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SB0Z8M@Z7rr;;rr;iiiii;;;i;7ZZ8W2i 2MM@Z7. ,ii, .;2aXr: .::,,::ii: ------------------------------------------------------------------- | Nascar Thunder 2002 | | Platform: PlayStation2 | | Author: Warhawk | | Real Name: Stephen Harris | | E-Mail Address: rattrap19842003 [at] yahoo [dot] com | | Date Created: February 2, 2002 | | Last Updated: December 21, 2004 | | Version: Final | | Websites that this guide will be on: www.gamefaqs.com | | www.cheathappens.com | | http://gameguru.box.sk | ------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================================== --Table of Contents-- ============================================================================== 1. Contact the Author 2. Controls 3. Tracks 4. Winston Cup Drivers 5. Busch Drivers 6. Car Setups 7. Career Mode 8. Secrets in Nascar Thunder *8.1 Unlocking Busch Drivers *8.2 Unlocking Hidden Drivers *8.3 BONUS CHAMPIONSHIP FMV 9. Tribute to Dale Earnhardt 10. Credits ============================================================================== 1. Contact the Author ============================================================================== To be able to contact Stephen "Warhawk" Harris please drop me an e-mail at rattrap19842003 [at] yahoo [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 2004" 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 because I'll delete the e-mail. If you can't ask or comment politely then don't even bother sending the e-mail. I also have AIM and YIM messengers, but you can only be able to contact me through YIM because due to an incident while I was on AIM I have decided to have a closed list on AIM. If you seem that you can't get a response from me on YIM please feel free to e-mail me at the e-mail address that I have given in this section or near the beginning of this guide for NASCAR Thunder 2004. My YIM screen name is listed below if you need to get in contact me through that mean instead of e-mailing me: --------------------------- | YIM - rattrap19842004 | --------------------------- ============================================================================== 2. Controls ============================================================================== Gas- X Shift Up- R2 Brake- Square Shift Down- R1 Reverse- Triangle (when stopped) Pause Game- Start Change View- Circle Toggle HUD ON/OFF- Select Track Map/Damage meter- L1 Toggle Rear View Mirror- L2 ============================================================================== 3. 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 Strategy: --------- As you come out of turn 4 you should be around 184 - 185 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 - 196 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 184 - 186 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 196 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 185 - 187 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 114 - 116 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 140 - 142 maybe a few MPH under that. As you brake to enter the turns 1 - 2 slow down to around 114 - 116 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 142 MPH before braking for turns 3 - 4. When you go through turns 3 - 4, you want to be around 114 - 116 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 169 - 170 MPH as you head towards the start/finish line. As you race down the frontstretch you can be able to reach around 202 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. When you start to brake into turns 1 - 2 you should be around 164 - 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 197 MPH before braking for turns 3 - 4, and when you enter turns 3 - 4 drop your speed to around 163 - 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 169 - 170 MPH as you head down the frontstretch to the start/finish line. As you race down the frontstretch you should reach a speed around 192 MPH before heading into turns 1 - 2. As you brake to head in turns 1 - 2 slow down to around 163 - 170 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 192 MPH before heading through turns 3 - 4. When you brake to go through turns 3 - 4 to around 163 - 170 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 145 - 150 MPH heading towards the start/finish line. When you head down the fronstretch to turns 1 - 2 of a speed around 182 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. As you go through turns 1 - 2 slow down to around 163 - 165 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 182 MPH. As you brake to go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 143 - 145 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: 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 193 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 197 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 193 - 195 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 195 MPH. Once you exit turn 4 you should be around 196 by the exit of the turn heading to the start/finish line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 153 - 156 MPH as you come off onto the frontstretch. As you go down the frontstretch you will reach around 176 MPH before you brake to enter turns 1 - 2. When you slow down to go through turns 1 - 2 brake to around 153 - 155 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 176 MPH before entering turns 3 - 4, and when you go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 153 - 155 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 192 MPH and as you head through turns 1 - 2 you want to be around 143 - 145 MPH. As you exit turn 2 at 140 or better heading down the backstretch you should be able to reach 192 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 143 - 145 MPH, and then back onto the