Kyle Larson named as the cover star for NASCAR 26

It is not every day you see a race car spinning tires on the deck of an aircraft carrier. In a wild scene aboard the historic USS Midway in San Diego, Kyle Larson made his surprise entrance for the official reveal of the NASCAR 26 cover art, performing a series of burnouts that set the stage for the night.

Developed by iRacing Studios, the title is slated for a September 2026 release and promises to feature the Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado. It was a proper show, blending the reveal of the game’s face with a media kickoff for the NASCAR San Diego Race Weekend, all while honoring the local military community with a donation to Freedom Park and the USS Midway Museum.