Best Nascar Career Sim

[KSUowls]

Just curious what people's thoughts are for the best Nascar based career mode is?

I haven't played a Nascar game in years, but I'd like to give one a shot again.

I really enjoyed the old Nascar Thunder games back in the early 2000's. Aspects of them probably weren't the most realistic, but I really liked being able to upgrade my car/team (engine, suspension, pit crew, etc). Is there anything more modern which allows that? My understand of the new Nascar Heat games is the driving is solid, but the career mode is very vanilla.

Appreciate any recommendations.

[pk500]

Re: Best Nascar Career Sim

Thunder still offers the best NASCAR career experience, even after all these years. Typical EA depth, which the current developer doesn't match.

NASCAR Heat 2 is a far better driving and racing experience than Thunder, which still was a very good game. But its career mode pales compared to Thunder.

[KSUowls]

Re: Best Nascar Career Sim

Thanks!

I never played Dirt to Daytona, but reading up on it, sounds like the career mode is pretty deep. Do you remember if you're able to have a single digit number in that one? I remember the early Thunder games forced you have a triple digit number on your car. That always bothered me, but iirc they did change that towards the end of the series.

Both games are pretty expensive on amazon . Wish my younger self had not traded in Thunder 2004 all those years ago.

[BurghFan]

Re: Best Nascar Career Sim

My vote goes to EA's NASCAR Fight to the Top 2005 through NASCAR 09 where you started in the modified series and worked your way to to Cup (except in the PS3 version of 09 which didn't have Modified so you started in Trucks. NASCAR Heat 2 takes a big step forward adding Xfinity and Trucks and the racing is really good with control off but not so much with Stability control on (Needs to have toggle-able assists like NASCAR games used to) and the presentation is still rather lacking.