F1 racing has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. The Netflix documentary had a big effect on the rise in popularity – and the return of a Grand Prix in Las Vegas this year has meant that the motorsports organization has won over a lot of new fans in the US in particular.
But there is another established racing series that has long been a firm favorite – and that is NASCAR. Launched at Daytona Beach, Florida, way back in 1948, it is now one of the biggest motorsports organizations in the world and is almost a part of everyday life in some areas of the US.
The excitement and high-octane action have brought new generations to the races and a whole new demographic now knows where to bet on NASCAR races. They have also been treated to some of the best motorsports video games on the market in recent years. There is a lot of competition when it comes to the racing market, but these seven NASCAR-themed games are probably some of the very best.
iRacing
This ultra-realistic racing game was first launched back in 2008 but has continued to be one of the go-to titles for fans of NASCAR all around the world. The competition and gameplay are two major attractions and it is possibly the closest you will get to the experience of the circuit without actually getting into a car.
iRacing was deemed so authentic that during the COVID pandemic, NASCAR sanctioned its own series. Professional drivers took part in events while the real races were cancelled and the idea was so popular, that the games were televised for NASCAR fans to enjoy at home.
NASCAR Thunder 2004
It is not meant to demean any of the NASCAR video games out there, but many of them are very similar – no matter how addictive they are to play. So it does take something special for a title to stand out from the rest. Fans of NASCAR Thunder 2004 will remember fondly the additions to this one.
This was the year that two very special modes were introduced to this game. The Grudges and Alliances feature allowed gamers to choose friends and enemies during a race – and that could really affect the outcome. The lightning challenge also put gamers in real-life situations from the previous two NASCAR seasons.
Gran Turismo 5
This one is not strictly a NASCAR game. But we are including it here as it does include some features of the motorsports series – and mainly because the game is just so good to play. Gran Turismo 5 was a hugely popular title in its day and still has a dedicated fan base.
The NASCAR element was actually restricted to just two circuits – the famous Daytona and Indianapolis – and only a handful of the cars. But it was a great way to see NASCAR in a slightly different light and probably introduced some newcomers from the other motorsports worlds.
NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona
We have already mentioned how many racing games are very similar, no matter how enjoyable they are to play. But NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona brought a whole new aspect to the experience, allowing gamers to build their own careers in the sport, just as the actual drivers would have had to.
The “dirt” of the title is the dirt tracks that stock car racers begin life on, while the “Daytona” is obviously the world-famous circuit where the professionals end up to the delight of the fans. This game allowed fans to see the life away from the track as well as test their driving skills.
NASCAR Rumble
All the games we have profiled so far have been very realistic depictions of NASCAR and are attractive for gamers as they get a taste of life on the circuit. But there is always room for a little more arcade-style action – and NASCAR Rumble, from EA Sports, brought a whole new element to the genre.
If you think what NASCAR would be like if it was raced like Mario Kart, then you should have a pretty good idea of this game. Power-ups and fantasy tracks were just some of the crazy features of this game that were aimed at non-NASCAR fans as much as anyone else.
NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup
This is another game that was very popular for its inclusion of a career mode and introducing levels of the sport. As much as the racing is always going to be the main draw for NASCAR fans, there is a fascination with the career path of a driver – and these games provide that.
The introduction of a story mode is similar to other sports-themed titles and Chase for the Cup offered gamers the chance to work their way through four levels of the sport before being able to compete for the biggest prize in NASCAR.
NASCAR 06: Total Team Control
Forever looking for a different angle for NASCAR fans to grasp onto, EA Sports introduced a teamwork element to this game, released in 2005. It gave gamers an insight into being part of a team, rather than just a solo driver going for glory. This was especially good for players used to combining skills on other titles.
The teamwork controls were really quite advanced, allowing gamers to radio their teammate drivers to instruct them on tactics and blocking techniques. It even allowed a user to request to switch to another car altogether. These kinds of extra features are what have made NASCAR video games consistently some of the biggest racing titles available.
