By: Andy DeLay, Staff Writer

Well folks, it’s finally here. After years of waiting and wondering if we’d ever get a console title that drove like the real deal, NASCAR 25 has pulled into victory lane. Or at least, it’s pulled into the top 5. I’ve spent the last week turning laps on my PC rig (though you Xbox and PlayStation folk got the game first), and I’ve got some thoughts.

First off, let’s talk about what works. This game is genuinely fun. You jump right into the deep end in an ARCA car at “The Rock” fighting for a chance at making the big leagues. There is something nostalgic and gritty about fighting just to place high enough to kick off your pro career.

For those of us who follow the sport religiously, NASCAR 25 introduces something the casual fan often misses: the business of speed. You aren’t just a driver; you’re a proprietor. You have to secure sponsors, hire the right staff, and woo the fans. If you don’t have the cash to buy quality parts or a top-tier engine, you’re going to find yourself battling hard just to finish in the top 30. It’s a humbling reminder that speed costs money—how fast do you want to go?

On the asphalt, the pedigree shows. The game was developed by iRacing, and you can feel it. The tracks use laser scans, meaning every bump, crack, and imperfection at Darlington or Bristol feeds right through the wheel. The cars drive well—heavy, powerful, and requiring some finesse.

However, it isn’t all sunshine and confetti. Visually, the game is just… so-so. If you’ve seen the eye candy iRacing offers on high-end rigs, this feels a bit muted. It’s serviceable, but it won’t knock your socks off.

My biggest gripe, however, is the race logic. When the green flag drops, you fall backward like a rock! I don’t care if you have a hot-rodded engine under the hood; even the slowest AI cars seem to have a rocket strapped to them on starts and restarts. It’s frustrating to lose six spots before you even hit Turn 1!

Speaking of the AI, they apparently have superpowers. I watched computer-controlled cars pit at warp speed and brake from breakneck speeds about five feet from the pit entrance and slowing down to the pit road speed limit in an instant. Do yourself a favor and turn off black flags, because your car doesn’t have those physics-defying brakes, and you will get penalized for trying to keep up.

Please don’t get me started on the personality system. After the race, the AI drivers love to talk smack about you on social media—even when they were the idiots causing the wreck in Turn 4! It’s enough to make you want to throw your headset and flip off the screen at times.

The Verdict: Despite the quirks and the superhuman AI on pit road, NASCAR 25 is worth picking up if you’re a casual fan or a weekend warrior. It captures the struggle of the sport better than anything we’ve had in years, even if the graphics and restart logic need a little tune-up in the garage.

Image sourced via NASCAR 25