fronstretch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 167 - 170 MPH as you head onto the frontstretch. As you go down the frontstretch you want to try to get around 203 MPH before entering turn 1. When go through turn 1 you want to be around 162 - 164 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 162 - 164 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 201 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 162 - 164 MPH then you'll have a small stretch before turn 4, and the same speed for turn 4 162 - 164 MPH before going back onto the frontstretch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 164 - 165 MPH as you go down the frontstretch to the start/finish line. You will reach around 193 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2 and as you go through turns 1 - 2 you want to be around 164 - 166 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 191 MPH before entering turns 3 - 4. When you go through turns 3 - 4 you want to be around 164 - 166 MPH through those turns because if you go around 167 - 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 145 - 149 MPH as you go down the frontstretch to the line. As you go down the frontstretch you should be able to reach around 193 MPH before heading into turns 1 - 2. When you get ready to go through turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 148 - 150 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 186 MPH before you head into turns 3 - 4 but when you brake to go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 148 - 150 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: 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 167 - 172 MPH heading down the frontstretch towards the start/finish line. You may be able to reach around 187 - 190 MPH before heading into turns 1 - 2 and as you do brake to around 169 - 170 through turns 1 - 2 as you go onto the backstretch. As you race down the backstretch you should be able to reach around 193 - 196 MPH before you go through turns 3 - 4, and as you brake to go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 169 - 170 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 66 - 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 133 MPH and once you get to the end of where it has NASCAR Racing Cup series to brake for turns 1 - 2 to around 66 - 70 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 130 - 133 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 66 - 68 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 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 180 - 184 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 202 MPH but as you get ready into head into turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 175 - 180 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 200 MPH before heading into turns 3 - 4. As you go through turns 3 - 4 slow down to around 168 - 170 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 96 - 100 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 163 MPH before heading through turns 1 - 2. As you slow down to take turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 96 - 100 MPH but the 96 - 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 162 - 163 MPH before heading into turns 3 - 4. As you approach turns 3 - 4 you want to slow down to around 95 - 100 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 146 - 150 MPH heading onto the frontstretch towards the line. Before slowing down for turns 1 - 2 you should be able to reach around 179 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. As you brake to go through turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 144 - 146 MPH as you reach the backstretch up by the wall. As you go down the backstretch you will reach a speed of around 176 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 144 - 146 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 128 - 130 MPH heading onto the frontstretch towards the line. Before slowing down for turns 1 - 2 you should be able to reach around 165 MPH before entering turns 1 - 2. As you brake to go through turns 1 - 2 you want to slow down to around 118 - 120 MPH as you reach the backstretch up by the wall. As you go down the backstretch you will reach a speed of around 168 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 122 - 124 MPH as you go through the turns as you head back onto the fronstretch towards the line. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 - 155 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 154 - 155 MPH through turn 1 as you go onto the second stretch as you approach turn 2 "Tunnel Turn". Your speed should reach around 197 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 154 - 155 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 186 MPH before heading through turn 3 at this unique track. As you go through turn 3 you want to be around 149 - 150 MPH going through turn 3 back on your way to the frontstretch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 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 102 - 105 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 149 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 102 - 103 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 143 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 102 - 103 MPH as you head back to the line for a lap around RIR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sears Point 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 46 - 49 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 134 MPH as you approach turn 2 you want to be around 96 - 98 MPH going through turn 2. Turn 3 isn't that far off because you'll have to slow down to around 62 - 64 MPH going through turn 3 then onto a small stretch to turn 4. Turn 4 slow down to around 91 - 94 MPH and turn 5 isn't far off