There’s nothing quite like the sound of a NASCAR engine firing up—it’s a rumble that gets in your bones, a call to every fan who’s ever dreamed of hoisting that Cup Series trophy. Spending countless Sundays glued to the TV, picturing yourself behind the wheel, chasing that checkered flag. But the drivers we idolize? They’ll tell you it’s not just about the spotlight.
It’s the grind that carves the path—the late nights tinkering in a garage with flickering lights, the endless hustle for a sponsor’s dime, the family dinners you miss because the next race is all that matters. That’s the NASCAR life, and now there’s a game that doesn’t just let you race—it lets you breathe it.
Dale Jr. wants gamers to go through the struggle of a real NASCAR racer
Meet NASCAR 25, the closest thing to strapping into a stock car without leaving your couch. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s stamp of approval seals the deal—this isn’t some arcade knockoff; it’s the soul of the sport in digital form. Dale Jr. knows the grind better than most. Before he was a household name, he was just a kid in his dad’s shop, wrestling with wrenches and willpower to keep the dream alive.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s jazzed about the career mode, and you can hear the spark in his voice: “It’s more than racing—you’re choosing. Do you hit up a charity event? Sweet-talk a sponsor? Maybe snag a movie role? That’s the real deal.” It’s like he’s tossing us the keys to his past, daring us to navigate the same twists he did. You don’t stroll into this game a Cup Series hotshot. You’re kicking off in ARCA or Trucks, handed a car that’s seen better days and a budget that’s more hope than cash.
Build your career from the ground up. Career mode in NASCAR 25 has it all. @iRacing | @ENASCARGG pic.twitter.com/9aI74WBoQQ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 20, 2025
iRacing is overseeing the development of its first NASCAR console game and has also released a new developer diary that contains the features of the game’s career mode. The diary details how the ARCA series is coming to the console game for the first time. The series is set to be available in career and other modes throughout the NASCAR 25.
However, coming back to the career mode, there will be opportunities to grow your driver’s brand off the track and spend your time. There will be ways for the players to build the reputation of their drivers by helping clean up a park, helping around the shop, or even playing a part in the movie. Further, the sponsors in the game might also have tasks lined up for the drivers to keep them in good graces.
“You’ll have to balance between building your reputation and your brand, and being successful on the race track,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. Additionally, the player will also have control over spending the money in the game to improve one’s team and become a top contender in every series.
Moving on, Ty Majeski’s been there, and his words hit like a gut check: “You’ve got a little money—new shocks? Tires? Engine work? One wrong move, and you’re parked.” Ty clawed his way up from short tracks, where every dollar was a lifeline, and now NASCAR 25 drops you into that same crucible. It’s not just about speed—it’s about survival, about building something from the ground up, race by hard-fought race.
Troy Harder, one of the visionaries behind this masterpiece, sums it up like a storyteller around a campfire: “You start with a scrappy little shop, just you and your grit. Rack up some wins, make sharp calls, and it grows—until you’re rolling into the Cup Series with a shop that’s a jaw-dropper.” That’s the magic for me—the climb from nothing to everything, mirroring the paths Dale Jr. and Ty blazed. It’s not instant glory; it’s earned, every bolt tightened, every sponsor won over.
Their excitement for this game isn’t hype—it’s a nod from the pros that says, “Yeah, this is us.”
Rajah Caruth cheers on iRacing’s latest update, as realism gets a boost
But the story doesn’t stop at the asphalt. Enter Rajah Caruth, a name that lights a fire under every fan who’s ever dreamed big. Rajah didn’t cut his teeth on dirt tracks or summer kart races—he forged his skills in his bedroom, racing wheel in hand, iRacing his battleground. That virtual world wasn’t just a game; it was his launchpad, propelling him to ARCA and Trucks in the real world. He’s pumped about iRacing’s latest update, grinning as he says, “Give me tracks that fight back—debris stacking up, the apron turning tricky, the high line slick as glass.”
It’s those gritty details that pull you in, and with William Byron— Daytona maestro—proving sim racing’s chops, it’s clear this is where legends start. Rajah’s path is the kind of tale that keeps us fans hooked. A teenager with a dream and a screen, now tearing up real tracks—it’s the stuff we cheer for. NASCAR 25 and iRacing aren’t just entertainment; they’re a proving ground, a spark for the next wave of talent.
According to Mike Devault, the game’s UX lead, throughout the career mode, there have been interactions put in place between the driver, crew chief, and team that will give a more authentic feel as opposed to the game feeling too much “like a UI screen.”
Picture it: some kid out there right now, controller buzzing, heart pounding, dreaming of Daytona. This game hands them the wheel—not just to race, but to live the life, from garage struggles to Cup Series dreams. For us NASCAR diehards, this is more than a game—it’s a love letter to the sport we live for. Dale Jr., Ty, Rajah—they’ve poured their journeys into it, the sweat and the soul of racing. It’s the late-night oil changes, the sponsor pitches, and the roar of a crowd you’ve earned.
So, fans, what’s your first call in career mode? New tires to grip the track, or a gamble on that engine rebuild? The green flag’s waving—time to find out what you’re made of.
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