iRacing Studios NASCAR 26 vs Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem

• Cover Athlete: Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports #5)
• Game Engine: Unreal Engine 5 (Physics: iRacing Proprietary Motor Model)
• Installation Footprint: 100 GB Available SSD Space
• New Tracks Added: Qualcomm Circuit (Naval Base Coronado), Chicagoland Speedway, St. Petersburg
• Online Lobby Capacity: Up to 40 Simultaneous Drivers (Full Cross-Play Supported)
• Platform Availability: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Racing Series: NASCAR Cup Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards
• Wheel & Pedal Support: Full Force Feedback Support for Fanatec, Logitech, Thrustmaster, Moza, Simagic

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Post-Post-Apocalyptic American Southwest
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass
• Unique Feature: A unique fusion of deep mech customization and fast-paced third-person combat with light farming and homestead management simulation, all tied to a core 'Thermal Management' mechanic.

• #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: High-Line Momentum: Maximizes aerodynamic side force and momentum when riding within inches of the outside retaining wall.
  Next Gen Cup Series Stock Car
• Ram 1500 Craftsman Race Truck: Front-End Battering Draft: Generates immense low-end torque for aggressive bump-drafting on intermediate tri-ovals.
  NASCAR Craftsman Truck
• #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE: Short-Track Braking Stability: Excels at late apex braking and corner-exit bite on flat paperclip ovals like Martinsville.
  Next Gen Cup Series Stock Car

• Jeremy the Dino: A non-interactive, humorous stuffed animal that Clem 'consults' with regarding mech repairs and customization, serving as a constant source of character introspection and comic relief.
  Stuffed Dinosaur

• Bill France Cup Trophy: Awarded for winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in Career Mode or The Chase tournament mode.
• Marquee Event Grand Slam Medallions: Unlocked by taking checkered flags at the Daytona 500, Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600, and Brickyard 400.
• Historic Throwback Paint Schemes: Discovered by fulfilling specific historical race challenges and setting top-tier leaderboard qualifying times.

• Magpie Martinez Cards: A type of rare collectible found throughout the world.
• Action Figures & Hats: Collectible items found through exploration, including an original 'Rosewater Bluff Legends cap'.

• Motorsport
• Stock Car Racing
• Simulation
• Oval Racing
• Sports
• High-Speed Competition
• Career Management

• Mech Combat
• Wild West
• Post-Apocalyptic
• Redemption
• Base Building
• Farming Sim
• Action-Adventure

• 750HP Cup Engine Package: Performance Spec Upgrade
  High-output engine tuning package offering heightened throttle response, raw acceleration off the corner, and greater tire wear demands on short tracks and road courses.
• Cockpit Track Bar Adjuster: In-Car Chassis Utility
  Allows drivers to mechanically alter the car's roll center from inside the cockpit, correcting loose or tight handling balance over extended green-flag fuel runs.
• Low-Downforce Superspeedway Aero Kit: Aerodynamic Configuration
  Streamlined spoiler and underbody diffuser setup engineered to reduce aerodynamic drag and maximize top speed inside multi-car drafting packs.

• Melee Weapons: Varies (Hammers, Chain-swords, Bomb Bats)
  Heavy, high-powered melee weapons used for close-quarters mech combat. Essential for combo chains and Trick Systems.
• Firearms: Varies (Repeaters, Shotguns, Grenade Launchers)
  Mech-scale explosive firearms used in conjunction with melee attacks via the 'Gun Cancel' mechanic. Ammo is a strategic resource that must be managed.
• Desert Raptor MKII: Relic / Vehicle
  Clem's heavily customized battle mech. It is a key weapon in itself, with over 3 1/2 inches of plate armor and a strafing speed of 22 miles per hour.

• Sparco Superleggera Fireproof Racing Suit: FIA/SFI 3.2A/5 certified multi-layer Nomex firesuit providing driver heat dissipation and safety compliance in career mode.
• Simpson Carbon Devil Ray Helmet: Ultra-lightweight carbon fiber helmet equipped with Hans anchor clips, integrated drinking tube, and radio noise-canceling mic.
• Head and Neck Support (HANS) Device: Mandatory tethered carbon fiber safety restraint mitigating extreme deceleration loads during high-impact wall contact.