from turn 4. To take turn 5 well slow down to around 62 - 65 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 79 - 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 50 - 54 MPH to go through this turn. Next you'll have to take on the ESSES at around 95 - 100 MPH through those set of turns, before taking on turn 8. As you approach turn 8 you want to slow down to around 126 MPH going through the turn and then have to set up for turn 9 at around 102 - 104 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 45 - 49 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 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 193MPH as you head through the tri-oval and to the start/finish line. Before you head into turns 1 - 2 you should be around 194MPH before heading in to turns 1 - 2. As you race through turns 1 - 2 you want to be around 193 - 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 196MPH before heading in turns 3 - 4. When you race through turns 3 - 4 you want to be around 195 - 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 180 MPH, as you head towards the start/finish line. You will reach around 196 MPH before heading into Turn 1, but when you go through turns 1 - 2 at around 178 - 179 MPH through the turns. As you exit out of turn 2 you should be able to reach to around 196 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 174 - 176 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 - 100 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 172 MPH, and then you'll have to slow down to around 78 - 80 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 131 - 133 MPH going through turn 2, but with turn 3 slow down to around 136 - 138 MPH [don't be suprised if you have to slow down a bit more]. Then you have to get through turn 4 at around 156 - 160 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 89 - 90 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 79 - 80 MPH before entering turn 9. To get through turn 9 good, keep your speed around 95 MPH and when you exit turn 9 get on the brake to around 110 MPH on the exit on the second stretch of this road course. You should be able to reach around 172 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 97 - 100 MPH through turn 11 to go to the start/finish line again. **Strategies based on car set-up used for that track** ============================================================================== 4. Winston Cup Drivers ============================================================================== John Andretti Car Owner: Richard Petty Team: Petty Enterprises Hometown: Bethlehem, PA Car #: 43 Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: Cheerios Rookie Year: 1994 Alternate Skins: Hamburger Helper Honeynut Cheerios Pop Secret Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 262 Poles: 4 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 13 Top 10's: 35 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Casey Atwood Car Owner: Ray Evernham Team: Evernham Motorsports Hometown: Antioch, TN Car #: 19 Car Type: Dodge Car Make: Intrepid Sponsor: DODGE Rookie Year: 2001 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 38 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 1 Top 10's: 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Johnny Benson **1996 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Team: MBV Motorsports Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI Car #: 10 Car Make: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: Valvoline Rookie Year: 1996 Alternate Skins: Eagle One Maxlife Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 197 Poles: 2 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 13 Top 10's: 47 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 259 Poles: 2 Wins: 17 Top 5's: 81 Top 10's: 119 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Wildlife Foundation Bulldozer Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 250 Poles: 6 Wins: 3 Top 5's: 21 Top 10's: 67 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 1 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 3 Top 10's: 6 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale Earnhardt Jr. Car Owner: Teresa Earnhardt Team: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Hometown: Kannapolis, North Carolina Car #: 8 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Dale Earnhardt Jr.* Rookie Year: 2000 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 75 Poles: 4 Wins: 5 Top 5's: 12 Top 10's: 21 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 1977 Alternate Skins: ----- Career Stats Championships: 1 Stats: 659 Poles: 53 Wins: 41 Top 5's: 160 Top 10's: 294 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Looney Tunes Career Stats Championships: 4 ('95, '97 - '98, 2001) Starts: 293 Poles: 39 Wins: 58 Top 5's: 147 Top 10's: 190 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Green Car Owner: Richard Childress Team: Childress Racing Hometown: Owensboro, KY Car #: 30 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: America On-Line Rookie Year: 1997 Alternate Skins: Looney Tunes Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 58 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 1 Top 10's: 3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby Hamilton **1991 Rookie of the Year** 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: Square D Lightning Looney Tunes Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 337 Poles: 5 Wins: 4 Top 5's: 20 Top 10's: 64 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Looney Tunes AOL Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 35 Poles: 0 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 6 Top 10's: 16 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 459 Poles: 14 Wins: 28 Top 5's: 141 Top 10's: 210 