NASCAR 2011 The Game Career

I love NASCAR the game 2011! The update that recently came out for it really enhanced the game too. I wrote an article once about how the game was great, especially when it comes to graphics and power. But the game really fell short when it came to caution flags. You could spin sideways, flip, spin, and just basically destroy everything in site, yet no yellow flag would come out. That was really annoying, because in real life that wouldn't even be an issue. And although this is a video game and not the real deal, I along with many others, would like the most realistic game possible. Well the updated patch fixed these issues, updated the paint schemes that started running this year, and even switched drivers from where they were from the 2010 season and put them where they are in real life. That's something I really appreciated. But what I enjoy even more, well at least in association with, is the points system. In the real NASCAR world there is a new points system that has been great so far, keeping things close and fair honestely. The winner of any given race gets 43 points, and last gets 1 point. So it's a 43-1 points system basically. Plus the bonus points for a win and leading a lap, or leading the most laps. It's a simple system that rewards leading laps, winning races, and outgunning everybody you possibly can so you don't lose a place in the points. There may very well be a driver, for instance, that loses the championship by as few as 2 or 3 points, and they can recall a race where if they would have tried maybe a bit harder and been more aggressive, they could have easily passed 4 cars. In that instant, if that driver had indeed made the 4 passes, he would have won the championship instead!

I really appreciate how they incorporated this into the video games, because the drama of the real season is great and I don't feel like it's quite as fake as it's been in times past. This is the best points system hands down that NASCAR has ever used. I really only think that an average finish system would beat it and make the most sense to autoracing, which would be that the driver with the best average finish at the end of the year should be the champion. Second best average would be second in the points, and so on. But still NASCAR did a great job with this, even with the Chase. I'm kind of mixed with my feelings toward the Chase. I've loved it, and I've hated it. I think I will always like the Championship being rewarded to the team that was the best all season long,not a team that can basically sandbag their way to Chase time, then turn it on for those ten races and win it all. It's probly here to stay, and I might as well get used to it. But the way they are doing it this year is truly exciting to me, and all this applies to the game as well. The top 10 after 26 races make the Chase, with an 11th and 12th position also being available. The 11th and 12th position are granted to any team from 11th to 20th in points with the most wins. So if you have 4 wins, but have a bad average finish going you could still make the Chase on a wildcard. And the wildcard race has been exciting in the real NASCAR season!

But this article is about the actual game, and how I enjoy playing it. WIth the new points system in place I really really enjoy playing knowing that, just like in real life, every position on the track counts. I like knowing that every win not only will rank me in the Chase once it starts, but that if I suddenly have a lot of bad races I can make the chase on a wildcard. I really hope not to, that I can make it on my points alone, but the fact that it's just like the real deal and makes me appreciate every lap I can lead, win I can earn, and position I can take makes this the best NASCAR game ever. Hands down. I still wish NASCAR would at least give the team that wins the 26 race regular season a trophy of some sort, to award them and make the old Winston Cup fans like myself a reason to pull for the Chase a bit more, but until that happens...if it ever does...I'm very thrilled with NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing and how realistic the game makes it, I really enjoy the game and love how the Championship plays out. I've never played a NASCAR game where literally every lap meant something, whether it means gaining a spot or just not losing one. It's a great game, and I love it.

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