• Mech Armor Plating: The Raptor possesses over 3 1/2 inches of plate armor on its joints and instruments. Damage resistance is determined by matching the correct damage type (Boom, Bludgeon, or Blade) to the enemy's hit point type (Skin, Plate, or Scale).

• Hendrick Motorsports Team Firesuit: Custom embroidered blue, white, and red firesuit complete with official sponsor badges, driver surname, and American flag patch.
• Over-the-Wall Pit Crew Armor & Helmet: High-durability fire-retardant crew suit with integrated knee pads and full-face composite helmet for tire changers and fuelers.
• Victory Lane Championship Jacket: Satin commemorative championship bomber jacket embroidered with race victory laurels and trophy emblems.

An overhauled Career Mode incorporates a comprehensive Team Facilities upgrade tree: Aerodynamics Wind Tunnel (boosts downforce and draft efficiency), Engine R&D Dyno (enhances peak horsepower for the 750HP package), Chassis Fabrication (lowers body roll and tire scrub), and Pit Crew Athletic Training (shaves tenths off 4-tire pit stop cycle times). Driver perks unlock better draft telemetry, improved tire preservation, and enhanced spotter reaction times.

Progression is split between mech and base management. Mech upgrades (engine, armor, augmentations) are purchased with bounty payouts. Homestead upgrades allow for the construction of utilities (water/power), fuel and ammo production (electrolyzers, ammo benches), and farming/cooking, all of which reduce deployment costs and increase profit.

Features all officially sanctioned NASCAR tracks faithfully laser-scanned, spanning superspeedways (Daytona, Talladega), intermediate tri-ovals (Charlotte, Atlanta, Las Vegas), historic short tracks (Bristol, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro), and road courses (Watkins Glen, COTA, Chicago Street Course). NASCAR 26 expands the track catalog with three brand-new venues: the temporary Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado, the revitalized Chicagoland Speedway, and the challenging St. Petersburg street circuit.

The Red Expanse is a semi-open world setting with a Wild West atmosphere. Missions are primarily confined to small, repeated bounty maps with boundary walls, though the general environment is vast and features contrastive day/night lighting (reddish-brown during the day, phosphorescent purple flora at night).

• NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: NASCAR Cup Series Stock Car
  Seventh-generation premier Cup car equipped with an independent rear suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, sequential 5-speed transaxle, and a roaring 5.86L V8 engine.
• NASCAR Next Gen Ford Mustang Dark Horse: NASCAR Cup Series Stock Car
  High-downforce Next Gen competitor featuring composite body panels, a symmetrical chassis, and center-lock 18-inch forged aluminum wheels.
• NASCAR Next Gen Toyota Camry XSE: NASCAR Cup Series Stock Car
  Sleek aerodynamic stock car engineered for precision mid-corner balance and stability on intermediate 1.5-mile circuits.
• Ram 1500 Craftsman Race Truck: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Racer
  Aggressive, high-torque silhouette race truck delivering intense bump-drafting action on short tracks and tri-ovals.
• ARCA Menards Series Race Car: Developmental Stock Car
  Heavy, steel-bodied training ground stock car utilized to build foundational throttle control and oval racecraft in the early stages of Career Mode.

• Infield Wildlife: Ambient Fauna
  Trackside Atmosphere (Flocks of birds that disperse dynamically from infield grass verges during race starts and caution laps)
• Speedway Mascot: Costumed Character
  Pre-Race & Victory Lane Entertainment (Celebrates alongside the driver and crew during burnout celebrations)

• Kyle Larson: Featured Cover Athlete & Cup Champion
  Hendrick Motorsports driver of the #5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, renowned for running the high line against the outside wall with unmatched throttle precision.
• Freddie Kraft: Lead Radio Spotter
  Veteran real-world spotter who provides dynamic, rapid-fire audio feedback on blind-spot traffic, impending wrecks, drafting partners, and pit lane entry.
• Denny Hamlin: Veteran Rival Driver
  Joe Gibbs Racing stalwart and co-owner of 23XI Racing, presenting an intense tactical challenge during superspeedway drafting and late-race restarts.

