NASCAR 26 review: Good enough for stock car fans, falls short as a motorsport game

NASCAR 26 is iRacing Studios' second official game attempt at the official stock car racing series. The game launches on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with access to drivers and every track from the NASCAR Cup Series, plus the supporting O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and the fourth-tier ARCA Menards Series, though some ARCA circuits are missing.

The game sits between arcade and simulation, offering authentic racing elements without the hardcore intensity of iRacing's subscription service. It features Kyle Larson as its face, a single-player career mode, cross-platform online multiplayer, and slick presentation with licensed music and real-world footage montages.

The career mode starts you in ARCA and progresses through a rags-to-riches journey to Cup. You earn credits to buy parts, work points that act as crew resources, and reputation that unlocks subsequent series. Parts wear down after each event, forcing you to balance replacements and upgrades. This grinding loop replicates the hard-fought nature of real-world stock car racing in bite-sized form.

The AI rivals deserve credit. They provide confident bump drafts, race two or three wide, and utilise multiple grooves that develop across the weekend thanks to newly added dynamic rubber buildup. They are not afraid to work the high line or cut back on the exit. The spotter is clear and concise. Difficulty levels have a narrow operating window, but with experimentation you can achieve enjoyably competitive races.

Visually, NASCAR 26 shows noticeable lighting improvements in low-sun environments compared to its predecessor. Using Unreal Engine for graphics, the game achieves the best NASCAR visuals in the last decade. Tracks remain a strong point thanks to sharing elements with the main iRacing simulation. They are accurate and undulating. Iowa Speedway feels broken with mixed asphalt types. Naval Base Coronado undulates satisfyingly despite its uninspiring concrete-lined appearance, thanks to accurate bump mapping.

The driving experience remains similar to last year, with a revised tyre model that makes lock-ups more audible and tactile, particularly under braking. The game requires greater brake input precision on a gamepad, though mashing brakes and releasing at the right time works for shorter career races. The lock-up sound does not meaningfully affect tyre wear. Handling defaults to tight with front-end push prevalent. A looser setup lets you play with the rear-end on-throttle and feels easy to tame with a controller. On Superspeedways, some skittishness persists when driving the banking. A wheel peripheral delivers more satisfying results, though it demands greater effort.

Problems emerge when evaluating NASCAR 26 as a broader motorsport game. The career mode's AI lap times appear fabricated, particularly on road courses, leading to wildly inaccurate qualifying spreads. On shorter, flatter courses like North Wilkesboro Speedway, the AI runs with roughly 20 times more grip, turning in sharper and earlier on the throttle. This facade sometimes slips as balancing issues surface depending on your settings.

Car and team development lacks nuance. Upgraded parts simply appear over time, with your only concern being maintenance. The depth found in official Formula 1 game career modes is absent here. These limitations become apparent over extended play, though they do not necessarily diminish enjoyment for players seeking a straightforward NASCAR experience.

NASCAR 26 delivers what many NASCAR gamers want: an in-depth career mode, shinier visuals, new venues, device-agnostic multiplayer, and approachable vehicle dynamics with enough realism to satisfy wheel users. It is unquestionably the best NASCAR game in the last decade. Whether it reaches greatness as a motorsport racing game is where it falters.