: Many die-hard fans have moved to dedicated Discord communities and third-party platforms (like PC mods or private server tools) to keep private leagues running, though these require manual setup.

: For years, Heat 5 was considered the "last stable" NASCAR console experience, often preferred over its successor, NASCAR 21: Ignition , due to its more reliable physics and deeper career mode. NASCAR Heat 5 Review

: The shutdown occurred due to the transition of the NASCAR gaming license to iRacing. This means the standard "Online" button in the menu is no longer functional for matchmaking.