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'OOOoooo" ,OOOoooOOo", o#@. ;##%'%##,,##O ,##@.;##%o@@##' o##@',%##@..@##%.... %###";;@###' ,##' %#@ ,##o %##, O##' @##; %##% ,###o."###' O##@""""; '###%"@###o, ;o". .OO; "O%. o%@"o@O' "##O .@##; %##@""@##O ;###o... .@##@. %###' ... ,,,,,;,, ;''''"""' ;""o; oOOO; oO'%O..oooO' .'"o"; ,;'';. ,'o%' %#"o#o @#o"#@ .'o;@#" .o#%', '#%'#@."#%;@#'.'',o#@ ...,. ,;';. ,""""; ,OO"OO, ---------------------------- ASCII ART by Dark Phenomenon ---------------------------- o----------------------------------------------o | NASCAR Thunder 2003 Racing Guide | | by Stephen "Warhawk" Harris | | Covers: PlayStation2 | | Date Created: 03.15.2003 | | Last Modified: 06.06.2012 | | Version: 2.0 | | Sites to be Found On: www.gamefaqs.com | o----------------------------------------------o -NASCAR Thunder is a registerd trademark of Electronic Arts- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Table of Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Introduction 2. Contact 3. Version History 4. Controls 5. Tracks Part One: Licensed Part Two: Infield Part Three: 2002 Race Winners 6. Drivers Part One: Cup Part Two: Legends Part Trhee: Busch Part Four: Fantasy 7. Lightning Challenges 8. Car Set-ups Part One: Regular Tracks Part Two: Infield Road Courses 9. Thunder Plates 10. Season Mode 11. Career Mode Part One: Introduction to Career Mode Part Two: Getting your Career started 12. Codes / Secrets 13. New Features 14. Credits / Legal Notice 15. Thank You ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to Warhawk's NASCAR Thunder 2003 Racing Guide. I hope that you'll be able to find this guide very informative and a couple things that weren't covered in the other guide that is currently posted on Game FAQs. With those sections I am hoping that you'll be able to be successful while out on the track, and possibly win a few championships in both Season and Career modes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Contact ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To be able to contact Stephen "Warhawk" Harris please drop me an e-mail at gamefaqswarhawk [at] gmail [dot] com, with any questions, comments or any information that you may believe that I may have missed in this guide. Please don't send any hateful mail because I will not tolerate it because it can be considered harassment, so please make sure you know what you want to ask / comment before you send the e-mail to me. Be sure to have "NASCAR Thunder 2003" in the subject so I don't accidentally delete the e-mail. This includes sending e-mails with some picture which may be inappropriate. Please if you send me any e-mails with any kind of vulgar language such as the "f" word. You may also like me on Facebook to know about any future plans I will have with guide writing and all. Any questions asked on the page I will try my best at answering to the best of my knowledge about any of the guides I have done in the past, and yes even if it's a question on that game I done one for. Even if it is to ask me what I plan of doing next and all. http://www.facebook.com/WarhawkFAQs -------- Donation -------- Also,If you found this walkthrough useful and would like to make a small donation on PayPal. The e-mail is fpr that is warhawkfaqs@ymail.com and I will not force anyone to donate but is up to the reader if they choose to. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Version History ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Version 1.06 ------------ Added a few tracks in Tracks section Version 1.07 ------------ Updated Drivers Section Version 1.08 ------------ Updated Set-Ups section Version 1.09 ------------ Updated Drivers (legendary) section Added 31st Lightning Challenge Updated Controls section Version 1.10 ------------ Added ASCII Art (done by Dark Phenomenon) Version 1.11 ------------ Updated Legend Drivers Stats Updated Winston Cup Driver Stats Version 1.12 ------------ Done a few changes to NASCAR Thunder 2003 Racing Guide Deleted some of the Version History Done Season Mode Version 1.13 ------------ Updated Contact Info Version 1.14 ------------ Added Thunder Plates Version 1.15 ------------ Cleaned up NASCAR Thunder 2003 Race Guide a bit Version 1.25 ------------ Updated Driver Stats [Winston] Done Track Strategies [except for Infield/Fantasy Tracks] Version 1.25a ------------- Updated the Codes/Secrets a bit Version 2.0 ----------- Cleaned up guide Updated Contact Info ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Controls ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In-Game Controls ---------------- Control Function ------- -------- X Throttle Square Brake Triangle Reverse Start Pause Game R1 Shift Down Select Toggle Race Info / Race Map Circle Change Camera Left Analog Stick Steering R2 Shift Up Menu Controls ------------- Control Function ------- -------- D-Pad Choose X Accept Triangle Back L1 View Driver Stats / Track Info ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Tracks ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------- Part One: Licensed Tracks ------------------------- Atlanta Location: Hampton, GA Banking on Straightaways: 5* Distance: 1.54 miles Back Stretch: 1,320 ft. Track Type: Speedway Banking in Turns: 24* Front Stretch: 1,415 ft. Website: www.atlantamotorspeedway.com Inaugral Race: 1960 Seating Capacity: Events: MBNA America 400 Winner's Purse: NAPA 500 **Georgia 500** Strategy -------- As you come out of turn 4 you should be around 172 - 174 MPH as you exit the turn towards the start/finish line. As you go down the frontstretch you should be able to reach around 194 - 195 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. When you go through turns 1 - 2 be sure to let off the gas before enter in the turns to around and keep your speed steady to around 169 - 174 MPH through the turns. As you exit turn 2 you want to get near the wall but not real close to where you end up scraping the wall and whatnot. Before you enter turns 3 - 4 your speed should reach to around 189 MPH before entering those turns. Just like you did in turns 1 - 2 let off the brake a bit until you get down to around 170 - 171 MPH but a tip that I can give is to keep it steady on the brake not just through turns 3 - 4 but as well as turns 1 - 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bristol Location: Bristol, Tennessee Front Straight: 650 ft. Distance: .533 miles Back Straight: 650 ft. Track Type: Short Track Website: www.bristolmotorspeedway.com Banking in Turns: 36* Seating Capacity: Banking on Straightaways: 16* Winner's Purse: Inaugral Race: 1961 Events: Food City 500 Sharpie 500 Strategy -------- Let's get to the point to how to get around this short but fast race track. As you race out of turn 4 you want to be around 106 - 108 if you manage to get out of turn 4 at those speeds. As you go down the frontstretch across the start/finish line and before you enter turns 1 - 2 you might be able to reach to around 125 - 129 maybe a few MPH under that. As you brake to enter the turns 1 - 2 slow down to around 106 - 108 MPH. As you exit turn 2 to head down the backstretch just like any other track be sure not to hit the wall or you'll loose speed. As you go down the backstretch you should get to around 129 MPH before braking for turns 3 - 4. When you go through turns 3 - 4, you want to be around 106 - 108 through the turns. As you exit turn 4 do the same as you did on the backstretch but this time to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ California Location: Fontana California Banking on Back Straight: 3* Distance: 2.0 miles Front Straight: 3,100 ft. Track Type: Oval Back Straight: 2,500 ft. Banking in Turns: 14* Website: www.californiaspeedway.com Banking on Front Straight: 11* Seating Capacity: Inaugral Race: 1997 Winner's Purse: Event: NAPA Auto Parts 500 Strategy -------- California is a track with not very much banking which allows for long green flag racing. As you exit out of turn 4 you should be around 165 - 168 MPH as you head towards the start/finish line. As you race down the frontstretch you can be able to reach around 195 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. When you start to brake into turns 1 - 2 you should be around 166 - 170 MPH, then as you exit turn 2 be sure to race up near the wall as you head down the backstretch. You will reach to around 191 MPH before braking for turns 3 - 4, and when you enter turns 3 - 4 drop your speed to around 166 - 170 MPH. As you exit turn 4 you should be around 175 MPH and gaining as you exit turn 4 racing to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chicagoland Location: Joliet, Illinois Front Straight: 2,400 ft. Distance: 1.5 miles Back Straight: 1,700 ft. Track Type: Speedway Website: www.chicagolandspeedway.com Banking in Turns: 18* Seating Capacity: Banking on Front Stretch: 11* Winner's Purse: Banking on Back Stretch: 5* Inaugral Race: 2001 Event: Tropicana 400 Strategy -------- Chicagoland is almost similar to Las Vegas, but at Chicago the speeds seem to be a bit higher than at Vegas. As you exit out of turn 4 you should be around 166 - 168 MPH as you head down the frontstretch to the start/finish line. As you race down the frontstretch you should reach a speed around 191 MPH before heading into turns 1 - 2. As you brake to head in turns 1 - 2 slow down to around 165 - 167 as you head through the turns, and as you exit out of turn 2 slide up by the wall but not too close though. As you race down the backstretch, reaching a speed to around 188 MPH before heading through turns 3 - 4. When you brake to go through turns 3 - 4 to around 165 - 167 MPH through turns 3 - 4. Now as you exit turn 4 around 170 or better to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Darlington Location: Darlington, South Carolina Front Stretch: 1,229 ft. Distance: 1.366 miles Back Stretch: 1,229 ft. Track Type: Superspeedway Website: www.darlingtonraceway.com Banking in Turns: 25* Seating Capacity: Banking on Straights: 2* Winner's Purse: Inaugral Race: 1950 Events: Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 