Sports and video games have gone hand-in-hand for years. Sports fans have often found joy in digitally emulating the action they love and NASCAR fandom is no different. During the 2000s, NASCAR video games really took off. The 2010s were not that great, but there is hope for the future. Video game and NASCAR enthusiasts would be excited to learn that iRacing has taken over the reins for a game set to be released in 2025. They have usually delivered on expectations and Dale Earnhardt Jr himself has given his endorsement to the developer.

The golden era of gaming in NASCAR is often considered to be the 2000s. Back then, industry heavyweights like EA, Monster Games, and Papyrus were involved in the development process. One of the best NASCAR games to have ever been released, as per a lot of fans, is NASCAR Racing 2003. Even after 20 years since its release, the game has a massive following among fans.

iRacing chief’s vision is what NASCAR fans have been calling for

The process by which iRacing acquired the NASCAR license is quite intriguing. They first purchased Monster Games in 2022, then purchased the rights to the NASCAR license a year later from Motorsports Games. According to company executive vice president Steve Myers, it was a venture they have always wanted to pursue.

Fans have good reason to be excited about Steve Myers’ vision. One of the things that a lot of sports and video game enthusiasts expect is a career experience. Starting from the grassroots and making it to the top. That is what Myers said that he wants to include. NASCAR is not limited to the Cup Series in real life and it should not be so in the game either.

“I think people want a compelling experience, something that makes them feel like they’re doing this thing they love,” Myers said as per Sportsnaut. “I think they want a fun experience in the sense that they want features and content inside of the game that go beyond the Cup Series, other areas in the sport, be it grassroots and then Trucks and Xfinity. I think one of the things we want to be clear is like, everything is going to be a progression.”

Of course, 2025 is a long time away. According to the iRacing executive VP, a lot of work is yet to be done for the product to match fans’ expectations. The Unity Engine served as the foundation for the Monster Games code base, but according to Myers, iRacing will take a different approach. However, iRacing will have fans’ support.

Steve Myers will have a lot of backing from fans as they already have a lot of faith in iRacing. The developer has delivered on its promises more often than not. iRacing also has a number of professional motorsports athletes taking part in their digital events. Some of them are F1 world champion Max Verstappen, Cup Series winner Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has voiced his support for iRacing’s venture into the NASCAR gaming industry. The former Cup Series driver has been a long-time user of the platform and is a long-time friend of Steve Myers.

“I have been in a conversation with the iRacing about their vision, and it’s absolutely what you’d expect,” Earnhardt said on an episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast. “There’s some realism (but) the console side of it has to appeal to a very general wide audience. So, I think that they are going to nail the target.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr is excited about the future of NASCAR on the digital platform, but he isn’t really content with one aspect of the real NASCAR season. In a recent episode of the Dale Jr Download podcast, Junior expressed his frustrations.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr frustrated with NASCAR as his prediction is unlikely to come true

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The former Cup Series driver had slated Ryan Blaney to have a fantastic second half of the season and emerge as a final-four contender. This prediction was made earlier in the season and Blaney is in the last 8 but not in a good place points-wise. Junior has a problem with that points system.

“I was in the booth at the Vegas race, right? Blaney comes in -10. Race starts, he’s moving into the top 10, he’s getting stage points, he’s doing really well throughout the day. He ends up with a pretty decent result and still wasn’t any better off,” he said.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is not the only one to have this view about the points system. A number of drivers and experts have expressed a similar viewpoint. Do you think NASCAR needs to improve their points system? Let us know your thoughts.

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