Gold Edition Available Now Before the Standard Edition Releases on September 18
CHELMSFORD, Mass. – Sept. 15, 2026 –NASCAR and iRacing Studios are excited today to kick off the early access launch period for Gold Edition owners of NASCAR 26, the newest installment in the best-selling racing game franchise, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam. True NASCAR and racing fans can get their careers started now before the game’s Standard Edition releases on September 18. Race as your favorite drivers across all four premier NASCAR series – the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series – in the best NASCAR experience ever delivered on consoles.
Launch Trailer: YouTube
Players can purchase NASCAR 26’s Gold Edition today for $79.99, unlocking the full game along with the Season Pass, featuring four monthly DLC packs through the end of the year including new paint schemes, fire suits, and career mode perks (VIP employees, 1,000 rep points, and a $10,000 career bonus). Pre-ordering either the Gold Edition or the Standard Edition ($59.99) before September 18 will unlock an additional $5,000 career bonus, 500 career reputation points, and an exclusive Kyle Larson paint scheme.
“The response to NASCAR 25 reflected the momentum we’re seeing across NASCAR and gave us a strong foundation to build from,” said Nick Rend, Vice President of Interactive & Emerging Platforms at NASCAR. “Over the past year, we’ve worked closely with iRacing Studios and listened to our community to identify where we could make the experience better. NASCAR 26 is the result of that work, and you can see it across the game, from how the cars drive and tracks evolve to cross-platform play that brings players together.”
Built in collaboration with NASCAR and powered by iRacing Studios’ industry-leading simulation technology, NASCAR 26 continues the franchise’s commitment to delivering the most authentic representation of the sport both on and off the track. Become a legend in the improved Career Mode, take on opponents in competitive cross-platform online multiplayer, and fight for the championship in The Chase, a new standalone mode. There’s also a groundbreaking dynamic track feature that evolves over each race weekend, a new Peak Performance training mode, dramatically improved graphics, lighting and much more.
Key Features
- Favorite Drivers & Tracks: Race across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series with your favorite drivers and tracks from each series.
- Improved Career Mode: Career Mode returns deeper than ever, featuring new weekly strategic planning decisions with Facility Upgrades that shape your journey from day one, along with performance coaching and tips from NASCAR greats Steve Letarte and Jamie McMurray.
- New Game Modes & Features: Experience the thrill of The Chase, a new customizable standalone mode where you fight for a championship over the last 10 races of the season against the field of your choice, along with a new Peak Performance training mode to perfect your abilities on every track plus cross-platform multiplayer.
- New Upgrades & Enhancements: Enjoy visual upgrades across the entire game, including improved graphics, skies, and dynamic lighting and cloud interactions, plus better replay cameras and an all new particle system for enhanced smoke, debris and additional effects. On the track, you’ll experience an all new tire and braking model for a more authentic racing experience along with dynamic track technology that changes the grip over the course of a race weekend.
- And So Much More: Discover a ton of other additions, such as burnout celebrations, an all-new Ram truck, a new spotter (Freddie Kraft), new tracks (including the Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado, Chicagoland, and St. Petersburg), a trophy room, an enhanced paint kit, and all new (fully customizable!) driver ratings for 2026.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information, visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
About iRacing
The world leader in the online racing simulation and gaming market, iRacing was founded in 2003 by Dave Kaemmer, co-founder of Papyrus Design Group, and John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing. iRacing has developed dozens of formal partnerships in the motorsport industry to help create the most authentic racing simulation in the world, including with NASCAR, INDYCAR, the FIA, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, and numerous other car manufacturers, tracks, and racing series. Alongside its PC simulation, iRacing also produces the official console games of NASCAR (beginning in 2025) and the World of Outlaws, as well as the fantasy off-road racing game ExoCross. Learn more at www.iracing.com.
