{{Short description|1999 video game produced by Papyrus Design Group}} {{Infobox video game |title = NASCAR Racing 3 |image = NASCAR Racing 3 boxart.jpg |caption = Cover art featuring the cars of [[Bobby Labonte]] and [[Dale Jarrett]] |developer = [[Papyrus Design Group]] |publisher = [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra Sports]] |director = David Matson |producer = Matt Marsala |designer = Richard Yasi |programmer = Charlie Heath |artist = David D. Flamburis |engine = |series = ''[[NASCAR Racing]]'' |released = {{vgrelease|NA|September 16, 1999<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/022/185/nascar3.html | title=NASCAR [Racing] 3 Ships | author=Abner, William | date=September 16, 1999 | website=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030524191116/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/022/185/nascar3.html | archive-date=May 24, 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>|EU|1999}} |genre = [[Sim racing]] |modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]] |platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]] }} '''''NASCAR Racing 3''''' is a [[racing simulator]] produced by [[Papyrus Design Group]] and published by [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra Sports]] for [[Microsoft Windows]] in 1999.
== Gameplay == Players can compete in the [[1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series]] and the [[1999 NASCAR Busch Series]]. The game had an expansion called ''Craftsman Truck Series Expansion'', featuring content from the [[1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series]]. Patches were available for updates for both the main and expansion games on the [[Sierra Entertainment]] website.
A CD-ROM given away as part of [[2000 Daytona 500]] official program includes a demo of the game (and ''[[NASCAR Legends]]'') featuring [[Daytona International Speedway]], which would make its official debut in the sequel, ''[[NASCAR Racing 4]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=NASCAR Racing 3 |url=https://racesimcentral.net/nascar-racing-3/ |website=RaceSimCentral |access-date=May 18, 2024}}</ref>
== Development == Originally, ''NASCAR Racing 3'' was to feature physics that debuted in ''[[Grand Prix Legends]]'' and to be released in fourth quarter of 1998, according to the teaser included in the Busch Series expansion pack for ''[[NASCAR Racing 2]]''. This version of ''NASCAR Racing 3'' was cancelled in favor of the final version, which was closer to the predecessor, and the ''Grand Prix Legends''-style physics was pushed back to ''NASCAR Racing 4''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wheatley |first1=Tim |title=NASCAR Racing 3: The Sim That Never Was | website=RaceSimCentral |url=https://racesimcentral.net/nascar-racing-3-the-sim-that-never-was/ |access-date=May 19, 2024 |date=October 30, 2020}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | align = left | GR = 84%<ref name=gr>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/189345-nascar-racing-3/index.html | title=NASCAR Racing 3 for PC | website=[[GameRankings]] | publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512140758/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/189345-nascar-racing-3/index.html | archive-date=May 12, 2019 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | CNG = 8/10<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3184,00.html | title=NASCAR Racing 3 | author=Goble, Gordon | date=September 23, 1999 | website=Gamecenter | publisher=[[CNET]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816100324/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3184,00.html | archive-date=August 16, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | CGSP = 4/5<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/023/116/nascar3_review.html | title=NASCAR Racing 3 | author=Mouneimne, Neil | date=October 14, 1999 | website=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030228114527/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/023/116/nascar3_review.html | archive-date=February 28, 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | CGW = 4/5<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_188.pdf | title=You Couldn't Ask for Anything More (''NASCAR Racing 3'' Review) | author=Todd, Brett | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] | issue=188 | date=March 2000 | page=132 | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | GSpot = 9.4/10<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-racing-3-review/1900-2543744/ | title=NSACAR Racing 3 Review | author=Poole, Stephen | date=September 27, 1999 | website=[[GameSpot]] | publisher=CBS Interactive | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204204652/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/nascarracing3/review.html | archive-date=December 4, 2004 | url-status=live | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | GameZone = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web | url=http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r13604.htm | title=NASCAR® Racing 3 Review | author=Shif, Gil Alexander | date=March 3, 2000 | website=GameZone | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008095344/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r13604.htm | archive-date=October 8, 2007 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | IGN = 9.2/10<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/27/nascar-racing-3 | title=NASCAR Racing 3 | author=Saltzman, Marc | date=October 27, 1999 | website=[[IGN]] | publisher=Ziff Davis | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | PCA = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL17Jan2000/page/n91/mode/2up | title=NASCAR Racing 3 | author=PCA staff | magazine=[[PC Accelerator]] | publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] | issue=17 | date=January 2000 | page=93 | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | PCGUS = 81%<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nascar_racing_3.html | title=NASCAR Racing 3 | author=Mahood, Andy | magazine=[[PC Gamer]] | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=6 | issue=12 | date=December 1999 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315141455/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nascar_racing_3.html | archive-date=March 15, 2006 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | PCPP = 89%<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-044-2000-01/page/n75/mode/2up | title=NASCAR 3 [sic] | author=Fox, Edward | magazine=[[PC PowerPlay]] | publisher=[[nextmedia|Next Media Pty Ltd]] | issue=44 | date=January 2000 | pages=76–77 | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> | PCZone = 79%<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_084_1999_Dennis_Publishing_GB_christmas_edition/page/n91/mode/2up | title=NASCAR Racing 3 | author=Ponting, Tim | magazine=[[PC Zone]] | publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]] | issue=84 | date=Christmas 1999 | page=93 | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> }}
''NASCAR Racing 3'' received favorable reviews according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[GameRankings]].<ref name=gr/>
According to ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'', the game sold at least 100,000 units in the US, but was beaten by ''[[NASCAR Racing 4]]''{{'}}s 260,000 sales in the region. Total US sales of ''NASCAR Racing'' computer games released in the 2000s reached 900,000 units by August 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/3/ | title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century (Page 3) | author=Edge staff | date=August 25, 2006 | magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] | publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019052748/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/3/ | archive-date=October 19, 2012 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
The game won ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s 1999 "Driving Game of the Year" award. The staff called it "as ambitious as driving games get".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/1999/p3_03a.html | title=The Best & Worst of 1999 (Driving Game of the Year) | author=GameSpot staff | website=GameSpot | publisher=Ziff Davis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000823200831/http://www.gamespot.com/features/1999/p3_03a.html | archive-date=August 23, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> It was also a nominee for ''[[CNET|CNET Gamecenter]]''{{'}}s "Best Racing Game" award, which went to ''[[Need for Speed: High Stakes]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards99/ss02k.html | title=The Gamecenter Awards for 1999! (Racing) | author=Gamecenter staff | date=January 21, 2000 | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000605110726/http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards99/ss02k.html | archive-date=June 5, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
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== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{moby game|id=/windows/nascar-racing-3}}
{{Papyrus Design Group games}} {{NASCAR video games}}
[[Category:1999 video games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:NASCAR video games]] [[Category:Papyrus Design Group games]] [[Category:Racing simulators]] [[Category:Racing video games]] [[Category:Sierra Entertainment games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Windows-only games]]
{{NASCAR-stub}}