{{short description|2017 racing video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = NASCAR Heat 2 | collapsible = | state = | image = NASCAR_Heat_2_Cover.png | caption = Cover art featuring [[Kyle Busch]] | developer = [[Monster Games]] | publisher = [[704Games]] | series = [[NASCAR Heat (series)|NASCAR Heat]] | engine = | platforms = [[PlayStation 4]]<br>[[Windows]]<br/>[[Xbox One]] | released = September 12, 2017 | genre = [[Racing video game|Racing]] | modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] }}
'''''NASCAR Heat 2''''' is a [[racing video game]] by [[Monster Games]] and published by [[704Games]]. It is the sequel to ''[[NASCAR Heat Evolution]]'', and was released on September 12, 2017, for the [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] via [[Steam (service)|Steam]].<ref name="gameannouncement">{{cite web|last=Good|first=Owen S.|date=May 15, 2017|title=NASCAR Heat returns to consoles with a sequel this fall|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/15/15640692/nascar-heat-evolution-sequel-ps4-xbox-one-windows|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|accessdate=May 15, 2017|archive-date=May 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516190026/https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/15/15640692/nascar-heat-evolution-sequel-ps4-xbox-one-windows|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kyle Busch]] is featured on the cover.<ref name="coverdriver">{{cite web|author=Staff|date=May 20, 2017|title=Kyle Busch is cover athlete for NASCAR Heat 2|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2017/05/20/kyle-busch-is-cover-athlete-for-nascar-heat-2/|website=[[NASCAR]]|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.|accessdate=May 30, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521064219/http://www.nascar.com/news-media/2017/05/20/kyle-busch-is-cover-athlete-for-nascar-heat-2/|archivedate=May 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[NASCAR Camping World Truck Series]] and the [[NASCAR Xfinity Series]] are featured in the game for the first time since [[EA Sports]]' 2008 release, ''[[NASCAR 09]]''. Truck and Xfinity stand-alone tracks, including [[Eldora Speedway]] and [[Gateway Motorsports Park]] (before it was added to the cup schedule in 2022) are also featured. All three series are playable online, and in career mode, the player can ascend the ranks to conquer the [[Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series]].
''NASCAR Heat 2'' was also the working title of ''[[NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona]]'', as logos for it appear in some menus of the 2002 game.
==Gameplay== Career mode gives players the ability to start in the [[NASCAR Camping World Truck Series]] and work up towards the [[Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series]]. The player can use their own car or use a driver on a team. In the beginning, users choose a driver from hot seat offers in the Truck Series and progress up the ranks to Cup. Users can also play a single-season championship simulation. Also included are online multiplayer, with races up to 40 players, or local split-screen multiplayer. Challenges featuring different tracks and drivers are also included in the game; all are voiced by [[Claire B. Lang]].
On April 30, 2021, the online servers for ''NASCAR Heat 2'' and ''[[NASCAR Heat 3]]'' were shut down.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nascarheat.com/sunsetting-nascar-heat-2-and-nascar-heat-3-online-servers/|title=Sunsetting NASCAR Heat 2 and NASCAR Heat 3 Online Servers|date=16 April 2021|publisher=[[704Games]]|access-date=June 25, 2021|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625202840/https://nascarheat.com/sunsetting-nascar-heat-2-and-nascar-heat-3-online-servers/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Drivers== ''NASCAR Heat 2'' features drivers from all three of NASCAR's national series in the game (42 MENCS drivers, 43 NXS drivers, and 32 NCWTS drivers). However, there are some notable omissions, including [[Beard Motorsports]] with driver [[Brendan Gaughan]] in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and all [[GMS Racing]] drivers in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, excluding [[Justin Haley (racing driver)|Justin Haley]]. The driver rosters for the [[Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series|url=http://www.nascarheat.com/monster-energy-nascar-cup-series/|website=NASCAR Heat|accessdate=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906191437/http://www.nascarheat.com/monster-energy-nascar-cup-series/|archive-date=September 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Xfinity Series|NASCAR Xfinity Series]],<ref>{{cite web|title=NASCAR Xfinity Series|url=http://www.nascarheat.com/nascar-xfinity-series/|website=NASCAR Heat|accessdate=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913212948/http://www.nascarheat.com/nascar-xfinity-series/|archive-date=September 13, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Camping World Truck Series|NASCAR Camping World Truck Series]]<ref>{{cite web|title=NASCAR Camping World Truck Series|url=http://www.nascarheat.com/nascar-camping-world-truck-series/|website=NASCAR Heat|accessdate=August 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825020825/http://www.nascarheat.com/nascar-camping-world-truck-series/|archive-date=August 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> have been confirmed by 704Games. In a patch released in October, 704 added all remaining NASCAR Next drivers including [[Hailie Deegan]] and [[Chase Purdy]].
The highest-placing Toyota driver in the Sprint All-Star Race was selected as the cover driver; Last Year: [[Carl Edwards]] won the cover driver competition with a fourth-place finish. He retired from [[NASCAR]] on January 9, 2017, and handed his ride to [[Daniel Suárez]]. That year the eligible drivers were Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Martin Truex Jr. Busch won the cover driver competition with a win in the [[2017 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race|NASCAR All-Star]] finishing 2nd in Stage 2 in that event and winning the event.
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | MC = (PS4) 66/100<ref name="mc-ps4">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-heat-2/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=NASCAR Heat 2 for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215202705/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/nascar-heat-2 |url-status=live }}</ref><br/>(XONE) 59/100<ref name="mc-xone">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-heat-2/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=NASCAR Heat 2 for Xbox One Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215202706/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/nascar-heat-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> | GI = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kato |first1=Matthew |title=NASCAR Heat 2 Review - Falling Back In The Pack |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/nascar_heat_2/b/playstation4/archive/2017/09/12/game-informer-review-nascar-heat-2.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915112147/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/nascar_heat_2/b/playstation4/archive/2017/09/12/game-informer-review-nascar-heat-2.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=September 15, 2017 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=12 September 2017 |access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref> | Poly = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite web |last1=S Good |first1=Owen |title=NASCAR Heat 2 review |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/12/16290976/nascar-heat-2-review |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=12 September 2017 |access-date=15 February 2022 |archive-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215202706/https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/12/16290976/nascar-heat-2-review |url-status=live }}</ref> | HCG = 4/5<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Cory |title=Review: NASCAR Heat 2 |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-nascar-heat-2/272464/ |website=Hardcore Gamer |date=18 September 2017 |access-date=15 February 2022 |archive-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215202706/https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-nascar-heat-2/272464/ |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
===Accolades=== The game was nominated for "Game, Franchise Racing" at the 17th Annual National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nominee List for 2017|url=http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/|website=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers|date=February 9, 2018|accessdate=February 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215084122/http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/|archive-date=February 15, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Horizon wins 7; Mario GOTY|url=http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/|website=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers|date=March 13, 2018|accessdate=March 14, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180314070824/http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/|archive-date=March 14, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.nascarheat.com/}}
{{NASCAR video games|state=collapsed}} {{Monster Games}}
[[Category:2017 video games]] [[Category:704Games games]] [[Category:Inactive multiplayer online games]] [[Category:Monster Games games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:NASCAR video games]] [[Category:Online games shut down in 2021]] [[Category:PlayStation 4 games]] [[Category:Racing video games]] [[Category:Split-screen multiplayer games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox One games]]