• Clementine McKinney: Playable Protagonist
  An ex-soldier, expert mech pilot, and bounty hunter seeking redemption in the Red Expanse. She pilots the Desert Raptor MKII.
• Samuel Standage: Antagonist
  Clem's former tactical enemy and current antagonist, who leads the mercenary group Copper Fist and seeks to seize control of the Red Expanse.
• Teddy Cotton: Ally / Scientist
  A 'gentle and intelligent nightmare man' (scientist/Xurner) who gives Clem a psychoactive device to relive combat memories for self-exploration and passive progress improvement.

• Daytona 500: The Great American Race: Crown Jewel Career Race
  Survive 200 laps of three-wide 200 MPH superspeedway pack drafting, manage green-flag fuel stops, and make the winning pass coming out of Turn 4.
• The Chase: Phoenix Championship 4: Playoff Championship Finale
  Compete as one of the final four eligible championship drivers at Phoenix Raceway and finish ahead of your three title rivals to hoist the Cup.
• Coronado Military Base Infiltration: Road Course Special Event
  Navigate the tight concrete barrier layout of the temporary naval runway road course in the Ram Craftsman truck without acquiring terminal steering damage.

• Bounty Contracts
  The main gameplay loop. Missions are short, arena-style contracts where Clem must eliminate enemies or capture specific targets (Dead or Alive), with optional sub-goals for bonus payouts.
• Homestead Upgrades
  The main progression objective is to manage the base, building infrastructure, and crafting fuel and ammo production to maximize bounty profits.
• Relive Combat Memories
  An optional activity where Clem uses a psychoactive device from Teddy Cotton to re-engage previous missions for self-exploration and potential passive progress improvement.

Features 40-player synchronized online lobbies, private hosted leagues with customizable race distance and flag rules, competitive Ranked Playlists with iRacing-inspired Safety Rating and Skill Rating systems, asynchronous Time Attack challenges, and offline split-screen two-player multiplayer.

Standard Edition ($59.99): Full base game across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S featuring all four racing series, offline modes, and cross-platform multiplayer. Gold Edition ($79.99): Includes 3 days of early access (starting September 15, 2026), four monthly paint scheme DLC packs (September through December), 1,000 Career Mode Rep Points, a $10,000 Career Mode starting cash boost, and VIP Team Personnel.

Supported through a multi-tiered post-launch roadmap including monthly Paint Scheme DLC packs covering throwback liveries and playoff contenders from September through December 2026, alongside scheduled real-world driver rating balance patches and official NASCAR 2026 Playoff rule set updates.

• Q: What is the release date and pricing for iRacing Studios NASCAR 26?
  A: NASCAR 26 officially released on September 18, 2026, following early access on September 15 for Gold Edition purchasers. The Standard Edition is $59.99 USD, and the Gold Edition is $79.99 USD.
• Q: Does NASCAR 26 support cross-platform multiplayer?
  A: Yes, NASCAR 26 features full cross-platform multiplayer supporting up to 40 simultaneous drivers in a single online race across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
• Q: What new tracks are included in NASCAR 26?
  A: NASCAR 26 adds three new circuits: the Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado, the revitalized Chicagoland Speedway, and the St. Petersburg street track.
• Q: What physics engine powers NASCAR 26?
  A: While visually developed in Unreal Engine 5, the core vehicle dynamics, tire wear, braking, and Dynamic Track surface rubbering are powered by iRacing's industry-leading simulation engine.

• Q: What kind of game is Bounty Star?
  A: It is a single-player action-adventure game that mixes fast-paced, third-person mech combat with light base-building and farming simulation, set in a post-apocalyptic Wild West.
• Q: Does it have farming?
  A: Yes. Players can build gardens and a hydroponics system at their base to grow ingredients. Cooking meals with these ingredients provides temporary buffs for the next bounty mission.
• Q: What is the 'Thermal Management' system?
  A: It is a core mechanic where using mech abilities generates heat. Pushing the temperature too high causes a shutdown. Players must manage this heat, as the environment affects the base temperature, and strategic heat management grants powerful combat buffs.
• Q: Is the game open world?
  A: The setting is the Red Expanse, a semi-open world, but the core missions are linear, arena-style bounties. The open world primarily serves as a vast, atmospheric backdrop to travel through between objectives and the base.

