NASCAR Coursebuilders, Drivers Consult Videogame Version

Thanks to the St.Petersburg Times for their article discussing how NASCAR videogames are giving the real-life drivers tips on a newly redesigned course. According to the piece, which discusses the "$10 million... redesign of Homestead-Miami Speedway", the drivers are checking out EA Sports' new NASCAR title for tips on the as yet undriven new layout: "'The boys playing the video game said Homestead's going to be real fast,' said Busch Series driver Scott Riggs in September... 'With that new banking in there, they could be pushing 180 (mph) in the straightaway'." The coursebuilders at the International Speedway Corporation also got their first look at racing conditions from the game, according to an EA spokesman: "The first time we went down and showed the game to the ISC people they were jumping around the office... [the redesign] was going to add roughly 30 mph to the top speed and shave five seconds off a lap."

Comments

Papyrus sims and NASCAR drivers

[Maroon Corps]

The EA "NASCAR Thunder" series is not as popular among the drivers as the Papyrus n2k3 sim. Unfortunately, EA has acquired sole rights to the franchise, so this year's Papy version will be the last. There are a great deal of addons for it already--new tracks, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series mods, etc.

Quite a few of the drivers play the game, especially for practice on the non-oval road courses. They describe the physics as being pretty close to the real thing. Some race online, most notably Dale Earnhardt Jr who has participated in several league races.