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matt Kenseth **2000 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Mark Martin Team: Roush Racing Hometown: Cambridge, Winconsin Car #: 17 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: DeWalt Rookie Year: 2000 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 76 Poles: 1 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 9 Top 10's: 22 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Jurassic Park 3 MLB All Start Game Graneknstein NASCAR Racers MBNA Small Soldiers Coca-Cola Polar Bear Circuit City Career Stats Championships: 1 Starts: 294 Poles: 21 Wins: 18 Top 5's: 84 Top 10's: 142 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Kellogg's Honey Frosted Mini Wheets Loony Tunes Career Stats Championships: 2 ('84, '96) Starts: 709 Poles: 26 Wins: 21 Top 5's: 166 Top 10's: 340 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jason Leffler Car Owner: Chip Ganassi Team: Ganassi Racing Hometown: Long Beach, California Car #: 01 Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: Cingular Wireless Rookie Year: 2001 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 30 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 0 Top 10's: 1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin LePage Car Owner: Morgan McClure Team: Morgan McClure Mortorsports Hometown: Shleburn, Vermont Car #: 4 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Rookie Year: 1998 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 125 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 2 Top 10's: 8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sterling Marlin 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: Brooks & Dunn Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 539 Poles: 11 Wins: 8 Top 5's: 59 Top 10's: 178 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Martin Car Owner: Jack Roush Team: Roush Racing Hometown: Batesville, Arizona Car #: 6 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Mark Martin Rookie Year: 1982 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 494 Poles: 41 Wins: 32 Top 5's: 188 Top 10's: 303 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeremy Mayfield Car Owner: Roger Penske Team: Penske Motorsports Hometown: Owensboro, Kentucky Car #: 12 Car Type: Dodge Car Model: Intrepid Sponsor: Dodge Rookie Year: 1997 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 237 Poles: 6 Wins: 3 Top 5's: 33 Top 10's: 58 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 1998 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 139 Poles: 0 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 8 Top 10's: 17 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Nemechek Car Owner: Andy Petree Team: Andy Petree Racing Hometown: Lakeland, Florida Car #: 33 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Oakwood Homes Rookie Year: Altenate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 253 Poles: 6 Wins: 1 Top-5's: 8 Top-10's: 32 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryan Newman Car Owner: Roger Penske Team: Penske Motorsports Hometown: South Bend, Indiana Car #: 02 Car Type: Ford Car Make: Taurus Sponsor: ALLTEL Rookie Year: ---- Alternate Skins: ----- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 8 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 2 Top 10's: 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 114 Poles: 2 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 11 Top 10's: 30 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benny Parsons [NASCAR Legend] **1972 Winston Cup Champion** Car Owner: N/A Team: NBC Sports Hometown: Ellerbe, North Carolina Car #: ----- Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Grand Prix Rookie Year: 1970 Year Retired: 1988 Alternate Skins: ----- Career Stats Champioships: 1 Starts: 526 Poles: 20 Wins: 21 Top 5's: 199 Top 10's: 283 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Charity Ride Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 609 Poles: 8 Wins: 8 Top 5's: 51 Top 10's: 167 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Petty [NASCAR LEGEND] **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: ---- Career Stats Championships: 7 Starts: 1184 Poles: 123 Wins: 200 Top 5's: 555 Top 10's: 712 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Need for Speed Career Stats Champioships: 0 Starts: 731 Poles: 27 Wins: 20 Top 5's: 179 Top 10's: 344 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elliott Sadler Car Owner: Wood Brothers Team: Wood Brothers Racing Hometown: Emporia, VA Car #: 21 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Motorcraft Rookie Year: 1999 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 105 Poles: 0 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 2 Top 10's: 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken Schrader **1983 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Nelson Bowers Team: MB2 Motorsports Hometown: Fenton, Missouri Car #: 36 Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: M&M's Rookie Year: 1983 Alternate Skins: 4th of July Halloween Snickers Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 528 Poles: 23 Wins: 4 Top 5's: 64 Top 10's: 176 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Skinner **1997 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Morgan McClure Team: McClure Racing Hometown: Ontario, CA Car #: 31 Car Type: Chevrolet Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: LOWE's Home Improvement Rookie Year: 1997 Alternate Skins: Looney Tunes Top Choice Lumber Career Stats: Championships: 0 Starts: 167 Poles: 5 Wins: 0 Top 5's: 10 Top 10's: 38 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jimmy Spencer Car Owner: Chip Ganassi Team: Ganassi Racing Hometown: Berwick, Pennsylvania Car #: 26 Car Type: Ford Car