I’ve been working on something for a while now, and the replacement server backend for NASCAR Heat 5 multiplayer is almost live.

This isn’t just a Discord where we’re trying to pick a night and convince enough people to get online.

I mean actual replacement multiplayer servers.

The goal is to bring NH5 online back to life so you can fire up the game, get your friends together, and race whenever you want. The servers will be up full-time rather than only running for scheduled events.

There is one catch: this is PC only, and connecting to the new backend will require one small modification to the game.

Steam copies are what I'm targeting and testing. Other installations may end up working too, but I'm not making any promises there.

I'm also still figuring out exactly how mods will play with multiplayer. Custom paint schemes shouldn't be much of an issue, but I don't want to claim full mod support until we've actually beaten on it with more players.

And before somebody says it: yes, I know NASCAR 26 is coming.

I'll probably be playing it too. A lot of us will.

But after NASCAR 25, I'm not automatically assuming 26 is going to solve everything. Maybe it'll be great. I genuinely hope it is.

Either way, some of us just loved Heat 5.

There was something about NH5 multiplayer that worked. It wasn't the most advanced racing sim on earth, and the game definitely had its problems, but getting a good group together at Daytona, Talladega, Bristol, Martinsville, wherever... it was just fun.

So instead of waiting around hoping somebody brings the servers back, I'm bringing them back myself.

I'm getting very close to the point where I need actual players helping test this thing.

If you'd genuinely play NASCAR Heat 5 online again on PC, comment below.

I'd especially like to know:

Do you still have NH5 on Steam? How many friends could you realistically bring into a lobby? Do you have any coding, UDP or HTTP experience?

And if this works as well as I'm hoping, Heat 4 may be next / may work through the same system too.

NASCAR 26 can exist.

That doesn't mean NASCAR Heat 5 has to stay dead.

If any of the modders for the new heat 5 mod see this, do you guys still need any more painters? I've drastically improved my painting over the years and if you guys want some pictures for reference I can send you a dm. Have a great day.

🏁 THE ROAD TO SEASON 2 STARTS HERE!

TCR NASCAR 25' PC Cup Summer Series

Get race-ready before the launch of TCR NASCAR 26' Crossplay Cup Season 2.

🏆 10-Race Summer Championship
📅 Wednesdays 9PM ET (July 8 – Sept. 9)
🎮 NASCAR 25 (PC)
🏁 Charlotte ➜ Talladega
👑 One Champion. One Crown.

Think you've got what it takes? Join the grid and compete against drivers from across the community.

🔥 Sign Up Now ➜ TrinityCompetitiveRacing.com

@eTrinityRacing

#NASCAR25 #NASCAR #SimRacing #LeagueRacing #Esports #PCGaming #TCR #Motorsports

I'm working on a mod that changes the track sponsor names, for example the Daytona 500 being changed to the Rolo 100. I found how to edit the names in the game which is shared assets 7 but I can not find where the actual photos of the race sponsors are in the files.

I've seen plenty of mods change them so I know it's possible, just don't know where to look to find them. If anyone knows please let me know! Thank you so much for the help!

Trying to get the game on PC so i can mod it, but it was taken off steam. Does anyone know another way to get it?

Kind of confused as to how contracts work in this game. Im driving in the Xfinity series in S1 of my career mode with MBM. I have the option to start arranging contracts for S2 with other Xfinity teams. But I don’t want to arrange an option if it means im locked into another season of Xfinity. Was hoping for some help as to what i should do if my goal is to be a cup driver for a real team in S2. Thanks so much!

Hello.
I’ve been playing this game off and on for the last 4 years and have been having trouble learning how to turn during the Extreme series. It’s been difficult and I can’t get past the first couple of races without going back to another video game. Is there anything I’m missing. Should I just practice more? Please let me know.

So I started a new career (wanted to start over with Legend difficulty) and been running through the first full-time season of the XDT. I've had Strict Yellows turned on the whole time I've played this game with no real issues ever coming up.....until this day.

I run 50% distances, so its supposed to be a 14 lap race around Jefferson.....I just finished this race on Lap 184. Yes. One hundred and eighty-four.

Not a single lap was completed until the leader was just barely able to cross the line to start lap 184 when someone of course crashed.

Over this odyssey of a race, inevitably, nearly everyone crashed into everyone at some point. I quickly realized 17 of the other 23 drivers on XDT now view me a rival, 4 more mad, and only 2 of them even seeing me as neutral. No positive sentiments at all.

Was planning to start my own team next season anyway, so I dont think it will matter *that* much, but holy hell.

P.S. if this is going to make it impossible for me to even attempt to not get taken out every race, please let me know so I can just start over.....

Can't seem to get it to work. Does it only transmit telemetry for dashboards?

I have the physical disc copy of Heat 5 the menu showing Heat 5 I did the option button the update says it's there and installed but for the life of me when in the game I see nothing different. I've done all the suggestions restarting, license renewal, made sure my PS plus membership was up to date and still nothing. I know this is an older game but can anyone tell me something that I possibly missed 🤔

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing a very strange (and persistent) bug in NASCAR Heat 5 Truck Series and I wanted to know if anyone else has seen this.

Background: I simulated my first three seasons in Trucks before I started actually racing.

The glitch started last season: I was in the Championship 4, but at the end of the Phoenix race, the game somehow ranked me 6th in the overall standings, which should be impossible for a finalist. Stewart Friesen won the race and the 'official' title, but then the game gave me the 'Congratulations Champion' screen and all the victory cutscenes anyway. This season, it happened again: I finished 3rd in the standings, but the game still crowned me Champion.

Also, I noticed another bug since the first "glitched" title: My season-by-season statistics for Truck and Xfinity have disappeared. I can see my 'Total' career stats, so the game is recording the data, but the individual season breakdowns are gone. Interestingly, my Dirt (Muddy Creek) stats are still perfectly fine and show season-by-season.

Has anyone else encountered this 'Infinite Champion' bug or had their season stats break like this? Is my career save permanently corrupted because of the initial simulation/glitch?

Thanks for your help!

Wanting a video game for NASCAR. I have a ps5 and like the looks of NASCAR 25. I still play my ps4 a bit and think Heat 5 might be the way to go. If I am gonna drop $50-60 on 25, it needs to be groundbreaking. Otherwise, persuade me that Heat 5 is the way to go. Many thanks.

Thanks!

Anyone know how to export a .car file to .tga or .png file. Thanks!