Yes, you can drive out of the playfield but it slows you waaaay down so normally you would avoid this. Each crash stops the car for about 3 seconds UNLESS you quickly reverse then forward again. And while your outside the playfield your car will only drive in low speed even when it's floored. Using the buttons on the eval board instead of steering wheels, pedals and shifters like the real game it's nearly impossible to play this game correctly. I did verify on an actual Death Race board you are able to drive out of the playfield as well.

