NASCAR 25, the sport’s inaugural console game developed by iRacing, is set for release on October 14, 2025, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. However, what promised to be an exciting launch has triggered backlash due to the exclusion of notable female drivers from the game’s extensive 176-driver roster, igniting discussions around gender representation within racing and gaming communities.
Roster Details Highlight Significant Omissions and Surprising Inclusions
The game features comprehensive coverage across NASCAR’s top series: 45 drivers from the Cup Series, 44 from Xfinity, 48 from the Truck Series, and 57 from the ARCA Menards Series. Despite this broad selection, fans quickly noticed the absence of prominent female competitors, provoking questions about how the roster was decided.
Katherine Legge of Live Fast Motorsports, a British veteran with active participation in both Cup and Xfinity races this season, was notably missing. Similarly, Toni Breidinger, a rising star in Tricon Garage’s Truck Series lineup, was excluded despite her growing reputation.
Compounding the frustration was the presence of part-time male drivers, some with limited race starts, included on rosters over these active female participants. Connor Zilisch, representing JR Motorsports, appears in the Xfinity lineup but is absent from the Cup Series, although he raced in the No. 87 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet during the season.
Fan Reactions Point to Unequal Treatment of Female Drivers
Social media conversations erupted immediately following the roster announcement, with fans voicing concern about inconsistent inclusions. One user commented on NASCAR’s official announcement, comparing the selections by highlighting,
Burt Myers included, but not Katherine legge?
—fan
This comparison stirred debate because Burt Myers competes part-time in the Cup Series while racing full-time in SMART Modified competition, yet was favored over Legge, who has had more NASCAR Cup starts this season.
Statistical evidence was also brought forward to reinforce this perceived disparity, with a user stating:
Katherine Legge has made five Cup starts this year and she’s not in @Nascar25Game Martin Truex Jr. and Helio Castroneves made one start and are in it. Burt Myers ran the Clash and Martinsvile and he’s in it.
—Daniel McFadin, NASCAR reporter
Beyond specific names, many fans emphasized why female representation in the game is crucial for inspiring young players. One supporter wrote,
There should be a woman in no matter just for young females that want to play the game. Toni, Katherine any of the up and coming women.
—fan
Speculation on Future Content and Notable Absences in Legacy Drivers
Some observers expressed skepticism, suspecting that missing female drivers might be added later as paid downloadable content. One predicted,
Theyre gonna make Zilisch, Love, Heim, Legge, etc DLC for an insane price.
—fan
The currently announced roster also excludes several NASCAR legends, including Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bill Elliott, and Rusty Wallace. Whether these iconic figures will be incorporated in future updates remains uncertain.
Nevertheless, the game does showcase present-day drivers like Ross Chastain, Josh Bilicki, and William Sawalich across various series, providing a degree of contemporary representation.
Rising Expectations for a More Inclusive Driver Selection Before Launch
As the October launch date draws near, pressure is mounting on the developers and NASCAR officials to address fan concerns and reassess the roster for more equitable inclusion of female competitors. This controversy underscores the growing demand to balance authenticity in racing games with fair visibility for women in motorsports.
The outcome may influence how gaming studios handle diversity in sports titles moving forward, potentially setting a precedent for greater gender representation and engagement with a broader fanbase.
