Imagine diving into the world of NASCAR '25 and having the power to personalize not just your race car, but your entire virtual pit crew setup – it's a game-changer that's got fans buzzing with excitement! But here's where it gets controversial: is this 'advanced' paint booth really living up to the hype, or are we still missing out on key features that could make it truly revolutionary?
Let's break this down step by step. Matt Lewis, a key Producer at iRacing, recently shared in an interview that the paint booth in NASCAR '25 is set to be more sophisticated than anything seen in previous NASCAR console titles. This includes exciting new options like customizing haulers and pit boxes to complement your car's design. For newcomers to racing sims, a paint booth is essentially a creative tool within the game that lets you design and apply custom paint schemes, logos, and colors to your vehicles – think of it as your digital art studio for making your ride stand out on the track.
After what feels like an eternity of anticipation, the official release of iRacing's NASCAR console game is just around the corner, with early access kicking off this Friday night. Yet, despite the countdown, many dedicated fans are still seeking answers to big questions, such as detailed info on advanced car setups, online multiplayer modes, and – crucially – the paint booth experience. This feature, often referred to as the 'Car Creator' by iRacing, isn't entirely new to the series, but the updates promise to elevate it.
From what we've learned so far, the paint booth will stick to a traditional sandbox-style editor, allowing players to craft designs and logos using basic shapes – similar to what was available in NASCAR 21: Ignition back in 2021. However, there's a catch that might disappoint some: you won't be able to upload and share custom schemes, a staple in iRacing's subscription-based online sim that's been absent from past console NASCAR games. And this is the part most people miss – while you can't import sponsor logos or unique team number fonts, Lewis believes the booth will still feel 'advanced' beyond prior titles.
In fact, he emphasized that players can now theme their haulers and pit boxes, along with other elements, to match their car's paint scheme. As Lewis put it, 'It’s not just the car itself. There’s some other elements, pit boxes, haulers, things like that, you can palletize with colors and designs and things like that.' This could be a dream come true for fans who crave that seamless continuity across their virtual race shop, ensuring everything from the truck hauling your gear to the pit area feels like a cohesive extension of your team's identity. For example, if you're rocking a bold red and blue livery on your car, you could now extend that vibrant theme to your hauler, making the whole setup pop during races.
That said, the devil's in the details – or rather, the lack thereof. We don't yet know exactly how this theming works in practice, what limitations might exist, or how intuitive the process will be for casual players. iRacing hasn't released any video demos or tutorials for the Car Creator yet, but Lewis assured us that content is coming soon. 'We haven’t shown any videos on it [Car Creator] yet,' he noted. 'We’re probably gonna do that, sometime shortly before launch, just to put some things out and kind of show how that works.' It's promising, but it leaves us wondering: will this be enough to wow the community, or is the absence of uploadable content a missed opportunity that could spark debates about accessibility and creativity?
What do you think – is this advancement a step forward for NASCAR '25, or does it fall short by not fully embracing the sharing features fans love in other sims? Do you agree that theming haulers and pit boxes adds real value, or is it just a cosmetic tweak? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord at https://discord.gg/ZqPDR7nDm3 or X at https://x.com/dailydownforce. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dailydownforce, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thedailydownforce, and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPJI9j_lzeXNnxfSFNSZiHA for more racing insights!
