The Gen 4 Grand National is the newest oval car in iRacing. It came with 2026 Season 4 and models the series one step below Cup in the Gen 4 era, the years before the Car of Tomorrow. If you own the Gen 4 Cup car, you probably already have it.
Everything below comes from iRacing: the Season 4 release notes, the August 2026 development update and the car page, read on 2 November 2026.
What car it is
iRacing describes it as the tier one level down from the top stock cars between 1992 and 2006. In the real world that was NASCAR's second division of the time, the Busch Series.
| Gen 4 Grand National | |
|---|---|
| Era | 1992 to 2006, before the Car of Tomorrow |
| Body | Same sheet metal as the Cup cars of the time |
| Wheelbase | 105 inches, shorter than Cup |
| Engine | 358 cubic inch V8 |
| Rules | 9:1 compression, 390 CFM carburettor |
| Power | Around 600 to 650 hp |
| Track type | Asphalt oval, with an automatic dirt tyre on dirt ovals |
| AI | Yes |
iRacing's summary: lighter and a little less powerful than the Cup cars of that era, and very agile.
How to get it
The car is in one package with two others:
- ARCA Menards Chevrolet Impala
- Gen 4 Grand National
- Gen 4 Cup (still marked Legacy)
The package used to be called "[Legacy] ARCA Menards Chevrolet and Gen 4 Cup". With Season 4 it lost the Legacy tag and gained the new car. iRacing says everyone who already had access to the package keeps it and got the Grand National for free on patch day.
If you don't own it, you buy the package in the iRacing store. iRacing's notes don't give a price, so check the store before you plan on it. What cars and tracks normally cost, and the multi-buy discounts, are in how much iRacing costs.
Where to race it
iRacing gave the car its own official series, running opposite the Gen 4 Cup series in the schedule. So if one doesn't fit your evening, the other might.
It also works in AI racing, which is the best way to learn it. Run a few AI races on the oval of the week before you take it online.
How it drives
I haven't raced this car, so here is what iRacing says, and what that means from experience in lower power cars.
Less power and less weight than the Cup car means you can't drive it on the throttle. iRacing's own words are "massive momentum preservation and smooth pedal inputs". On an oval that means:
- Lift less and earlier rather than braking hard and late.
- Keep the car on the line you can hold flat, not the one that looks shortest.
- Every bit of speed you lose in the corner, you won't get back on the straight.
It is the same lesson as moving from a fast car to a slower one anywhere: the slower car punishes every mistake for longer. iRacing also updated the drafting model on both Gen 4 cars in Season 4, so packs will behave differently from what Gen 4 Cup veterans remember.
Gen 4 Grand National or something else?
If you want modern NASCAR on a console or PC without a subscription, NASCAR 26 is the other option, also from iRacing Studios. If you are new to iRacing, start with my iRacing beginner guide before you buy any oval package.
For paint schemes, my iRacing NASCAR liveries page shows how to put your own on the car.
FAQ
When did the Gen 4 Grand National come out on iRacing?
With 2026 Season 4. The release build is dated 9 September 2026 and the season started on 15 September.
Is the Gen 4 Grand National free on iRacing?
Only if you already owned the ARCA Menards Chevrolet and Gen 4 Cup package. Owners got it free on patch day. Everyone else buys the package.
What series is the Gen 4 Grand National in?
Its own official series, running opposite the Gen 4 Cup series.
What is the Gen 4 Grand National based on?
The second tier of NASCAR between 1992 and 2006, before the Car of Tomorrow. Cup bodies on a shorter 105 inch wheelbase, with 358 cubic inch V8s at around 600 to 650 hp.
Can you race the Gen 4 Grand National against AI?
Yes. iRacing says AI drivers are ready to race with it.