Welcome to the official NASCAR 25 Career Mode walkthrough! In this series, we’ll give you the inside line on making the most out of your NASCAR 25 career, working your way up from a start-up team in the ARCA Menards Series to the upper echelons of the NASCAR Cup Series.
This week, we’re taking you to the top level: the NASCAR Cup Series. This is what you’ve worked for throughout your time in Career Mode, and now’s your time to pursue the highest honors in the sport: the Cup Series title, a win in the Daytona 500, and as many trophies as you can take home along the way.
Welcome to the Big Show
Earning your way into the NASCAR Cup Series requires a Level 7 reputation, or 230,000 RP. As with your past promotions, your new Cup team will see an extra slot in your garage, bringing you to four cars now. And just like the previous series, you’ll start with all Level 1 equipment for the season-opening Daytona 500, while unlocking better parts as the season goes on.
By this point, you should have a strong grasp on the mechanics of Career Mode. Your Crew Chief and Mechanics will be responsible for working on your car, your Performance Manager and Engineers will be responsible for giving you access to the highest caliber parts, your Agent will find you the best sponsorship deals on the market, and your PR Manager will find you opportunities to add to your resources and reputation.
Check Your Calendar
The Cup Series has the longest schedule in NASCAR 25, with well over 30 races on the calendar. If you elect to back up your rookie Cup season with another year in the Xfinity Series to bank more money for upgrades, you’ll be in for nearly 70 races in all—so choose wisely if you decide to take on two series at once.
The Cup Series boasts the longest and largest playoff format as well. 16 drivers make the 10-race playoff through race wins and points performance in the regular season. The playoff field cuts down to 12 after three races, eight after six, and the Championship 4 after nine, setting the stage for one more showdown at Phoenix.
Just like the real-world NASCAR Cup Series, you’ll also see some additional races pop up on the schedule that won’t be run for normal points. At longer race lengths, the qualifying process for the season-opening Daytona 500 includes the Duel at Daytona, one of two shorter races that set the inside and outside rows for the race. Also included is the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, which offers you a nice financial windfall of $1,000,000 to win.
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