Powered by Unreal Engine 5, featuring real-time dynamic skies, volumetric rubber tire smoke, sparks showering off titanium skid blocks, track surface rubbering that dynamically darkens the racing groove, realistic sheet metal deformation physics, and photo-realistic night race stadium lighting.

Authentic dynamic audio recorded directly from Cup Series dyno runs, capturing the thunderous roar of 5.86-liter pushrod V8 engines, transmission gear whine, and tire squeal under heavy braking. Spotter audio is recorded by real-world NASCAR spotter Freddie Kraft alongside return spotter voice options, backed by an energetic rock and modern country soundtrack.

Features an authentic Next Gen digital dashboard display reflecting real-world MoTeC data screens, customizable digital mirrors, dynamic proximity spotter radar arrows, real-time tire temperature gauges (Inner, Middle, Outer), interactive pit strategy selection dials, and an improved livery creation paint kit.

Includes customizable driving assists (Steering Assist, Anti-Lock Brakes, Traction Control, Dynamic Braking Line), fine-grained Force Feedback calibration sliders with damping controls, comprehensive controller deadzone tuning, full button and pedal remapping, colorblind telemetry palettes, and high-contrast UI modes.

• Requires a 64-bit operating system and processor. DirectInput, XInput, and all major force feedback racing wheels and pedals (Fanatec, Thrustmaster, Logitech, Simagic, Moza) fully supported natively.
• Laptop Performance Note: Simulating a 40-car pack with high-resolution physics ticks, particle smoke, debris, and Unreal Engine 5 lighting demands consistent sustained mobile CPU performance and adequate thermal dissipation.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Requires mobile GPUs with at least 80W-95W TGP for 1080p60 and 115W-140W+ TGP for 1440p high-refresh sim-racing.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Aggressive cooling fan profile and elevated laptop stand recommended to prevent thermal throttling during long green-flag pit cycles.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Sustained PL1 limit of 45W+ required to maintain 60-120 simulation physics ticks per second during multi-car superspeedway pack drafting.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Dedicated discrete GPU mode via MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus provides a 12-16% latency reduction and smoother frametime pacing.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: NVIDIA DLSS 3.7 (Super Resolution + Frame Generation), AMD FSR 3.1, Intel XeSS 1.3.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Crowd Density, Track Surface Details, Shadow Resolution, and Dynamic Reflection Quality have the largest impact on framerate.
• Game Name: iRacing Studios NASCAR 26

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. The game is well-optimized but the complexity of the mech combat and environment requires modern hardware.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the model's cooling and TGP. For a high-octane action game, maintaining a stable framerate during intense mech combat is crucial.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the massive mech models and complex thermal simulation.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and demanding combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU is critical for handling the physics, enemy AI, and base simulation elements.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the timing-based action combat.
• Game Name: Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem

• Upscaling Tech: NVIDIA DLSS 3.7 (Super Resolution + Frame Generation), AMD FSR 3.1, Intel XeSS 1.3.
• Key Settings Impact: Crowd Density, Track Surface Details, Shadow Resolution, and Dynamic Reflection Quality have the largest impact on framerate.

• G P U T G P: Requires mobile GPUs with at least 80W-95W TGP for 1080p60 and 115W-140W+ TGP for 1440p high-refresh sim-racing.
• Cooling Thermals: Aggressive cooling fan profile and elevated laptop stand recommended to prevent thermal throttling during long green-flag pit cycles.
• C P U Power Limits: Sustained PL1 limit of 45W+ required to maintain 60-120 simulation physics ticks per second during multi-car superspeedway pack drafting.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Dedicated discrete GPU mode via MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus provides a 12-16% latency reduction and smoother frametime pacing.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the massive mech models and complex thermal simulation.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and demanding combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU is critical for handling the physics, enemy AI, and base simulation elements.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the timing-based action combat.