races. Instead, it's about building a racing empire over multiple decades.
You start with the ARCA series with what looks like a backyard garage and work your way up through all four of NASCAR's national series: ARCA, Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and Cup Series.
It might not be the most unique idea originating from a racing game, but NASCAR 25 has dozens of turning points that let you create branching storylines off track. Matt Lewis from EA describes it as a "choose your own adventure" where you might encounter three or four major story moments that will give you a completely different narrative perspective.
NASCAR Stars Finally Get Their Video Game Covers
Race car superstars, William Byron, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney now grace the cover of NASCAR 25, which is a roundabout moment for Byron since he actually started his career on iRacing.
Steve Myers, who was part of the dev team for NASCAR 2003, noted that one of the differences in today's era is that race car superstars are now more receptive and incredibly supportive of the video game, with some stars on daily emails asking for demonstrations of the game during development.
It's all for the greater success of the team, though, with Myers noting that, "the more people we get in front of and like it and genuinely want to say good things about it, the better we all are."
So, after years of complete absence, will NASCAR 25 be capable of redeeming the entire franchise? That, I will have to say, only time will tell. But what I'm sure of, is that iRacing's dedication to the genre has created something that hasn't existed before.
NASCAR 25 is now available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, while PC Players may have to wait for just a bit as it launches on Steam on November 12, 2025.
Stay tuned to racinggames.gg for more NASCAR 25 coverage.