NASCAR 26's Early Access is a Gold Edition perk: buyers got in three days before everyone else, starting September 15, 2026, ahead of the September 18 general release across Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
What's Confirmed
The official FAQ confirms a Gold Edition purchase made during the pre-order window includes three days of Early Access. iRacing's own launch-day coverage, published September 15, 2026, confirms Early Access began that day for Gold Edition owners and reconfirms September 18, 2026 as the Standard Edition release date. Early Access applies across all three platforms — it isn't limited to PC; see Early Access on PC for Steam-specific detail.
Standard Edition does not include Early Access — its buyers get access starting the general release date, September 18, 2026.
FAQ
Yes, for Gold Edition buyers: three days ahead of the general release, starting September 15, 2026.
No. Standard Edition buyers get access starting the general release date, September 18, 2026.