NASCAR 26 Early Impressions: One Change Stands Out

We are just one week away from the early access launch of NASCAR 26, and some players have already gotten behind the wheel.

iRacing Studios and NASCAR recently invited a group of content creators to Daytona for an early hands-on preview ahead of the September 15 early access release. While their time with the game was limited, the early reactions point to improvements across graphics, AI, pit stops and presentation.

But after looking across four separate hands-on experiences, one change consistently stands out: NASCAR 26 feels noticeably different to drive.

One NASCAR 26 Change Keeps Coming Up

Each creator had different amounts of time with NASCAR 26, used different tracks and focused on different features, so these impressions should not be treated as full reviews.

However, there is a clear theme across all four experiences.

Mrucz noticed changing grip and racing grooves. GOWEN highlighted throttle control and brake lockups. dgoodin repeatedly emphasized the increased difficulty, while RealRadman found the Cup car heavier and harder to maximize even after applying setup tricks that worked in NASCAR 25.

Graphics may provide the most immediate visual upgrade, but the early consensus suggests the biggest change could be how NASCAR 26 actually feels behind the wheel.

The new tire model, more punishing braking and throttle inputs, heavier-feeling cars and evolving track conditions appear to make simply completing fast laps more demanding than in NASCAR 25.

Players may also have to adjust throughout a race instead of relying on the same line and setup from start to finish. As rubber builds on the track, grip levels can change and different racing grooves can become more viable.

Combined with setup tricks from NASCAR 25 appearing to be less effective, the early hands-on impressions suggest NASCAR 26’s biggest improvement may ultimately be its gameplay.

Michael Mrucz

Michael Mrucz spent roughly 30 minutes with NASCAR 26, with much of his hands-on experience coming at Dover.

• Mrucz immediately noticed how little grip was available on a fresh track, with the car initially wanting to push toward the wall.

• As the race progressed, he was able to move away from the bottom and begin finding speed higher on the track.

• Braking was less forgiving, while the moving clouds and changing lighting helped improve the visual presentation.

• Mrucz also praised the expanded controller settings, saying fine-tuning his setup made a significant difference.

His limited session prevented him from digging deeply into every feature, but the changing racing surface was among his biggest positives.

GOWEN

GOWEN tested NASCAR 26 across several tracks, including Homestead-Miami, San Diego and Charlotte, and came away particularly impressed by the combination of dynamic tracks and the overhauled tire model.

• Practice, qualifying and race conditions produced noticeably different driving experiences.

• Aggressive throttle application could result in a spin, while excessive braking could lock the tires.

• Familiar NASCAR 25 setup tricks did not provide the same easy advantage during his testing.

• He also praised improved AI variance and more realistic pit-stop times.

GOWEN did identify areas that could still use improvement, particularly AI pit strategy and the tendency for some AI crashes to occur near the player. He also did not get to test Career Mode.

dgoodin

dgoodin also found NASCAR 26 considerably more challenging than NASCAR 25 during his hands-on session.

• Heavy braking could lock the front tires, something he experienced while attempting to enter pit road.

• Lowering tire pressures did not suddenly make his car overwhelmingly faster.

• Four-tire pit stops took around 10 seconds or less during his testing.

• He praised the graphical improvements and found Peak Performance useful even for an experienced player.

While dgoodin said he needed considerably more time to fully judge dynamic tracks, he described the overall difference in driving compared to NASCAR 25 as ‘night and day.’

RealRadman

RealRadman took a more focused approach, spending his primary hands-on time running a 13% Cup race at the new Chicagoland Speedway.

• The Cup car felt heavier and required more lifting and even some braking.

• He noticed a difference between the green track and the more rubbered-in surface later in the race.

• NASCAR 25 setup tricks, including lowering tire pressures and adjusting camber, did not allow him to dominate the AI.

• His lone four-tire pit stop took 9.6 seconds.

RealRadman raced at 103 AI difficulty and generally found himself fighting between roughly 10th and 20th instead of cruising toward the lead. He also praised the graphics, UI and improved AI behavior.

Players will get their first opportunity to find out for themselves when NASCAR 26 early access begins September 15, followed by the standard release on September 18.

Sports Video Game Reviews

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports Video Games section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.