Make: Taurus Sponsor: K-Mart Rookie Year: 1989 Alternate Skins: ---- Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 370 Poles: 3 Wins: 2 Top 5's: 25 Top 10's: 70 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tony Stewart **1999 Rookie of the Year** Car Owner: Joe Gibbs Team: Gibbs Racing Hometown: Columbus, Indiana Car #: 20 Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: HOME DEPOT Rookie Year: 1999 Alternate Skins: Jurassic Park 3 Kid's Workshop Habitat for Humanity Coca-Cola Polar Bear Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 104 Poles: 4 Wins: 12 Top 5's: 39 Top 10's: 66 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 562 Poles: 35 Wins: 54 Top 5's: 182 Top 10's: 292 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 498 Poles: 2 Wins: 1 Top 5's: 21 Top 10's: 85 ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- | LEGEND | |-----------------------------------------------| | * : Acutal Sponsor is Drug/Alcohol related | ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- ============================================================================== 5. Busch Drivers ============================================================================== Greg Biffle Car Owner: Jack Roush Team: Roush Racing Hometown: Vancouver, Washington Car #: 60 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Grainger Rookie Year: 2001 Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 35 Poles: 2 Wins: 5 Top-5's: 16 Top-10's: 21 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Dillion Car Owner: Richard Childress Team: Richard Chlidress Racing Hometown: Lexington, North Carolina Car #: 21 Car Type: Chevy Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Rockwell Automation Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 154 Poles: 0 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 3 Top-10's: 15 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Green **2000 BUSCH Series Champion** Car Owner: ----- Team: ppc racing Hometown: Owensboro, Kentucky Car #: 10 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Nesquik Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 1 Starts: 212 Poles: 18 Wins: 14 Top-5's: 75 Top-10's: 110 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin Grubb Car Owner: Clarence Brewer Team: Brewco Motorsports Hometown: Car #: 37 Car Type: Chevy Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Timber Wolf Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 114 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 8 Top-10's: 23 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shane Hall Car Owner: ---- Team: Hensley Racing Hometown: Simpsonville, South Carolina Car #: 63 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Lance Snacks Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 135 Poles: 2 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 1 Top-10's: 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jason Keller Car Owner: ---- Team: ppc Racing Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina Car #: 57 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Albertsons Rookie Year: 1993 Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 255 Poles: 7 Wins: 5 Top-5's: 46 Top-10's: 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Randy LaJoie **2-Time BUSCH Series Champion** Car Owner: ----- Team: Evans Motorsports Hometown: Norwalk, Connecticult Car #: 7 Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Gran Prix Sponsor: Kleenex Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 2 Starts: 256 Poles: 6 Wins: 15 Top-5's: 67 Top-10's: 97 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chad Little Car Owner: ---- Team: BACE Motorsports Hometown: Spokane, Washington Car #: 74 Car Type: Chevy Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Staff America Rookie Year: 1993 Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 131 Poles: 1 Wins: 6 Top-5's: 27 Top-10's: 44 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike McLauglin Car Owner: Joe Gibbs Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Hometown: Car #: 18 Car Type: Pontiac Car Model: Grand Prix Sponsor: MBNA Rookie Year: 1994 Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 263 Poles: 5 Wins: 6 Top-5's: 51 Top-10's: 92 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jamie McMurray Car Owner: Clarence Brewer Team: Brewco Motorsports Hometown: Joplin, Missouri Car #: 27 Car Type: Chevy Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Williams Travel Centers Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 35 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 0 Top-10's: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tony Raines Car Owner: ---- Team: BACE Motorsports Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana Car #: 33 Car Type: Chevy Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Bayer Rookie Year: 1999 Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 96 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 6 Top-10's: 17 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jay Sauter Car Owner: ----- Team: Curb-Agajanian Racing Hometown: West Salem, Winconsin Car #: 43 Car Type: Chevy Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Quality Farm and Country Rookie Year: 2000 Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 63 Poles: 1 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 3 Top-10's: 15 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elton Sawyer Car Owner: ---- Team: Atkins Motorsports Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia Car #: 98 Car Type: Ford Car Model: Taurus Sponsor: Starter/Hot Rookie Year: 1986 Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 389 Poles: 2 Wins: 2 Top-5's: 51 Top-10's: 131 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Waltrip Car Owner: Michael Waltrip Team: Waltrip Racing Hometown: Owensboro, Kentucky Car #: 99 Car Type: Chevy Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Aaron's Rent Rookie Year: 1989 Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 162 Poles: 10 Wins: 8 Top-5's: 41 Top-10's: 65 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scott Wimmer Car Owner: Joe Gibbs Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Hometown: Wausau, Winconsin Car #: 21 Car Type: Chevy Car Model: Monte Carlo Sponsor: Rockwell Automation Rookie Year: Alternate Skins: N/A Career Stats Championships: 0 Starts: 36 Poles: 0 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 2 Top-10's: 8 **STATS BASED ON AFTER 2001 BUSCH SEASON** ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- | LEGEND | |-----------------------------------------------| | * : Acutal Sponsor is Drug/Alcohol related | ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- **I realize that I don't have the car owner of some of the driver's since I don't know that information at this time. If you have that information please e-mail me that information** ============================================================================== 6. Car Setups ============================================================================== Atlanta ------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 33 psi Rear Spoiler: 59* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 1.5 Turns Gear Ratio: 6 Bristol ------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 32 psi Rear Spoiler: 70* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 3 California ---------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 53* Suspension 50% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 6 Chicagoland ----------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 62* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 2.0 turns Gear Ratio: 6 Darlington ---------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 33 psi Rear Spoiler: 53* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 3.0 turns Gear Ratio: 5 Daytona ------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 45* Rear Spoiler: 45* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 3.0 turns Gear Ratio: 8 Dover Downs ----------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 70* Suspension: 40% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 4 Homestead-Miami --------------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 75* Suspension: 37% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 6 Indianapolis ------------ Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 45* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 7 Kansas ------ Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 61* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 2.5 turns Gear Ratio: 6 Las Vegas --------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30psi Rear Spoiler: 52* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 6 Lowes ----- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 60* Suspension: 47% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 6 Martinsville ------------ Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 75* Suspension: 70% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 2 Michigan -------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 45* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 6 New Hampshire ------------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 66* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 4 North Carolina -------------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 64* Suspension: 40% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 5 Phoenix ------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 75* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 3.5 turns Gear Ratio: 4 Pocono ------ Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 54* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 6 Richmond -------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 70* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 3 Sears Point ----------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 75* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 0.0 turns Gear Ratio: 4 Talladega --------- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 60 psi Rear Spoiler: 45* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 2.5 turns Gear Ratio: 7 Texas ----- Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 54* Suspension: 46% Wedge: 4.0 turns Gear Ratio: 6 Watkins Glen ------------ Transmission: Manual Tire Pressure: 30 psi Rear Spoiler: 70* Suspension: 50% Wedge: 1.0 turns Gear Ratio: 5 ============================================================================== 7. Career Mode ============================================================================== Introduction to Career ---------------------- Career Mode is a new option in Nascar Thunder 2002. This feature is only available in the PlayStation2 and X-Box versions only. This Career Mode option is something that makes this game different from the other Nascar games. This mode allows you to create your own car and driver (such as yourself) and must win 8 championships in 20 years. When you start of with sponsors: Starting off in Career ---------------------- As you start off in Career Mode in NASCAR Thunder 2002 you will have 20 years to make a name for yourself. When you start off you'll need to create a car or either modify a car that you have created for just quick race. In this mode you need to aquire sponsors on your car such as Primary, Secondary, and Associate. With sponsors you can be able to earn money and be able to upgrade your car such as being able to turn more laps in before making a pitstop, braking, handling, etc. Here is a list of the type of sponsors that