Mountain Dew Southern 500 Strategy -------- Alright let's get to the strategy of how to get around this legendary track. When you exit turn 4 heading onto the frontstretch you want to be around 140 - 143 MPH heading towards the start/finish line. When you head down the fronstretch to turns 1 - 2 of a speed around 175 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. As you go through turns 1 - 2 slow down to around 150 - 156 MPH by the time you exit out of turn 2. As you race down the backstretch be up by the wall but be sure not to try getting your Darlington stripe. Before you head in turns 3 - 4 you should be able to get a speed of around 180 MPH. As you brake to go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 133 - 140 MPH as you come out of turn 4 to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Daytona Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Front Straight: 3,800 ft. Distance: 2.5 miles Back Straight: 3,400 ft. Track Type: Superspeedway Website: www.daytonaintlspeedway.com Banking in Turns: 31* Seating Capacity: Banking on Tri-Oval: 18* Winner's Purse: Banking on Straight: 3* Inaugral Race: 1959 Events: The Shootout [aka "Bud Shootout"] Daytona 500 Pepsi 400 Strategy -------- Let's get on with on how to get around the Daytona International Speedway. As you come out of turn 4 you want to be around 182 MPH as you go onto the frontstretch towards the start/finish line. As you head down the frontstretch you should be able to reach around 195 MPH before going into turns 1 - 2. At Daytona you don't need to brake going through the turns at a track like this. All you want to do is be down by the yellow line as you go through turns 1 - 2 at around 188 - 190 MPH through the turns. As you exit turn 2 you want to be up by the wall as you go down the backstretch reaching a speed to around 196 MPH before going in turns 1 - 2. You want to go through turns 3 - 4 like you did when you went through turns 1 - 2 at around 189 MPH. Once you exit turn 4 you should be around 190 by the exit of the turn heading to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Daytona Infield Course Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Website: N/A Distance: Seating Capacity: Track Type: Road Course Winner's Purse: Banking in Turns: Various Inaugral Race: 1959 Event: Strategy -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dover Downs Location: Dover, Delaware Front Stretch: 1,076 ft. Distance: 1.0 miles Back Stretch: 1,076 ft. Track Type: Speedway Website: www.doverdowns.com Banking in Turns: 24* Seating Capacity: Banking on Straights: 9* Winner's Purse: Inaugral Race: 1969 Events: MBNA Platinum 400 MBNA All-American Heroes 400 **Dover 400** Strategy -------- Alright let's get to how to get around the track known as "The Monster Mile" Dover Downs. As you race coming out of turn 4 you want to be around 150 - 153 MPH as you come off onto the frontstretch. As you go down the frontstretch you will reach around 170 MPH before you brake to enter turns 1 - 2. When you slow down to go through turns 1 - 2 brake to around 146 - 151 MPH to get through turns 1 - 2. As you exit turn 2 slide safely up by the wall as you go down the backstretch. You will reach around 170 MPH before entering turns 3 - 4, and when you go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 146 - 151 as you go through turns 3 - 4, be sure on the exit of turn 4 to get on the gas and hit it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Homestead-Miami Location: Homestead, Florida Front Stretch: 1,760 ft. Distance: 1.5 miles Back Stretch: 1,760 ft. Track Type: Speedway Website: www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com Banking in Turns: 6* Seating Capacity: Banking on Front Straight: 2* Winner's Purse: Inaugral Race: 1999 Event: Ford 400 Strategy -------- As you come out of turn 4 you want to be around 144 - 146 MPH as you set up to go down the frontstretch. Before heading into turns 1 - 2 you should be able to get up to around 170 MPH and as you head through turns 1 - 2 you want to be around 129 - 133 MPH. As you exit turn 2 at 135 or better heading down the backstretch you should be able to reach 180 MPH just like when you were on the frontstretch before entering turns 3 - 4. You want to take turns 3 - 4 like turns 1 - 2 around 129 - 133 MPH, and then back onto the fronstretch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Homstead-Miami Infield Course Location: Homestead, Florida Webstie: N/A Distance: Seating capacity: Track Type: Road Course Winner's Purse: Banking in Turns: Inaugral Race: 1999 Event: Strategy -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Indianapolis Location: Speedway, Indiana Front Stretch: 3,300 ft. Distance: 2.5 miles Back Stretch: 3,300 ft. Track Type: Superspeedway Website: www.brickyard.com Banking in Turns: 12* Seating Capacity: Banking on Straights: 9* Winner's Purse: Inaugral Race: 1994 Event: Brickyard 400 Strategy -------- As you exit out of turn 4 you should be around 160 - 163 MPH as you head onto the frontstretch. As you go down the frontstretch you want to try to get around 196 MPH before entering turn 1. When go through turn 1 you want to be around 156 - 162 MPH going through turn 1, but there'll be a bit of a short stretch before turn 2 in which you can gain a bit of speed but slow down to around 156 - 162 MPH through turn 2. As you race down the backstretch it's quite long before you get to turn 3, but before you enter turn 3 you might be able to reach around 197 MPH before you go about entering turn 3. As you go through turn 3 it's just like when you did in turns 1 - 2 around 156 - 162 MPH then you'll have a small stretch before turn 4, and the same speed for turn 4 156 - 162 MPH before going back onto the frontstretch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Infineon Location: Sonama, California Seating Capacity: Distance: 2.0 miles Winner's Purse: Track Type: Road Course Website: www.infineonraceway.com Inaugral Race: 1989 Event: Dodge/Save Mart 350 Strategy -------- When you race at this track you want to have good acceleration because that is one of the keys to doing well at a track like Infineon Raceway. As you come out of turn 10 you want to be around 35 - 50 MPH going through the hairpin hugging the turn but not too much because you don't want to hit the tires, as you head to the start/finish line. As you cross the line there'll be a small turn to the left [turn 1] around 122 MPH as you approach turn 2 you want to be around 98 - 102 MPH going through turn 2. Turn 3 isn't that far off because you'll have to slow down to around 65 - 70 MPH going through turn 3 then onto a small stretch to turn 4. Turn 4 slow down to around 88 - 92 MPH and turn 5 isn't far off from turn 4. To take turn 5 well slow down to around 65 - 75 MPH as you go down another stretch to turn 6. Before you approach turn 6 you want to start slowing down just a few feet before entering turn 6 and go through the turn at least 75 - 80MPH while the next turn, turn 7 will come quickly. This is one of the tight turns at this 1.949 mile road course in which you have to slow down to around 45 - 50 MPH to go through this turn. Next you'll have to take on the ESSES at around 88 - 100 MPH through those set of turns, before taking on turn 8. As you approach turn 8 you want to slow down to around 138 MPH going through the turn and then have to set up for turn 9 at around 109 - 116 MPH. After you get through turn 9 you will now have to get set up for turn 10 [last turn] which is a hairpin. You will have to slow down just a few feet before pit road, to around 35 - 50 MPH as you go through turn 10. Once you have gone through the last turn now it's time to head back to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kansas Location: Kansas City, Kansas Banking on Front Stretch: 10* Distance: 1.5 miles Banking on Back Stetch: 5* Track Type: Speedway Website: www.kasasspeedway.com Banking in Turns: 15* Seating Capacity: Inaugral Race: 2001 Winner's Purse: Event: Protection One 400 Strategy -------- Kansas is a 1.5 mile tri oval speedway that is similar to Chicago but you probably won't be able to go through the turns like you can at Chicago. As you race out of turn 4 you will want to be around 160 - 164 MPH as you go down the frontstretch to the start/finish line. You will reach around 192 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2 and as you go through turns 1 - 2 you want to be around 161 - 163 MPH. As you exit out of turn 2 you want to race up by the wall, as you go down the backstretch. You should be able to reach up to around 188 MPH before entering turns 3 - 4. When you go through turns 3 - 4 you want to be around 161 - 163 MPH through those turns because if you go around 165 - 170 MPH you will most likely hit the wall before you exit turn 4. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Las Vegas Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Front Stretch: 2,275 ft. Distance: 1.5 miles Back Stretch: 1,572 ft. Track Type: Speedway Website: www.lvms.com Banking in Turns: 12* Seating Capacity: Banking on Front Stretch: 8* Winner's Purse: Banking on Back Stretch: 5* Inaugral Race: 1997 Event: UAW-Damilier Crysler 400 Strategy -------- Like I said this is a flat 1.5 mile track that may be a bit tricky getting good lap times at but it's knowing how to get good speed through the flat turns. As you come out of turn 4 you want to be around 152 - 157 MPH as you go down the frontstretch to the line. As you go down the frontstretch you should be able to reach around 189 MPH before heading into turns 1 - 2. When you get ready to go through turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 152 - 157 MPH to get onto the backstretch. As you get on the backstretch get by the wall as you go towards turns 3 - 4. You should be able to reach around 183 MPH before you head into turns 3 - 4 but when you brake to go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 152 - 157 MPH going through turns 3 - 4 as you head back onto the frontstretch heading to the line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lowe's (Charlotte) Location: Concord, North Carolina Front Stretch: 1,952 ft. Distance: 1.5 miles Back Stretch: 1,360 ft. Track Type: Speedway Website: www.lowesmotorspeedway.com Banking in Turns: 24* Seating Capacity: Banking on Front Stretch: 5* Winner's Purse: Inaugral Race: 1960 Events: The All-Star [aka "The Winston"] Coca-Cola 600 UAW-GM Quality 500 Strategy -------- A lap at Lowe's Motor Speedway can be fast around this 1.5 mile D-shaped oval. As you head out of turn 4 be careful that you don't let the car get loose coming out of the turn. You want to exit turn 4 at around 156 - 160 MPH heading down the frontstretch towards the start/finish line. You may be able to reach around 185 - 187 MPH before heading into turns 1 - 2 and as you do brake to around 161 - 163 through turns 1 - 2 as you go onto the backstretch. As you race down the backstretch you should be able to reach around 185 - 188 MPH before you go through turns 3 - 4, and as you brake to go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 156 - 160 MPH but like I said for exiting turn 4 be sure not to get loose coming out of the turn because you really don't want that to happen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Martinsville Location: Martinsville, Virginia Front Stretch: 800 ft. Distance: .526 miles Back Stretch: 800 ft. Track Type: Short Track Website: www.martinsvillespeedway.com Banking in Turns: 12* Seating Capacity: Inaugral Race: 1953 Winner's Purse: Events: Virgina 500 Old Diminion 500 Strategy -------- When racing at Martinsville you don't want to wait til around the last minute to brake but you want to brake at a certain point of the track so you can go about getting through the turns with ease. As you come out of turn 4 you should be around 65 - 68 MPH as you exit turn 4 onto the frontstretch to the start/finish line. Since both stretches are only 800 ft. you won't have much time before you will have to brake again for turns 1 - 2. Use the paint on the walls to help you know when to brake for the entering of the turns. For example where it has NASCAR Racing Cup Series ends to start braking for turns 1 - 2. Before you start to brake you should be able to reach around 121 MPH and once you get to the end of where it has NASCAR Racing Cup series to brake for turns 1 - 2 to around 62 - 65 MPH through turns 1 - 2. As you exit off of turn 2 going down the backstretch, but you'll have to do like you done on the front stretch. The only problem is that you'll have to use a different paint on the wall as a marker to slow down for turns 3 - 4. Just like on the frontstretch you should be able to reach around 118 - 121 MPH, before going into turns 3 - 4. Look for part of the concrete wall in black and use the end of that as a marker to slow down for turns 3 - 4. Like in turns 1 - 2 slow down to around 62 - 65 MPH but should be able to gain a bit of speed as you exit out of turn 4 down the frontstretch again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michigan Location: Brooklyn, Michigan Front Stretch: 3,600 ft. Distance: 2.0 miles Back Stretch: 2,242 ft. Track Type: Speedway Website: www.mispeedway.com Banking in Turns: 18* Seating Capacity: Banking on Front Stretch: 12* Winner's Purse: Banking on Back Stretch: 5* Inaugral Race: 1969 Events: Sirius Satellite Radio 400 Pepsi 400 **Motor City 400** Strategy -------- Michigan International Speedway isn't a hard track to get the hang of because with the 18* in the turns it can produce some exciting and/or fast laps at this 2.0 mile track. As you race out of turn 4 you want to be around 168 - 173 MPH as you head onto the frontstretch to the start/finish line. Before heading into turns 1 - 2 you should be able to reach around 201 MPH but as you get ready into head into turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 175 - 177 MPH through turns 1 - 2 going onto the backstretch. When you head down the backstretch sling up near the wall but before you enter turns 3 - 4 you should reach around 197 MPH before heading into turns 3 - 4. As you go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 168 - 172 MPH going through turns 3 - 4 as you head back to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Hampshire Location: Loudon, New Hampshire Front Stretch: 1,500 ft. Distance: 1.058 miles Back Stretch: 1,500 ft. Track Type: Speedway Website: www.nhis.com Banking in Turns: 12* Seating Capacity: Banking on Straights: 2* Winner's Purse: Inaugral Race: 1993 Events: New England 300 New Hampshire 300 Strategy -------- New Hampshire is a track that is similar to Martinsville but the only thing that makes this track different from Martinsville is that this track is paved while Martinsville is paved with concrete. With the relatively long straights at this track you don't want to get a blown engine before entering the turns because nobody likes getting a blown engine that can result in a DNF. As you come out of turn 4 you want to be around 106 - 109 as you come out of turn 4 onto the frontstretch to the line. Before you head into turns 1 - 2 you should be able to reach around 150 MPH before heading through turns 1 - 2. As you slow down to take turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 95 - 102 MPH but the 95 - 99 MPH from turn 1 to turn 2 but get back on the gas around the middle to exit of turn 2. Now you are going down the backstretch which you want to slide up by the wall going down the backstretch heading to turns 3 - 4. Just like the frontstretch you should be able to reach around 147 - 150 MPH before heading into turns 3 - 4. As you approach turns 3 - 4 you want to slow down to around 95 - 102 MPH but you'll want to do the same as mentioned on how to take turns 1 - 2 as you go through the turns back onto the frontstretch onto the frontstretch again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ North Carolina Location: Rockingham, North Carolina Front Stretch: 1,300 ft. Distance: 1.018 miles Back Stretch: 1,367 ft. Track Type: Short Track Website: www.northcarolinaspeedway.com Banking in Turns 1 - 2: 22* Seating Capacity: Banking in Turns 3 - 4: 25* Winner's Purse: Banking on Straights: 8* Inaugral Race: Events: Subway 400 Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 Strategy -------- Since this track is a little tricky particularly that you can get around this track fast except that you'll have to be careful getting out of the turns such as turn 2. As you race out of turn 4 you want to be around 136 - 140 MPH heading onto the frontstretch towards the line. Before slowing down for turns 1 - 2 you should be able to reach around 168 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. As you brake to go through turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 128 - 135 MPH as you reach the backstretch up by the wall. As you go down the backstretch you will reach a speed of around 165 MPH before heading into turns 3 - 4. As you get ready to brake to enter turns 3 - 4 you want to slow down to around 128 - 135 MPH as you go through the turns as you head back onto the fronstretch towards the line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Phoenix Location: Avondale, Arizona Front Stretch: 1,179 ft. Distance: 1.0 miles Back Stretch: 1,551 ft. Track Type: Short Track Website: www.phoenixintlspeedway.com Banking in Turns 1 - 2: 11* Seating Capacity: Banking in Turns 3 - 4: 9* Winner's Purse: Banking on Straights: 0* Inaugral Race: 1988 Event: Checker Auto Parts 500k Strategy -------- Since this track is a little tricky particularly that you can get around this track fast except that you'll have to be careful getting out of the turns such as turn 2. As you race out of turn 4 you want to be around 125 - 128 MPH heading onto the frontstretch towards the line. Before slowing down for turns 1 - 2 you should be able to reach around 159 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. As you brake to go through turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 108 - 120 MPH as you reach the backstretch up by the wall. As you go down the backstretch you will reach a speed of around 163 MPH before heading into turns 3 - 4. As you get ready to brake to enter turns 3 - 4 you want to slow down to around 120 - 126 MPH as you go through the turns as you head back onto the fronstretch towards the line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Phoenix Infield Course Location: Distance: Track Type: Road Course Banking in Turns Inaugral Race: Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pocono Location: Long Pond, Pennsylvania Banking on Straights: 1* Distance: 2.5 Miles Front Stretch: 3,740 ft. Track Type: Super Speedway Back Stretch: 3,055 ft. Banking in Turn 1: 14* Website: www.poconoraceway.com Banking in Turn 2: 8* Seating Capacity: Banking in Turn 3: 6* Winner's Purse: Inagural Race: 1974 Events: Pocono 500 Pennsylvania 500 Strategy -------- Racing at this 2.5 mile triangular track may require a bit of speed but you have to be sure to slow down good enough through the turns to be real good at this particular track. As you come out of turn 3 you want to be around 150 - 152 MPH as you exit turn 3 onto the frontstretch. The frontstretch you can gain a lot of speed if you have a good car setup for Pocono to reach a good amount of speed before entering turn 1. Before entering turn 1 you will reach around 199 MPH but you may start to brake at the 2 or 1 marker to get through turn 1. You want to try to slow down to around 148 - 152 MPH through turn 1 as you go onto the second stretch as you approach turn 2 "Tunnel Turn". Your speed should reach around 192 but I wouldn't try to get up that far because it may be a bit too fast but when you go through turn 2 "Tunnel Turn" you want to slow down to around 145 - 148 MPH to get through turn 2. Now you'll go down the third stretch which is the shortest stretch on this track, you will reach around 179 MPH before heading through turn 3 at this unique track. As you go through turn 3 you want to be around 146 - 148 MPH going through turn 3 back on your way to the