NASCAR Racing 2002 Season - PC Games

It's the most complete NASCAR simulation to date, and the realistic physics add a new dimension to the gameplay. Proper weight-transfer is now imperative, and adjustments made to spoilers, shocks and other components of the car become immediately evident on the track as the car reacts accordingly.

With the right processor and video card, NASCAR 2002, can generate visuals that are difficult to distinguish from TV broadcasts. Smoke from burnouts and collisions can hang in the air for minutes, and the new physics model means cars hunker down on their shocks while braking and turning. The tracks are all cracked and pitted, with tire marks and oil trails slowly building up on the standard racing lines. The cars feature immaculate paint jobs that are fully customisable using the included painting tools.

The single-player mode offers computer-controlled opponents that drive realistically, although they can be too aggressive if you're on a line they want. It's much more fun to build some skill in the single-player game and then migrate to online play, where drivers from around the world perpetually challenge one another. NASCAR 2002, isn't perfect at this point, but a few patches should correct what minor flaws it has, and it still stands as the best NASCAR simulation ever created. --Jason Healey