you can aquire, while later on you can aquire package sponsors: ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ | Primary: The main sponsor which appears on the hood of the car | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | Secondary: This sponsor appears on the side of the car | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | Associate: This sponsor appears on the back of the car | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | Package (P): Sponsor along with a full paint scheme (like #18 | | MBNA Busch Car) | ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ You must assign yourself with all three types of sponsors and they will have try to accomplish things in a certain amount of time (such as for 3 races, 6 races or maybe even 12 races). After you get done with a few races or maybe your first year you will want to go with a PACKAGE (such as some of the Busch cars like #18 MBNA Car, #10 Nestle, etc.). Then you might be able to pick up Winston Cup rides sometime within your 7th or 8th year. Upgrades -------- As you earn sponsors along with more money you'll be able to purchase upgrades to make your car better throughout the time of your Career in NASCAR Thunder 2002. If you want to earn more money you want to see about winning races so you can go about getting more money along with any money that the sponsors give you. Here are the type of upgrades that you can get throughout Career Mode to help you be better out the track hopefully. Engine ------ The engine upgrades allow you to have better accerlation as well as your top speeds to be able to run up front more often at each race. When you start off you won't have the speed that you need to be able to qualify up the front at the beginning of your Career but with each upgrade will help you be able to qualify up towards the front and even win those races that you want to win. I will list the level of the upgrade along with the price for each of the engine upgrades that you can get: Level 1.........$250,000 Level 2.........$1,200,000 Level 3.........$2,000,000 Level 4.........$5,550,000 Level 5.........$9,000,000 Handling -------- The handling upgrade is actually simpliflic to understand what it does. With each upgrade of this one will allow you to be able to handle the car much better around the track without having to drift up much in the turns nor slow down as much as before. It usually depends on how the banking of the turns of the track may affect on the level of the handling going through the turns. For example the better handling that you can get the better on the flat tracks like Martinsville, Las Vegas or Homestead. As for tracks like Daytona, Atlanta, or Talladega you may be able to race a bit of a higher line with each of the the higher banked tracks. Here's the level of the upgrades along with the price of those upgrades that you get for the handling: Level 1.........$250,000 Level 2.........$350,000 Level 3.........$850,000 Level 4.........$2,000,000 Level 5.........$4,000,000 Brakes ------ The brakes has to be the most important part of the race car. You'll need brakes for tracks such as Sears Point [Infineon], Watins Glen, Martinsville, and other tracks that you really need brakes for. When you get more money you should see about investing so when you get to tracks such where braking is critical so you can go about getting through the track quicker and be able to brake at the those tracks with ease (including slowing down to make pitstops). Level 1..........$200,000 Level 2..........$250,000 Level 3..........$500,000 Level 4..........$1,300,000 Level 5..........$2,500,000 Drafting -------- For the drafting upgrades allows you to put money to have your car to be run through the wind tunnel. This allows to be able to find out the car's overall drag and coefficient goes down but there isn't a way to view information such as that in this game. With each drafting upgrade you should be able to draft behind anyone without much problem especially at the restrictor plate tracks such as Daytona and Talladega. Upgrading your car with this upgrade allows your car to perform better in traffic since you will most likely be drafting behind one or more cars. Level 1..........$200,000 Level 2..........$300,000 Level 3..........$850,000 Level 4..........$1,500,000 Level 5..........$3,000,000 Pit Crew -------- This upgrade allows you to be able to have your pit crew trained so you can go about reducing time that you spend on pit road. Depending on the length of the races that you run this can be important to a race since you want to spend the least amount of time to go about either having a good run (such as being in the lead) or having to fall back due to a bad stop that you had. We all know that you don't want a bad pitstop to the extend to where it'll cost us the race and not be able to get a good position especially if you're trying to contend for your first championship. Level 1..........$200,000 Level 2..........$250,000 Level 3..........$400,000 Level 4..........$850,000 Level 5..........$1,200,000 Durability ---------- There are going to be times throughout your Career that you'll end up scraping the wall and probably end up losing positions or maybe even wreck. The durability upgrades will be able to allow you to take more damage before the car ends up giving up on you, since the car can only take so much damage. Each track is different and depending on how well the cars are spread out the more or less accidents that will occur throughout the race. If the cars are crowded together expect a big wreck if a car gets out of place but if there's not so many cars together you won't have to worry about many accidents. Level 1..........$180,000 Level 2..........$250,000 Level 3..........$400,000 Level 4..........$850,000 Level 5..........