frontstretch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pocono Infield Course Location: Long Pond, Pennsyvania Webstie: N/A Distance: Seating Capacity: Track Type: Road Course Winner's Purse: Banking in Turns: Inaugral Race: Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Richmond Location: Richmond, Virginia Front Stretch: 1,290 ft. Distance: .750 miles Back Stretch: 860 ft. Track Type: Short Track Website: www.richmondracewaycomplex.com Banking in Turns: 14* Seating Capacity: Banking on Front Stretch: 8* Winner's Purse: Banking on Back Stretch: 2* Inaugral Race: 1953 Events: Pontiac Excitement 400 Chevy Monte Carlo 400 **Richmond 400** Strategy: --------- Richmond International Raceway is a fast short track that can be a fun place to race at besides Bristol Motor Speedway. As you race off of turn 4 you should exit turn 4 at around 105 - 108 MPH heading down the frontstretch heading towards the line. You may have to brake around a 100 ft. before heading into turns 1 - 2. Before heading into turns 1 - 2 you will reach around 146 MPH before you head through turns 1 - 2. As you slow down to go through turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 98 - 106 MPH as you go through turns 1 - 2, then onto the backstretch sliding as close to the wall as possible. As you head down the backstretch you should be able to reach around 142 MPH before heading into turns 3 - 4. You want to brake around a 100 ft. before the yellow line at the beginning of turn 3 to around 98 - 106 MPH as you head back to the line for a lap around RIR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Talladega Location: Talladega, Alabama Front Stretch: 4,300 ft. Distance: 2.66 miles Back Stretch: 4,000 ft. Track Type: Superspeedway Website: www.talladegasuperspeedway.com Banking in Turns 1 - 2: 33* Seating Capacity: Banking on Front Stretch: 18* Winner's Purse: Banking on Back Stretch: 2* Inaugral Race: 1969 Events: Aaron's 499 **Alabama 400** EA Sports 500 Strategy -------- Talladega Superspeedway was built to be the fastest, most competitive racetrack on the NASCAR curcuit. This can be a fast track to get around and let's get to on how to get around this 2.66 mile racetrack. As you come out of turn 4 you want to be around 188MPH as you head through the tri-oval and to the start/finish line. Before you head into turns 1 - 2 you should be around 195MPH before heading in to turns 1 - 2. As you race through turns 1 - 2 you want to be around 191 - 194MPH. When you exit out of turn 2 you want to drift up towards the wall heading down the backstretch. Before you enter turns 3 - 4 you should be able to reach around 197MPH before heading in turns 3 - 4. When you race through turns 3 - 4 you want to be around 192 - 196MPH while racing through turns 3 - 4, then head through the frontstretch and the tri-oval then finally cross the start/finish line. That's how you get around Talladega Superspeedway. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Talladega Infield Course Location: Talladega, Alabama Website: N/A Distance: Seating Capacity: Track Type: Road Course Winner's Purse: Banking in Turns: Inagural Race: Event: Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Texas Location: Fort Worth, Texas Banking on Straights: 5* Distance: 1.5 miles Front Stretch: 2,250 ft. Track Type: Speedway Back Stretch: 1,330 ft. Banking in Turns 1 - 2: 24* Website: www.texasmotorspeedway.com Banking in Turns 3 - 4: 8* Seating capacity: Inaugral Race: 1997 Winner's Purse: Event: Samsung Radioshack 400 Strategy -------- Racing at the Texas Motor Speedway can be quite fast to race at, but you don't want to carry too much speed through the turns unless you want to hit the wall. As you come out of Turn 4 you want to be around 169 MPH, as you head towards the start/finish line. You will reach around 187 MPH before heading into Turn 1, but when you go through turns 1 - 2 at around 167 - 168 MPH through the turns. As you exit out of turn 2 you should be able to reach to around 184 MPH before entering Turn 3. When you approach Turns 3 - 4, you want to do the same as you did in Turns 1 - 2 but you may want to slow down a bit to around 166 - 168 MPH as you go through turns 3 - 4. As you exit turn 4 you want to be smooth on the exit of the turn as you head to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Texas Infield Course Location: Fort Worth, Texas Website: N/A Distance: Seating Capacity: Track Type: Road Course Winner's Purse: Banking in Turns: Inaugral Race: Event: Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tiburon** Location: Orlando, Florida Banking on Straights: Distance: 3.0 Miles Website: N/A Track Type: Superspeedway Seating Capacity: Banking in Turns 1 - 2: Banking in Turns 3 - 4: Inaugral Race: 2002 Event: Tiburon 500 Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Watkins Glen Location: Watkins Glen, New York Seating Capacity: Distance: 2.454 miles Winner's Purse: Track Type: Road Course Website: www.theglen.com Inaugral Race: 1948 Event: Sirius Satellite Radio @ The Glen Strategy -------- Racing at Watkins Glen can be fun to race at because it isn't anything like Infineon Raceway where there's like a turn almost every time after you make one. As you come out of turn 11, you want to be around 95 - 109 MPH as you go onto the frontstretch to the start/finish line. To be able to brake good enough for turn 1 start to brake just a few feet before you see the markers [3 2 1]. As you get ready for turn 1 you'll be able to reach to around 163 MPH, and then you'll have to slow down to around 70 - 75 MPH to take on turn 1. After you have made it through turn 1, then you'll have to get ready for turn 2 with turn 3 not long after that. When you get ready to go through turn 2 slow down to around 124 - 126 MPH going through turn 2, but with turn 3 slow down to around 120 - 123 MPH [don't be suprised if you have to slow down a bit more]. Then you have to get through turn 4 at around 140 - 145 by the exit out of turn 4 going down one of two stretches, on this 2.454 mile road course. Now you have to get ready for the "Inner Loop" where turns 5, 6, 7, 8 are located. There will be markers in preparation to slow down for this "Inner Loop" starting with 600 [representing 600 ft.]. Start slowing down just a bit before the marker to around 79 - 82 MPH to take turns 5 - 6 with turns 7 - 8 not long after 5 - 6. You want to try to go through turns 7 - 8 at around 89 - 92 MPH before entering turn 9. To get through turn 9 good, keep your speed around 102 MPH and when you exit turn 9 get on the brake to around 108 MPH on the exit on the second stretch of this road course. You should be able to reach around 165 MPH before entering turn 10, but when you get ready for turn 10 start to slow down between the end of concrete wall and the 300 ft. marker. When you do slow down to around 90 - 94 MPH going through turn 10 and onto a small stretch before turn 11. As you get ready for turn 11 slow down to around 95 - 109 MPH through turn 11 to go to the start/finish line again. **Strategies based on car set-up used for that track** ---NOTE: Stratgies may be different for when playing in Career Mode and some tracks may have more than the 1 or 2 events depending on the track. Infield Courses and Tiburon track NOT AVAILABLE in Career Mode--- ----------------------------- Part Three: 2002 Race Winners ----------------------------- Event Track Race Winner(s) ----- ----- -------------- Bud Shootout* Daytona Tony Stewart Gatorade Twin 125s* Daytona Jeff Gordon / Jimmie Johnson** Daytona 500 Daytona Ward Burton Subway 400 N. Carolina Matt Kenseth UAW-Damilier Crysler 400 Las Vegas Sterling Marlin MBNA America 500 Atlanta Tony Stewart Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 Darlington Sterling Marlin Food City 500 Bristol Kurt Busch Samsung/Radioshack 500 Texas Matt Kenseth Virginia 500 Martinsville Bobby Labonte Aaron's 499 Talladega Dale Earnhardt Jr. NAPA Auto Parts 500 California Jimmie Johnson** Pontiac Excitement 400 Richmond Tony Stewart The Winston Open* Lowe's Jeremy Mayfield No-Bull Sprint* Lowe's Ryan Newman** The Winston* Lowe's Ryan Newman** Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 Lowe's Mark Martin MBNA Platinum 400 Dover Downs Jimmie Johnson** Pocono 500 Pocono Dale Jarrett Sirius Satellite Radio 400 Michigan Matt Kenseth Dode/Savemart 350 Infineon Ricky Rudd Pepsi 400 Daytona Michael Waltrip Tropicana 400 Chicagoland Kevin Harvick New England 300 New Hampshire Ward Burton Pennsylvaina 500 Pocono Bill Elliott Brickyard 400 Indinapolis Bill Elliott Sirius Satellite @ The Glen Watkins Glen Tony Stewart Pepsi 400 Michigan Dale Jarrett Sharpie 500 Bristol Jeff Gordon Mountain Dew/Southern 500 Darlington Jeff Gordon Chevy Monte Carlo 400 Richmond Matt Kenseth New Hampshire 300 New Hampshire Ryan Newman** MBNA All-American Heroes 400 Dover Downs Jimmie Johnson** Protection One 400 Kansas Jeff Gordon EA SPORTS 500 Talladega Dale Earnhardt Jr. UAW-GM Quality 500 Lowe's Jamie McMurray Old Dominion 500 Martinsville Kurt Busch NAPA 500 Atlanta Kurt Busch Pop Secret 500 N. Carolina Johnny Benson Checker Auto Parts 500k Phoenix Matt Kenseth Ford 400 Homestead Kurt Busch o-------------------------------o | CONGRATULATIONS TO | | TONY STEWART | | 2002 WINSTON CUP CHAMPION | o-------------------------------o o------------------------o | * - Non-Point Race | | ** - 2002 Rookie | o------------------------o ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Drivers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- Part One: Cup ------------- John Andretti Car Owner: Richard Petty Team: Petty Enterprises Hometown: Car #: 43 Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: Cheerios Rookie Year: 1994 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 298 Poles: 4 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 13 Top 10's: 36 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Casey Atwood Car Owner: Jim Smith Team: Ultra Motorsports Hometown: Car #: 7 Car Type: Dodge Car Make: Intrepid Sponsor: Sirius Satellite Radio Rookie Year: 2001 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 