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| By Brad Cook You come out of the final turn and move your car to the inside of the track, hoping to get an edge on the front-runner. You can see the finish line in the distance; victory is close in the last lap of this race. |
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 Gut-wrenching Tension. One misplaced bump can cost you the race. Hold on tight. |
Your gas tank gauge hovers precariously above “E.” Will your decision to skip that last pit stop pay off? You hope so.
200+ MPH. NASCAR 2002 matches the sense of speed and maneuverability of a real stock car.
But there’s no more time to worry about that now. Your car edges in front of your opponent, and you cross the finish line neck-and-neck. You’ve won, by the barest of margins.
Fantasy and Reality Merge
Another morning commute fantasy? No, you’re playing Aspyr Media and Sierra Entertainment’s latest game, NASCAR Racing Season 2002. This title offers the best NASCAR drivers in the world, including Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and all 23 real-life tracks in the Winston Cup circuit, as well as a fictional speedway.
At speeds in excess of 200 MPH, NASCAR racing certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, but luckily you’ll only bruise your ego if you make the wrong move and cause a spectacular crash. Like most sports, it’s a game of inches; get too close to an opponent and you could find yourself listed under “Did Not Finish” on the final leader board.
Pitstop.
The Secret of Your Success
NASCAR also shares another trait with other sports: the concept of a season, complete with a champion. In this case, you earn points depending on where you finish in each of the 39 races that make up the season; the driver with the most points at the end is the overall winner. So even if you wipe out during the Daytona 500, which is the third race of the season, you have plenty of chances to earn points later in the year.
To be successful, though, you’ll need more than the ability to maneuver your car through tight spots; you’ll also need to figure out how to configure your vehicle before each race and when to pull in for pit stops during the races. The former allows you to fine tune your stock car for each track’s unique traits while the latter brings a strategy element into the game. If your gas tank is running dangerously low late in the race, do you risk a quick pit stop for more fuel and lose precious time, or do you hope that you won’t run out of gas before the finish line and keep going?
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Luckily, you do have help making those decisions. Your pit crew leader plays an integral role in your success. He’ll let you know what your status is and give you tips on how to approach sticky situations.
If you’re not a NASCAR aficionado and need more help than your pit crew leader can offer, try out the 10-lesson driving school that’s included with the game. You’ll learn pit strategy, NASCAR rules, driving skills and more.
Virtual Reality. Behind the wheel, gauging the situation.
Take the Race to the Internet
After you’ve built up your confidence racing against computer-controlled opponents, head online and give human competition a try. NASCAR Racing Season 2002 includes support for the free Mac-only online service GameRanger, which allows you to hook up with other stock car fans and have fun. Up to 42 drivers — the same number in an official NASCAR race — can log on to the same track and duel for bragging rights.
Versatile Simulations. Race at any time of the day, or in any weather conditions.
And with the latest version of Mac OS X Jaguar, you’ll be able to feel every bump during the race if you have a controller equipped with Force Feedback, such as the MOMO Force (See System Requirements for additional wheels).
See you online.
If you liked this game, check out:
Cro-Mag Rally F1 Championship Season
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