If you’ve spent years perfecting your braking points at Monza or avoiding the barriers at Monaco in the F1 games over the years, jumping into NASCAR 25 might feel like stepping into another planet. The cars are heavier, the tracks are shorter, and yes — most of the turns go left. But beneath the surface, there’s a layer of strategy, precision, and intensity that any F1 player can learn to appreciate once you understand the differences.
This is your map for making that transition. Think of it as an F1 fan’s guide to NASCAR racing, but in video game form.
Formula Vs. Stock Car Racing
The first thing to understand is that NASCAR’s version of racing isn’t about lap time, but rather survival and racecraft. You’re not managing ERS deployment or trying to nail DRS zones. Instead, you’re managing traffic, turbulence, and chaos at 190 MPH. With over 30 cars just inches away.
In F1, qualifying is half the battle. In NASCAR 25, you can start mid-pack and still win thanks to the stage racing format. Each race is split into multiple stages that award points before the final result (though this setting can be turned off for a more traditional experience), introducing pit-stop gambles and restart chaos that reward awareness and adaptability more than sheer speed.
And while you won’t find Monaco or Spa, track variety plays a surprisingly deep role here. NASCAR 25 includes a mix of short ovals, superspeedways, and road courses, each requiring a totally different rhythm (hence why driver ratings are based on track types). The bump-drafting ballet of Daytona feels nothing like the rhythm-brake-and-roll pacing of Watkins Glen.
Car Behavior And Handling
If you rely on F1‘s downforce grip, you’ll need to unlearn some instincts. Stock cars are heavier, slide more, and depend on the draft. Aerodynamics are still crucial, but instead of hugging the apex, your best move might be gluing your nose to the bumper ahead.
Drafting and side-drafting are core mechanics in NASCAR 25. Sitting in clean air might feel great, until the pack behind you catches a run and slingshots past you (insert Ricky Bobby joke here). Managing your line to maintain momentum and airflow is the secret sauce of competitive oval racing.
You’ll also notice more body roll, more brake fades, and less sensitivity to kerbs. Think “momentum management” instead of “aero precision.”
Strategy And Pit Stops
In F1, pit windows and undercuts are calculated to the tenth of a second. In NASCAR 25, strategy is more like poker. Caution periods can flip a race instantly, and deciding whether to pit under yellow or stay out can win or lose you a stage.
Fuel saving and tire wear matter, but the true test comes during restarts. Every yellow flag means a full-speed scrum where one bad block or mistimed push can turn your race into a pileup. But there is good news — the game’s damage model and cautions mean you’ll rarely be out completely, but rather forced to adapt to each situation.
Tips For Starting In NASCAR 25
- Start Small: Try short-oval tracks like Bristol or Martinsville to master throttle control and spacing before tackling tracks like Daytona
- Draft, Don’t Drive: You can’t outbrake anyone into Turn 1 like you can in the F1 games. Plan your passes using runs from the draft.
- Expect Contact: “Rubbing is racing” might sound like a corny cliche, but in stock car racing, it’s a cliche for a reason.
- Keep It Simple: When starting NASCAR 25 for the first time, try to disable some of the more gimmicky stuff like Stages. If you’re purely focused on increasing your in-game pace (like most people), distractions like that can hamper your feeling for everything.
