NASCAR 26 To Launch September 18, New Features Announced

The first developer diary for NASCAR 26 has been released by iRacing Studios, and with it comes a lot of new information regarding the game.

Not only did the team at iRacing Studios confirm the game will release on September 18—the Gold Edition launches three days sooner on September 15—but some new game features have been confirmed.

The Chase Comes To NASCAR 26

Confirmed as part of the first developer diary, NASCAR 26 will see the inclusion of the new Chase format that debuted in the Cup Series this year. In addition to it being part of the seasons and career, there’s also a standalone Chase mode that allows players to select the drivers they want participating and complete the final 10 races of the year.

Also announced were updates to the game’s presentation with more broadcast integration. As far as the racing is concerned, AI drivers can now DNF a race. The biggest feature announced as part of the first dev vlog for the game is the new Dynamic Track.

In NASCAR 26, the start of race weekends will see the tracks in an unused “green” state. As you go through the weekend and the various sessions, the track will change, with more lines available to drivers and new strategies to find for the best chance at a win.

Finally, it was announced that the first full gameplay trailer for NASCAR 26 will premiere on July 29.

“We’re constantly improving,” iRacing’s Matt Lewis said when talking about features coming, like burnouts and cross-platform multiplayer. “We’re building a franchise here. We’re not building a one-off product. We’re building a long-term franchise, and part of that is listening to fans, engaging with them, and making sure we’re all pushing ourselves to be better.”

Are you excited to check out NASCAR 26 when it launches in September? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming Discord.

In other news, read about Xbox paying GSC Game World more than the cost of Stalker 2’s development to make it a timed console exclusive. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.