Sim Racing: The Closest thing to the Track
Written by DJ Samson · August 28, 2005
Everyone has heard about Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and many other top NASCAR drivers use video games to help them with on track performance.
The game they use is NASCAR Racing 2003. EA Sports has the current license of NASCAR for games. EA Sports is so popular that they basically give no time or effort into their NASCAR games. If you look at their home page, EA Sports charges only $30 for thier 2005 NASCAR Sim Racing game. The graphics are horrible and the physics are even close to NASCAR Racing 2003.
The reason NR 2003 (NASCAR RACING 2003)is so successful is because the physics of the race cars and tracks are incredible. You can run multiple lines and you control everything.
What might be the coolest thing about NR 2003 is online racing. There are hundreds of leagues that you can join. The top league of them all is DMP Online Racing. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and others race there it is an honor to get invited to race.
Another great online sim racing league is ESCORS. ESCORS is a European based league. I was surprised when I found out how many Europeans are in love with NASCAR. ESCORS is the most realistics NASCAR league. They usually get a 35-40 car turn out for a 25 car spot. Similar to NASCAR, you have to be in the top 18 in owners points to get a secure spot in.
And don’t think the average guy can just race in ESCORS. To be an owner you have to go through many forms and you have to be approved by the president. Drivers are constantly looking for rides for owners in ESCORS. It is basically an online version of NASCAR.
You’d probably think I would be ontop of this great series but you have to remember it is an European series. The Cup races start a 8:00 AM EASTERN time and the Busch races are at 5:00 AM E/T. This conflicts with my real racing schedule.
ISCAR is an American version of ESCORS but they just closed down until the 2006 season. SRIL is a perfect league for me because they race on Friday nights. Unfortunatley it is not as “real” as ESCORS, but they do supply great racing!
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