73 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 1 Top 10's: 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Johnny Benson **1996 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Team: Hometown: Car #: 10 Car Make: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: Valvoline Rookie Year: 1996 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 228 Poles: 2 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 16 Top 10's: 54 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Todd Bodine Car Owner: Team: Hometown: Chemung, New York Car #: 26 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Discover Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: None Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 169 Poles: 5 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 7 Top 10's: 20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Burton **1994 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Jack Roush Team: Roush Racing Hometown: South Boston, Virginia Car #: 99 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Citgo Rookie Year: 1994 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 295 Poles: 2 Wins: 17 Top 5's: 86 Top 10's: 133 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ward Burton Car Owner: Bill Davis Team: Bill Davis Racing Hometown: South Boston, Virginia Car #: 22 Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: Caterpillar Rookie Year: 1994 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 286 Poles: 7 Wins: 5 Top 5's: 24 Top 10's: 75 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kurt Busch Car Owner: Jack Roush Team: Roush Racing Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada Car #: 97 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Tarus Sponsor: Rubbermaid Rookie Year: 2001 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 78 Poles: 2 Wins: 4 Top 5's: 15 Top 10's: 26 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ricky Craven Car Owner: Cal Wells III Team: PPI Motorsports Hometown: Bangor, Maine Car #: 32 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: TIDE Rookie Year: 1995 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 216 Poles: 6 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 14 Top 10's: 33 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale Earnhardt Jr. Car Owner: Teresa Earnhardt Team: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Hometown: Car #: 8 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Dale Earnhardt Jr.* Rookie Year: 2000 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 111 Poles: 6 Wins: 7 Top 5's: 23 Top 10's: 46 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Elliott **1988 Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: Ray Evernham Team: Evernham Motorsports Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia Car #: 9 Car Make: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: Dodge Rookie Year: 1976 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 1 Stats: 695 Poles: 55 Wins: 43 Top 5's: 166 Top 10's: 307 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Gordon **4-Time Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: Rick Hendrick **1993 Rookie of the Year** Team: Hendrick Motorsports Hometown: Pittsboro, Indiana Car #: 24 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: DuPont Rookie Year: 1993 Alternate Skins Career Stats Championships: 4 ('95, '97 - '98, 2001) Starts: 329 Poles: 42 Wins: 61 Top 5's: 160 Top 10's: 210 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robby Gordon Car Owner: Richard Childress Team: Childress Racing Hometown: Cerritos, California Car #: 31 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Cingular Wireless Rookie Year: 1997 Alternate Skins Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 98 Poles: 1 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 5 Top 10's: 11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Green Car Owner: Richard Childress Team: Childress Racing Hometown: Owensboro, Kentucky Car #: 30 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: America On-Line Rookie Year: 1997 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 94 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 5 Top 10's: 9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby Hamilton Car Owner: Andy Petree Team: Petree Racing Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Car #: 55 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Schnieder Electric (Square-D) Rookie Year: 1991 Alternite Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 368 Poles: 5 Wins: 4 Top 5's: 20 Top 10's: 67 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin Harvick **2001 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Richard Childress Team: Childress Racing Hometown: Bakersfield, California Car #: 29 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: GM Goodwrench Service Plus Rookie Year: 2001 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 70 Poles: 1 Wins: 3 Top 5's: 11 Top 10's: 24 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale Jarrett **1999 Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: Robert Yates Team: Robert Yates Racing Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina Car #: 88 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: UPS Rookie Year: 1987 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Champioships: 1 Starts: 495 Poles: 15 Wins: 30 Top 5's: 151 Top 10's: 228 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jimmie Johnson Car Owner: Rick Hendrick Team: Hendrick Motorsports Hometown: El Cajon, California Car #: 48 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: LOWE'S Home Improvement Rookie Year: 2002 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 39 Poles: 4 Wins: 3 Top 5's: 6 Top 10's: 21 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frank Kimmel Car Owner: Larry Clement Team: Tri-State Motorsports Hometown: Jefferson, Indiana Car #: 46 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Advanced Auto Parts/Pork Rookie Year: 2002 Alternate Skins: none Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 7 Poles: 0 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 0 Top 10's: 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matt Kenseth **2000 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Jack Roush Team: Roush Racing Hometown: Cambridge, Winsconsin Car #: 17 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: DeWalt Rookie Year: 2000 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 112 Poles: 1 Wins: 6 Top 5's: 20 Top 10's: 41 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby Labonte **2000 Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: Joe Gibbs Team: Gibbs Racing Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas Car #: 18 Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: Interstate Batteries Rookie Year: 1993 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 1 Starts: 330 Poles: 21 Wins: 19 Top 5's: 89 Top 10's: 149 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Terry Labonte **2-Time Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: Rick Hendrick Team: Hendrick Motorsports Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas Car #: 5 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Kellogg's (Tony the Tiger) Rookie Year: 1979 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 2 ('84, '96) Starts: 745 Poles: 26 Wins: 21 Top 5's: 177 Top 10's: 344 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sterling Marlin **1983 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Chip Ganassi Team: Ganassi Racing Hometown: Columbia, Tennessee Car #: 40 Car Type: Dodge Car Make: Intrepid Sponsor: Sterling Marlin* Rookie Year: 1983 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 568 Poles: 11 Wins: 10 Top 5's: 79 Top 10's: 192 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Martin Car Owner: Jack Roush Team: Roush Racing Hometown: Batesville, Arizona Car #: 6 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Pfizer Rookie Year: 1982 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 530 Poles: 41 Wins: 33 Top 5's: 200 Top 10's: 315 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeremy Mayfield Car Owner: Ray Evernham Team: Evernham Motorsports Hometown: Owensboro, Kentucky Car #: 19 Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: Dodge Rookie Year: 1994 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 273 Poles: 6 Wins: 3 Top 5's: 35 Top 10's: 62 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryan Newman **2002 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Roger Penske Team: Penske Motorsports Hometown: South Bend, Indiana Car #: 12 Car Type: Ford Car Make: Taurus Sponsor: ALLTEL Rookie Year: 2002 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 65 Poles: 7 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 16 Top 10's: 24 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jerry Nadeau Car Owner: Rick Hendrick Team: Hendrick Motorsports Hometown: Danbury, Connecticut Car #: 25 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: UAW/Delphi Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 167 Poles: 1 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 8 Top 10's: 18 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Park Car Owner: Teresa Earnhardt Team: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Hometown: East Northport, New York Car #: 1 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: PENNZOIL Rookie Year: 1998 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 146 Poles: 4 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 11 Top 10's: 34 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kyle Petty Car Owner: Patti Petty Team: Petty Enterprises Hometown: Randleman, North Carolina Car #: 45 Car Type: Dodge Car Make: Intrepid Sponsor: Sprint Rookie Year: 1980 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 645 Poles: 8 Wins: 8 Top 5's: 51 Top 10's: 168 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shawna