$1,200,000 Tire and Fuel Efficiency ------------------------ When your car travels faster the more fuel you'll waste unless you're drafting in which you can be able to conserve fuel that way. If you go about combining these upgrades along with the engine you may be able to conserve fuel much easier without having to draft with anyone that you get behind. Level 1..........$180,000 Level 2..........$280,000 Level 3..........$850,000 Level 4..........$1,500,000 Level 5..........$3,000,000 ============================================================================== 8. Secrets in Nascar Thunder ============================================================================== There are three types of secrets in Nascar Thunder 2002 for the PlayStation2, X-Box: ***************************** 8.1 Unlocking Busch Drivers ***************************** To unlock the Busch Drivers you must go through Season mode to be able to unlock a few Busch Cars. If you continue this you should be able to unlock all of them by when you complete your 8th or 9th Championship. ****************************** 8.2 Unlocking Hidden Drivers ****************************** To unlock the hidden drivers you must go to the create a car option and enter the following names: Dave Alpern Kristi Jones Buster Auton Joey Joulwan Scott Brewer Cheryl King Audrey Clark Mandy Misiak Rick Edwards Josh Neelson Michelle Emser Dave Nichols Katrina Goode Benny Parsons Diane Grubb Ken Patterson Jim Hannigan Dick Paysor Troi Hayes Tom Renedo Crissy Hilsworth Sasha Soares Traci Hultzapple Chuck Spicer Rick Humphrey Daryle Wolfe **************************** 8.3 BONUS CHAMPIONSHIP FMV **************************** To see the Bonus FMV with Richard Petty you have to win eight Championships to see this Bonus Championship Video, which is a video about Richard "The King" Petty. ============================================================================== 9. Tribute to Dale Earnhardt ============================================================================== Dale Earnhardt was considered one of the best NASCAR drivers since Richard Petty. Earnhardt joined NASCAR full time in 1979 up until the tragic crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001 which was a little over a year ago. He was considered the master of drafting. Earnhardt won races but was trying to win the race that eluted him since his rookie year, winning the Daytona 500. Dale had a chance to win it in 1990 but a blown tire prevented him from winning the race but with that blown tire gave the lead to Derrike Cope who went on to win that race. Earnhardt had no intention of winning seven championships nor winning a lot of races throughout his career. If there was a driver who could get the job done it was Earnhardt, who always challenged anyone to win the race. When Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500 he broke a 59 race losing streak but that was a day that nobody will ever forget especially the whole Nascar community, but no one would expect what would happen at that track three years later. Dale Earnhardt won his seventh and final championship in 1994, but after that Earnhardt kept trying to capture the elusive eight championship to end the tie between him and "The King" Richard Petty. Earnhardt captured his 76th and final victory at the second race at Talladega, where a year later Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the race where his father won a year earlier. Then came the 2001 Daytona 500, it seemed like a great day for racing but nobody including Earnhardt himself would know what was going to happen. When there was twenty-five laps to go a major crash on the backstretch starting with Tony Stewart occurred wiping out 20 of the cars. Of course the race was red flagged until it was safe to race again. They were able to get underway to continue on with the race, but on the final lap Michael Waltrip, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (teammates) following them was "The Intimidator" Dale Earnhardt coming right behind them. They later were able to get a bit farther ahead of Sr. and headed into Turn 3. When Earnhardt was in Turn 4 he made contact with Sterling Marlin and went crashing into the wall taking Schrader with him. Dale Earnhardt was later pronounced dead and when the news got to the Nascar community it was the darkest hours at Daytona. Everyone was in shock after hearing the tragic news. It's still sad not seeing the black number three in the field and racing. :::::::: :+: :+: +:+ +#++: +#+ #+# #+# ######## Dale Earnhardt may be dead, but his legacy that he left with everyone and the legend will live forever. ============================================================================== 10. Credits/Legal Notice ============================================================================== Tiburon ------- I would like to give credit to Tiburon for making a great Nascar game on the Sony PlaySation2 and making it as realistic as Possible. Also I would like to give them credit for having all 23 tracks (for the first time in a NASCAR game to have all the tracks). Prima Games ----------- I would like to give credit to Prima Game for the publishing the Official Guide and that's where I got most of the information from. The only information I didn't get from the guide is the history of the tracks. asa2377 ------- I would like to give credit to asa2377 for the ASCII artwork for NASCAR Thunder 2002. This document is copyrighted (c)2002 - 2004 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 ask politely, then I'll think it over. Just one more thing, if you try to take this guide to sell it I wouldn't tempt it because you'll never know if I have this registered through the Copyright Office in Washington, DC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- END of Document. -Copyrighted 2002 - 2004 Stephen "Warhawk" Harris