NASCAR 25 Review (XSX) – A Strong Start Stuck in the Pits

After years of underwhelming attempts, NASCAR 25 arrives as the franchise’s supposed rebirth, a next-gen overhaul built to reignite console stock-car racing. On paper, it ticks all the right boxes with refined physics, beautiful visuals, and the inclusion of every major NASCAR series. In The Outerhaven’s review of NASCAR 25, we found that while the ambition is clear, the execution doesn’t quite cross the finish line cleanly.

Game Name: NASCAR 25
Platform(s): Xbox Series X/S (Reviewed), PS5, PC* (*Releasing November 11, 2025 on Steam)
Developer(s): iRacing.com Motorsport Simulation
Publisher(s): iRacing.com Motorsport Simulation
Release Date: October 14, 2025

NASCAR and Me

You may ask yourself why a guy from the UK would have any interest in NASCAR. The short answer is simple: I like any sport, no matter how big, small, obscure, or ridiculous it is. NASCAR is an odd one in my eyes. In my country, we mostly know it from memes. But as someone who enjoys racing games, I thought, why not give this new installment a try? While the game is barebones and lacks some of the modes found in other racers like F1, for a fresh new start by iRacing, this is an amazing launching point.

I hope to see what they implement in future installments. With that being said, God bless our troops, God bless America, and gentlemen, start your engines!

Graphics and Presentation

Visually, NASCAR 25 finally delivers the level of realism fans have been craving. The cars and tracks are laser-scanned and brought to life with gorgeous lighting, sharp reflections, and stunning trackside detail. On Xbox Series X, it’s easily the best-looking NASCAR game to date.

The presentation is equally strong. Dynamic weather looks great, cockpit views are immersive, and the broadcast-style overlays add a sense of authenticity. The sound design ties it all together, with engines roaring, tires squealing, and the pack racing atmosphere feeling electric through a good headset.

Gameplay and Handling

This is where NASCAR 25 makes its strongest case. The new physics system offers a noticeable step up in realism. Cars feel weighty, responsive, and properly challenging without being punishing. Drafting, tire management, and setup tweaks all have a meaningful impact on performance.

Each of the four national series—Cup, Xfinity, Trucks, and ARCA—feels distinct in both speed and handling style. It’s the most complete NASCAR ladder we’ve seen on consoles, and climbing through it feels rewarding.

NASCAR 25 feels well-tuned for the Xbox Series X controller. The triggers offer precise throttle and brake modulation, with subtle resistance that makes feathering the gas through corners feel intuitive. The vibration feedback mimics tire slip and road texture well enough to convey what the car is doing, even without a racing wheel. Steering with the analog sticks feels tight and responsive, though it takes a bit of practice to master the small corrections needed for high-speed oval racing.

Career Mode

The Career Mode adds a management layer that gives your racing a greater sense of purpose. You’ll negotiate contracts, manage your crew, and make strategic upgrades to your facilities. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a big improvement over the barebones modes of previous titles. There’s finally something to keep players invested beyond just winning races.

Something I hope they add in future installments is a co-op career. Being able to fly around famous speedways with a friend would be so much fun. Games like F1 could serve as a nice example of what works and what could be brought over.

Online Game Modes

While very barebones in its current form, online play is a simple set of player-hosted servers you can join freely. Each has its own settings and race styles. You could go from a full-damage, 160-lap Daytona event to a quick five-lap arcade-style run around Bristol Motor Speedway.

Because these are all player-hosted, there are no official servers, which can lead to desync and lag. But when you get a full lobby with the right damage settings, lap counts, and that chaotic sweet spot of no regard for human life, it’s an absolute blast.

Technical Performance and Issues

Unfortunately, NASCAR 25 hits some serious potholes. The game still struggles with bugs, random crashes, and performance issues that can ruin otherwise thrilling races. Online play, while functional, is overly simplistic with small lobbies, limited communication, and no ranking or progression system.

It’s clear that patches are needed to bring the game up to its full potential.

NASCAR 25 | Final Verdict

NASCAR 25 is easily the most ambitious and feature-rich NASCAR game to hit consoles in years. Its strong driving model, impressive visuals, and expanded series lineup show that the developers are finally steering in the right direction. But technical hiccups, missing features, and unstable performance keep it from taking the checkered flag just yet.

For die-hard NASCAR fans, this is still a must-play foundation worth supporting. Just be ready to deal with a few cautions along the way.

Review Disclosure Statement: A copy of NASCAR 25 was provided to us for review purposes by iRacing.com. For more information on how we review video games and other media or technology, please review our Review Guideline and Scoring Policy.

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