Robinson Car Owner: Beth Ann Morgenthau Team: BAM Racing Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa Car #: 49 Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: BAM Racing Rookie Year: 2002 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 7 Poles: 0 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 0 Top 10's: 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ricky Rudd Car Owner: Robert Yates Team: Robert Yates Racing Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia Car #: 28 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Havoline Rookie Year: 1975 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Champioships: 0 Starts: 767 Poles: 28 Wins: 23 Top 5's: 187 Top 10's: 356 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken Schrader Car Owner: Team: Hometown: Fenton, Montana Car #: 36 Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: M&M's Rookie Year: 1985 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 564 Poles: 23 Wins: 4 Top 5's: 64 Top 10's: 176 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elliott Sadler Car Owner: Wood Brothers Team: Wood Brothers Racing Hometown: Emporia, Virginia Car #: 21 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Motorcraft Rookie Year: 1999 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 141 Poles: 1 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 4 Top 10's: 9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Skinner **1997 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Morgan McClure Team: McClure Racing Hometown: Ontario, Canada Car #: 4 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: KODAK Film Rookie Year: 1997 Alternate Skins: Career Stats: Championships: 0 Starts: 209 Poles: 5 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 10 Top 10's: 39 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jimmy Spencer Car Owner: Chip Ganassi Team: Ganassi Racing Hometown: Berwick, Pennsylvania Car #: 41 Car Type: Dodge Car Make: Intrepid Sponsor: TARGET Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 404 Poles: 3 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 27 Top 10's: 76 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tony Stewart **2002 Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: Joe Gibbs **1999 Rookie of the Year** Team: Gibbs Racing Hometown: Columbus, Indiana Car #: 20 Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: HOME DEPOT Rookie Year: 1999 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 1 Starts: 140 Poles: 6 Wins: 15 Top 5's: 54 Top 10's: 87 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rusty Wallace **1989 Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: Roger Penske **1984 Rookie of the Year** Team: Penske Motorsports Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri Car #: 2 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Team Rusty* Rookie Year: 1984 Alternate Skins Career Stats Championships: 1 Starts: 598 Poles: 36 Wins: 54 Top 5's: 189 Top 10's: 309 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Waltrip Car Owner: Teresa Earnhardt Team: Dale Earnhardt, INC. Hometown: Owensboro, Kentucky Car #: 15 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: NAPA Rookie Year: 1986 Alternate Skins: Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 534 Poles: 2 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 25 Top 10's: 95 o------------------------------------------------o | Legend | |------------------------------------------------| | * : Acutal Sponsor is Drug / Alcohol related | | ** : 2002 Rookie | o------------------------------------------------o -Stats as of 11.17.2002- ----------------- Part Two: Legends ----------------- Bobby Allison **1983 Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: N/A Team: N/A Hometown: Hueytwon, Alabama Car #: 22 Sponsor: Piper Papers Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Rookie Year: Year Retired: 1988 Alternate Skins: none Career Stats Championships: 1 Starts: 718 Poles: 58 Wins: 85 Top 5's: 336 Top 10's: 446 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale Earnhardt 7-Time Winston Cup Champion Car Owner: Richard Childress 1979 Rookie of the Year Team: Richard Childress Racing Hometown: Kannapolis, North Carolina Car #: 3 Sponsor: GM Goodwrench Service Plus Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Rookie Year: 1979 Year Retired: 2001 (died in 2001 Daytona 500) Alternate Skins: 1998 Paint Scheme (ran in 1998 Daytona 500) Career Stats Championships: 7 [1980, 1986 - 1987, 1990 - 1991, 1993 - 1994] Starts: 676 Poles: 22 Wins: 76 Top 5's: 281 Top 10's: 428 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Junior Johnson Car Owner: N/A Team: N/A Hometown: Ronda, North Carolina Car #: 3 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Rookie Year: 1956 Year Retired: 1966 Alternate Skins: none Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 313 Poles: 47 Wins: 50 Top 5's: 121 Top 10's: 148 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tiny Lund Car Owner: N/A Team: N/A Hometown: Cross, South Carolina Car #: Car Type: Car Model: Sponsor: Rookie Year: 1956 Year Retired: 1975 Alternate Skins: none Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 303 Poles: 6 Wins: 5 Top 5's: 54 Top 10's: 119 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elmo Langley Car Owner: N/A Team: N/A Hometown: Landover, Maryland Car #: Car Type: Car Model: Sponsor: Rookie Year: 1954 Year Retired: 1981 Alternate Skins: none Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 536 Poles: 1 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 63 Top 10's: 193 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alan Kulwicki 1992 Winston Cup Champion Car Owner: Alan Kulwicki 1986 Rookie of the Year Team: Kulwicki Racing Hometown: Greenfield, Winconsin Car #: 7 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Alan Kulwicki Rookie Year: 1986 Year Retired: 1993 [died on April 1, 1993 due to a plane crash] Alternate Skins: none Career Stats Championships: 1 Starts: 207 Poles: 24 Wins: 5 Top 5's: 38 Top 10's: 75 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benny Parsons 1973 Winston Cup Champion Car Owner: N/A Team: N/A Hometown: Ellerbe, North Carolina Car #: NBC Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: NBC Rookie Year: 1970 Year Retired: 1988 Alternate Skins: #50 TNT Career Stats Championships: 1 Starts: 526 Poles: 20 Wins: 21 Top 5's: 199 Top 10's: 283 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Petty 7-Time Winston Cup Champion Car Owner: Richard Petty 1959 Rookie of the Year Team: Petty Enterprises Hometown: Randleman, North Carolina Car #: 43 Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: STP Rookie Year: 1959 Year Retired: 1992 Alternate Skin: Richard Petty Driving Experience Career Stats Championships: 7 [ ] Starts: 1184 Poles: 126 Wins: 200 Top 5's: 555 Top 10's: 712 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cale Yarborough 3-Time Winston Cup Champion Car Owner: N/A Team: N/A Hometwon: Timmonsville, South Carolina Car #: 28 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Cale Yarborough Rookie Year: 1962 Year Retired: 1988 Alternate Skins: none Career Stats Championships: 3 [1976 - 1978] Starts: 559 Poles: 70 Wins: 83 Top 5's: 255 Top 10's: 318 ----------------- Part Three: Busch ----------------- COMING SOON ------------------ Part Four: Fantasy ------------------ COMING SOON ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8. Lightning Challenges ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The challenges featured in NASCAR Thunder 2003 actually happened to the drivers during the past few years. Here you'll find the name of the challenge and a strategy on how to pass the challenge: ------------ Daytona 900? ------------ Driver: Michael Waltrip Track: Daytona Int'l Speedway Difficulty: ROOKIE Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------- Wrecord ------- Driver: Jeremy Mayfield Track: Richmond Int'l Raceway Difficulty: ROOKIE Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- The Daytona 5 -------------- Driver: Ward Burton Track: Daytona Int'l Speedway Difficulty: ROOKIE Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- 2-Fer at 'Dega -------------- Driver: Bobby Hamilton Track: Talladega Superspeedway Difficulty: ROOKIE Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------- LAP IT UP --------- Driver: John Andretti Track: Martinsville Int'l Raceway Difficulty: VETERAN Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- PAY AT THE PUMP --------------- Driver: Jerry Nadeau Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway Difficulty: Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------ DEW IT AGAIN ------------ Driver: Ward Burton Track: Darlington Raceway Difficulty: VETERAN Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ OWNING THE TITLE** ----------------- Driver: Richard Petty Track: Talladega Superspeedway Difficutly: VETERAN Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------- FREEDOM ------- Driver: Track: Homestead-Miami Raceway Difficulty: LEGEND Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------- FREEDOM, PART II ---------------- Driver: Track: Homestead-Miami Raceway Difficulty: LEGEND Strategy: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- STAR STRUDDED ------------- Driver: Terry Labonte Track: Lowe's Motor Speedway Difficulty: LEGEND Strategy: ---[MORE COMING SOON]--- o-----------------------------------o | LEGEND | |-----------------------------------| | ** : 31st Lightning Challenge | o-----------------------------------o ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8. Car Set-ups ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Here is a list of car setups for the 23 winston Cup tracks including the Infield Road Courses at some of the tracks. You'll might even find one for the Daytona Beach Course, that NASCAR raced at from 1948 - 1958 [before they started racing at Daytona Int'l Speedway]. These car set-ups for the regular tracks can be used in Quick Race, Season Mode, and Career Mode: ------------------ Part One: Licensed ------------------ Atlanta ------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 73 Rear Spoiler: 50* Front Suspension: 100% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 3.5 Turns Gear Preset: 7 Bristol ------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 75 Rear Spoiler: 75* Front Suspension: 100% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 5/8 Wedge: 3.0 Turns Gear Preset: 3 California ---------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 73.5 Rear Spoiler: 75* Front Suspension: 90% Rear Suspension: 90% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 2.5 Turns Gear Preset: 7 Chicagoland ----------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 74.5 Rear Spoiler: 65* Front Suspension: 40% Rear Suspension: 40% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 2.0 Turns Gear Preset: 6 Darlington ---------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 75 Rear Spoiler: 65* Front Suspension: 90% Rear Suspension: 90% Sway Bar: 3/4 Wedge: 3.0 Turns Gear Preset: 5 Daytona ------- Tire Pressure: 30 psi Fender Flare: N/A Rear Spoiler: N/A Front Suspension: 100% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 1/4 Wedge: 4.0 Turns Gear Preset: 4 Gear 1 --- Stock Gear 2 --- Stock Gear 3 --- Stock Gear 4 --- 0.98 Rear --- 3.70 DAYTONA BEACH [!] ----------------- Tire Pressure: 25 psi Fender Flare: 75.5 Rear Spoiler: 55* Front Suspension: 71% Rear Suspension: 48% Sway Bar: 1/2 Wedge: 1.0 Turns Gear Preset: 6 Gear 1 --- Stock Gear 2 --- Stock Gear 3 --- Stock Gear 4 --- 1.07 Dover Downs ----------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 73.5 Rear Spoiler: 75* Front Suspension: 100% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 3.0 Turns Gear Preset: 5 Homestead-Miami --------------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 75 Rear Spoiler: 65* Front Suspension: 100% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 3.0 Turns Gear Preset: 5 Indianapolis ------------ Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 74 Rear Spoiler: 55* Front Suspension: 90% Rear Suspension: 90% Sway Bar: 7/8 Wedge: 2.5 Turns Gear Preset: 7 Infineon -------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 75 Rear Spoiler: 75* Front Suspension: 60% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 1/4 Wedge: 0.0 Turns Gear Preset: 3 Kansas ------ Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 74 Rear Spoiler: 60* Front Suspension: 100% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 2.0 Turns Gear Preset: 6 Las Vegas --------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 74 Rear Spoiler: 75* Front Suspension: 80% Rear Suspension: 80% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 3.0 Turns Gear Preset: 5 Lowe's ------ Tire Pressure: 24 psi Fender Flare: 73 Rear Spoiler: 60* Front Suspension: 40% Rear Suspension: 53% Sway Bar: 1/8 Wedge: 0.0 Turns Gear Preset: 6 Martinsville ------------ Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 74 Rear Spoiler: 65* Front Suspension: 60% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1/2 Wedge: 2.5 Turns Gear Preset: 1 Michigan -------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 73 Rear Spoiler: 55* Front Suspension: 90% Rear Suspension: 90% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 3.0 Turns Gear Preset: 7 New Hampshire ------------- Tire Pressure: 18 Fender Flare: 74 Rear Spoiler: 70* Front Suspension: 45% Rear Suspension: 50% Sway Bar: 3/8 Wedge: 1.0 Turns Gear Preset: 3 Gear 1 --- Stock Gear 2 --- Stock Gear 3 --- Stock Gear 4 --- 1.37 Rear End --- Stock North Carolina -------------- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 75 Rear Spoiler: 75* Front Suspension: 80% Rear Suspension: 80% Sway Bar: 1/2 Wedge: 3.0 Turns Gear Preset: 5 Phoenix ------- Tire Pressure: 15 psi Fender Flare: 73 1/2 Rear Spoiler: 70* Front Suspension: 40% Rear Suspension: 50% Sway Bar: 1/2 Wedge: 1.0 Turns Gear Preset: 4 Pocono ------ Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 73 Rear Spoiler: 55* Front Suspension: 80% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 7/8 Wedge: 2.5 Turns Gear Preset: 7 Richmond -------- Tire Pressure: 19 psi Fender Flare: 75 Rear Spoiler: 60* Front Suspension: 55% Rear Suspension: 45% Sway Bar: 1/2 Wedge: 0.0 Turns Gear Preset: 3 Gear 1 --- Stock Gear 2 --- Stock Gear 3 --- Stock Gear 4 --- 1.37 Rear --- Stock Talladega --------- Tire Pressure: 30 psi Fender Flare: N/A Rear Spoiler: N/A Front Suspension: 100% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 1/4 Wedge: 4.0 Turns Gear Preset: 4 Gear 1 --- Stock Gear 2 --- Stock Gear 3 --- Stock Gear 4 --- 0.98 Rear --- 3.70 Texas ----- Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 73 Rear Spoiler: 55* Front Suspension: 80% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 Wedge: 3.0 Turns Gear Preset: 7 watkins Glen ------------ Tire Pressure: 15 Fender Flare: 75 Rear Spoiler: 60* Front Suspension: 60% Rear Suspension: 100% Sway Bar: 1 1/4 Wedge: 0.0 Turns Gear Preset: 5 --------------------------- Part Two: Infield / Fantasy --------------------------- Daytona Infield Course ---------------------- Tire Pressure: 21 Fender Flare: 73.5 Rear Spoiler: 64 Front Suspension: 26% Rear Suspension: 67% Sway Bar: 3/8 Wedge: -0.5 Turns Gear Preset: Homestead-Miami Infield Course ------------------------------ Tire Pressure: 15 psi Fender Flare: 75 Rear Spoiler: 61* Front Suspension: 45% Rear Suspension: 70% Sway Bar: 5/8 Wedge: -0.5 Turns Gear Preset: 4 Phoenix Infield Course ---------------------- Tire Pressure: 15 psi Fender Flare: 73.5 Rear Spoiler: 71* Front Suspension: 25% Rear Suspension: 79% Sway Bar: 5/8 Wedge: 0.0 Turns Gear Preset: Custom Gear 1 --- 3.60 Gear 2 --- 2.20 Gear 3 --- 1.60 Gear 4 --- 1.15 Rear End --- 3.60 Pocono Infield Course --------------------- Tire Pressure: 18 psi Fender Flare: 73.5 Rear Spoiler: 49* Front Suspension: 30% Rear Suspension: 74% Sway Bar: 3/4 Wedge: -0.5 Turns Gear Preset: Custom Gear 1 --- 3.60 Gear 2 --- 2.15 Gear 3 --- 1.60 Gear 4 --- 1.12 Rear End --- 3.55 Talladega Infield Course ------------------------ Tire Pressure: 20 psi Fender Flare: 73.5 Rear Spoiler: 60* Front Suspension: 60% Rear Suspension: 85% Sway Bar: 3/4 Wedge: -1.0 Turns Gear Preset: 6 Tiburon ------- Tire Pressure: Fender Flare: Rear Spoiler: Front Suspension: Rear Suspension: Sway Bar: Wedge: Gear Preset: Texas Infield Course -------------------- Tire Pressure: 22 psi Fender Flare: 75.5 Rear Spoiler: 57* Front Suspension: 35% Rear Suspension: 66% Sway Bar: 7/8 Wedge: -0.5 Turns Gear Preset: Custom Gear 1 --- 3.60 Gear 2 --- 2.20 Gear 3 --- 1.70 Gear 4 --- 1.16 Rear End --- 3.55 o---------------------------------------o | LEGEND | |---------------------------------------| | Gear -- Stock leave it alone | | (!) -- Historical Track | | ** -- Fantasy Track | | * -- Degrees | o---------------------------------------o ---NOTE: The Daytona Beach and Tiburon tracks are only available in Quick Race as well as the Infield Road Courses at some tracks. Another small note is that two or three car-setups may cause the engine to blow (especially at New Hampshire Int'l Raceway). Plus if you use the Daytona and Talladega set-ups in Career Mode with a very great engine with high numbers (ex: condtion--100 power--97) WILL RESULT in a blown engine.--- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10. Thunder Plates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- PAGE 1 -------- ATLANTA QUALIFY BRISTOL QUALIFY CALIFORNIA QUALIFY CHICAGO QUALFIY DARLINGTON QUALIFY DAYTONA QUALIFY DOVER QUALIFY HOMESTEAD QUALIFY INDIANAPOLIS QUALIFY -------- PAGE 2 -------- INFINEON QUALIFY KANSAS QUALIFY LAS VEGAS QUALIFY LOWE'S QUALIFY MARTINSVILLES QUALIFY MICHIGAN QUALIFY NEW HAMPSHIRE QUALIFY PHOENIX QUALIFY POCONO QUALIFY -------- PAGE 3 -------- NORTH CAROLINA QUALIFY RICHMOND QUALIFY TALLADEGA QUALIFY TEXAS QUALIFY WATKINS GLEN QUALIFY ATLANTA NIGHT CALIFORNIA NIGHT CHICAGOLAND NIGHT DARLINGTON NIGHT ------- Page 4 -------- DAYTONA INFIELD DOVER NIGHT HOMESTEAD INFIELD RICHMOND DAY KANSAS NIGHT LAS VEGAS NIGHT MARTINSVILLE NIGHT MICHIGAN NIGHT NORTH CAROLINA NIGHT ------- Page 5 ------- PHOENIX INFIELD POCONO INFIELD INFINEON NIGHT TALLADEGA NIGHT TEXAS INFIELD TIBURON SPEEDWAY WATKINS GLEN NIGHT SHOOTOUT ALL-STAR ------- Page 6 ------- GREG BIFFLE JEFF PURVIS SHANE HALL JAMIE McMURRAY MIKE McLAUGHLIN MICHAEL WALTRIP KASEY KAHNE SCOTT WIMMER JAY SAUTER ------- Page 7 ------- JAMES FINCH DALE EANHARDT JR. JEFF BURTON CHAD CHAFFIN TIM SAUTER COY GIBBS RON HOARNDAY KEVIN HARVICK DAN PARDUS ------- Page 8 ------- BRIAN VICKERS ASHTON LEWIS JR. JOHNNY SAUTER DALE EARNHARDT RICHARD PETTY BENNY PARSONS BOBBY ALLISON JUNIOR JOHNSON TINY LUND ------- Page 9 ------- ALAN KULWICKI ELMO LANGLEY CALE YARBOROUGH KITT PAINT ------------ FANTASY DRIVERS 43 HONEY NUT 43 CHEX 43 CHEERIOS -------- Page 10 -------- 43 HAMBURGER HELPER 43 HONEY NUT 43 POP SECRET 10 OPENING DAY 10 MAX LIFE 10 ZEREX 10 EAGLE ONE 10 VALVOLINE 10 EAGLE ONE -------- Page 11 -------- 10 MAX LIFE 99 BASS MASTER 99 CITGO 22 WILDLIFE 22 BULLDOZER 97 SHARPIE 97 LITTLE TIKES 97 SHARPIE 9 DODGE -------- Page 12 -------- 24 DUPONT 200th 24 PEPSI 24 PEPSI 4th of JULY 24 DUPONT 24 LOONEY 31 REVERSE OUT 30 AOL 30 LOONEY 55 SQUARE D -------- Page 13 -------- 55 LIGHTNING 55 LOONEY 29 NOW SELL TIRES 29 GOODWRENCH 29 LOONEY 29 AOL 88 UPS 88 FLAMES 48 LOWE'S -------- Page 14 -------- 17 MILLION DOLLAR 17 DEWALT 18 INTERSTATE BATTERIES 18 JURASSIC PARK 3 18 ALL-STAR GAME 18 HULK 18 NASCAR RACERS 18 MBNA 18 SMALL SOLDIERS -------- Page 15 -------- 18 COCA COLA BEAR 5 KELLOGG'S 5 MINI WHEATS 5 LOONEY 6 MARK MARTIN 19 MOUNTAIN DEW 25 UAW-GM DELPHI 45 SPRINT 45 CHARITY RIDE -------- Page 16 -------- 28 NEED FOR SPEED 21 MOTORCRAFT 36 PINK 36 AQUA 36 PURPLE 36 4th of JULY 36 HALLOWEEN 36 PEDIGREE 36 COMBOS -------- Page 17 -------- 36 M&M's 36 4th of JULY 36 HALLOWEEN 20 HOME DEPOT 20 JURASSIC PARK 3 20 CHARLIE BROWN 20 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY 20 COCA COLA BEAR 2 HARLEY DAVIDSON -------- Page 18 -------- 15 NAPA ALL PRO GOODYEAR OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE PRESTONE CAR QUEST WING FUNNEL WAVE -------- Page 19 -------- SCORPION SWOOSH SPIKES POINTER MIXED-UP CHAMPION 1x CHAMPION 5x CHAMPION 8x 31st CHALLENGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11. Season Mode ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Season mode is like Career Mode but the only thing that makes season mode much different from Career Mode is that you don't have to worry about hiring pit crew or having to repair or build engines nor chasis. This is basically like Quick Race but you can take part in a series of races to see if you can make a run for the NASCAR Winston Championship. Also you can choose what driver you want to race as for this mode such as: Kevin Harvick, Terry Labonte, Rusty Wallace, Cale Yarborough, Mike McLaughlin, or the car you created in the Create-A-Car option. In Season Mode you have 20 years to win as many championships or win races as you choose the settings just like in Career Mode like (12, 24, or 36 per season) and the difficulty of the AI (Rookie, Veteren, Legend). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12. Career Mode ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Part One: Introduction to Career Mode ------------------------------------- Career Mode in NASCAR Thunder 2003 you will have 20 years to try to accomplish a goal of 8 championships. As you progress through each year you may/may not be able to unlock Thunder Plates when you win championships (ex. 1st Championship, 5th Championship, 8th Championship, and possibly others). ------------------------------------- Part Two: Getting your Career started ------------------------------------- Starting off in Career ---------------------- First you'll have to create-a-car but you WILL have to fill out the following information: First Name Last Name Birthday [Month / Day / Year] Race Team [example: Roush Racing] After you fill out the information the next step in create-a-car for Career Mode is to make a paint scheme that you would like to run throughout your Rookie Year, you can always later change the paint scheme later in the year. Of course you'll also have to pick out what number out of the numbers available, as well as deciding if you want the decals anywhere from none - complete. Crew ---- Secondly, you'll have to sign on your pitcrew. The pitcrew consists of the following crew members: Crew Chief Gasman Rear Tire Changer Front Tire Changer Rear Tire Carrier Front Tire Carrier Spottor Catchcan Man Jackman The best way of deciding who you want to be on your pitcrew is by how their experience is with each of their fields. They might be able to give you real good pit-stops and possibly get you back out on the track to get you your first win in your first year. If not just keep on trying until you do but here's a tip: If the crew goes quite sometime unhappy you can fire them and hire replacements for them. Sponsors -------- Third, you'll have to sign on sponsors for extra support and earn more money to be able to put money towards things such as R&D. Here is the kind of sponsors that you'll need to sign on for each section of the car: ----[COMING SOON]--- ENGINES ------- ----[COMING SOON]--- CHASIS ------ ----[COMING SOON]--- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13. Codes/Secrets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There are a few codes/secrets in NASCAR Thunder 2003 for the PlayStation2 and do work with the Nintendo GameCube as well as for the Microsoft X-Box: o----------------------------------------------------------------------------o |Tiburon Track - There are two ways of unlocking the Tiburon track. They | | are 1) Beat one of the Lightning Challenges or 2) have a | | 2003 EA Sports game (ie. NCAA Football 2003) | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Dale Earnhardt - To be able to get Dale Earnhardt in the game you must go | | to Create-A-Car option. Enter Dale in first name slot | | and Earnhardt in the last name slot | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Fantasy Drivers - To be able to have the Fantasy Drivers do the same | | thing as you did for Dale Earnhardt but this time enter | | EXTRA as a first name and DRIVERS as the last name | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Infield Road Courses/Night Tracks - To be able to get a infield road | | course or night version of the track | | you must win a race on either VETEREN | | or LEGEND difficulty | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Other Paint Schemes - To be able to get a driver's paint scheme you must | | do a race under VETEREN or LEGEND difficulty. You | | can only do a certain event with a driver once after | | that do a race at the other event to be able to do | | it twice at the track. Alternately go to Create-A-Car| | then enter Albert as a first name and Ternate as a | | name. | o----------------------------------------------------------------------------o ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14. New Features ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In NASCAR Thunder 2003, EA Sports has added a few new features in this year's version of NASCAR Thunder. Here is a list of things that EA Sports has featured in NASCAR Thunder 2003: Victory Lane Celebration ------------------------ Whenever you win a race you'll be able to celebrate in the Victory Circle aka Winner's Circle with your pit crew. Pit Crew Mistakes ----------------- Another feature that EA has decided to put into this year's version of NASCAR Thunder was the Pit Crew mistakes. At certain points when you make a pitstop during a race there may be a possibility that one of the members of the pit crew may make a mistake. Burnouts/Victory Lap -------------------- This is the same as Victory Lane Celebration (whenever you win a race) but when you win, the moment you see the stats of the Top-10 finishers you'll be prompted to press Start to enter Celebration. From there you'll be able to do burnouts or do a victory lap, or anything you can think of. Lightning Challenges -------------------- This feature in NASCAR Thunder 2003 allows you to live some NASCAR's Greatest moments that occured in the past few years, such as Terry Labonte's second "Winston" win at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, or Elliot Sadler's win at the 2001 Food City 500 where he started 38th and went on to win the race. The challenges may be of an event where a driver had a chance to win a race but didn't but you can use take the chance to take them to victory lane. Thunder License --------------- In this feature you can learn the layout of the 23 Winston Cup tracks on the schedule. All you have to do is choose a track that you want to see what you can do but before you can go to a track you must choose a driver as your "Coach". Once you do so then you'll be able to go to the track but before you start you'll hear Richard Petty give you some background about that particular track. The moment you press start Richard "The King" Petty will tell how to get around the track and the moment that one lap is done through that's when the LICENSE begins. You have 3 levels that you will have to go through but after you get the time to beat that level an assist will be disabled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15. Credits/Legal Notice ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Here I would like to give credit to anyone who might or might’ve not have helped me in making this FAQ/Guide for NASCAR Thunder 2003: o--------------------------------------------------------------------------o | Me - For writing a FAQ for NASCAR Thunder 2003 on the Sony PlayStation2 | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | tpmaniac - for posting car set-ups in which I used some of them in this | | FAQ | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | geko - *same as for tpmaniac* | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Bruce Badgley - for e-mailing me the set-ups for the infield courses | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | NASCAR.com - for a listing of pole winners, and race winners of the | | 2002 season as well as for stats from the 2002 season | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Dark Phenomenon - for the ASCII art | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | racing-reference.com - for stats on the NASCAR drivers | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | CJayC - for posting my FAQ for NASCAR Thunder 2003 on Game FAQs | o--------------------------------------------------------------------------o This document is copyrighted ©2003 Stephen "Warhawk" Harris. Any site wishing to host this walkthrough will have to e-mail me in advance to ask permission. If you post it and then e-mail me about it, I will have to ask you to remove it from the site. Plus please don't try anything stupid with this guide because if any author finds out about someone doing something with their work it is considered "copyright infringement" and is HIGHLY ILLEGAL. So, if you want to host it please come to me first and asks politely, then I'll think it over. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16. Thank You ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THANK YOU FOR READING THIS RACING GUIDE FOR NASCAR THUNDER 2003 BY STEPHEN "WARHAWK" HARRIS. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, OR COMPLIMENTS PLESE CONTACT ME WITH THEM AND ONCE AGAIN THANKS FOR READING. I'LL BE SURE TO TRY TO ANSWER TO ALL E-MAILS AND YOU CAN BE SURE THAT I MAY DO ONE FOR NASCAR THUNDER 2004 WHEN IT COMES OUT IN SEPTEMBER. I HAVE PLANS OF WRITING MORE GUIDES FOR SOME GREAT GAMES AND BE SURE TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR NEW GUIDES BY WARHAWK AS I PLAN OF WRITING GUIDES FOR A WHILE. ---Any facts used in this guide relating to tracks, drivers, and/or anything else are owned by their respective owners--- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ END OF DOCUMENT. ©2003 Stephen "Warhawk" Harris.