# NASCAR Racing 4

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2001 video game

2001 video game

NASCAR Racing 4 Cover art featuring the cars of Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt, and John Andretti Developer Papyrus Design Group Publisher Sierra On-Line Producer Scott Stutsman Designer Richard Yasi Programmer David Kaemmer Artist David D. Flamburis Series NASCAR Racing Platform Microsoft Windows Release NA: February 7, 2001[1] EU: April 6, 2001 Genre Sim racing Modes Single-player, multiplayer

***NASCAR Racing 4*** is a [racing](/source/Racing_video_game) [simulator](/source/Vehicle_simulation_game) produced by [Papyrus](/source/Papyrus_Design_Group) and released in February 2001.

## Gameplay

The game was a huge step forward over its predecessor and addressed many requested features for the game. Namely was the introduction of full [24-bit color](/source/24-bit_color), as the previous games had only allowed [256](/source/8-bit_color), vastly improved car models and environments and, for the first time, the ability of the car to rotate in three dimensions (i.e. the ability of the car to get airborne and flip).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The simulator also continued the increased efforts to reflect the aspects of driving a real car.

This was the first version of the game since *NASCAR Racing 2* to have actual car manufacturers represented. Additionally, it was the first version of the game to feature the ability to race a full 43 car field. It was the first installment in the "NASCAR Racing" series to include [Daytona International Speedway](/source/Daytona_International_Speedway), and included all 21 tracks that were raced in [Winston Cup in 2000](/source/2000_NASCAR_Winston_Cup_Series). It included 25 of the drivers and teams anticipated to run the 2001 season, including [Dale Earnhardt](/source/Dale_Earnhardt) as the game was released 12 days before [his fatal crash](/source/Death_of_Dale_Earnhardt), as well as 42 fictional drivers and teams, most of which carried fictional sponsors or are sponsored by a Sierra company. The inclusion of Sierra affiliate-sponsored cars was a trend that began as early as [NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition](/source/NASCAR_Racing_1999_Edition), where a fantasy truck driver sponsored by [Davidson & Associates](/source/Davidson_%26_Associates) is present.

As with previous titles in the series, included are the options of testing, single race weekend, championship, and online multiplayer hosted by Sierra servers or a third-party client. In addition, a more detailed paint shop can be accessed via the opponent manager menu, which allows for custom paint schemes and, for the first time, custom pit crew uniforms, to be imported and exported from the game. A replay viewer is also included so the player can view their saved session replays.

*NASCAR Racing 4* was followed by *[NASCAR Racing 2002 Season](/source/NASCAR_Racing_2002_Season)*.

## Reception

Reception

Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic 89/100[2]

Review scores Publication Score Computer Games Strategy Plus 4/5[3] Computer Gaming World 4.5/5[4] Game Informer 8/10[5] Gamekult 5/10[6] GameSpot 9.1/10[7] GameZone 9.5/10[8] IGN 9.2/10[9] Jeuxvideo.com 14/20[10] PC Gamer (US) 95%[11] PC PowerPlay 93%[12] The Cincinnati Enquirer 4.5/5[13]

The game received "generally favorable reviews", according to the [review aggregation](/source/Review_aggregator) website [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic).[2]

The game sold 260,000 units in the U.S. and earned $10.4 million by August 2006, after its release in February 2001. It was the country's 76th best-selling computer game between January 2000 and August 2006. Combined sales of all *NASCAR Racing* computer games released between January 2000 and August 2006 had reached 900,000 in the U.S. by the latter date.[14]

The game was nominated for the "Best Simulation Game" award at *[Computer Gaming World](/source/Computer_Gaming_World)*'s 2001 Premier Awards, which went to *[IL-2 Sturmovik](/source/IL-2_Sturmovik_(video_game))*. The staff wrote that the game "continued to make us believe in the complex strategy involved in driving around in circles at 200 mph."[15] The staff of *[Computer Games Magazine](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine)* named it the best racing game of 2001 at the 11th Annual Computer Games Awards, and called it "the crown King of racing games."[16] The game won the award for "Best Driving Game" at *[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot)*'s Best and Worst of 2001 Awards.[17]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** IGN staff (February 7, 2001). ["News Briefs"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/08/news-briefs-190). *[IGN](/source/IGN)*. [Ziff Davis](/source/Ziff_Davis). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230204235337/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/08/news-briefs-190) from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mc-pc_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mc-pc_2-1) ["NASCAR Racing 4 for PC Reviews"](https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-racing-4/critic-reviews/?platform=pc). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. [Fandom](/source/Fandom_(website)). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220219232911/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/nascar-racing-4) from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Long, David J. (March 5, 2001). ["NASCAR Racing 4"](https://web.archive.org/web/20030627053539/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/007/nascar-04.html). *[Computer Games Strategy Plus](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine)*. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from [the original](http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/007/nascar-04.html) on June 27, 2003. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Hermes, Wade (May 2001). ["High Octane (*NASCAR Racing 4* Review)"](https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_202.pdf) (PDF). *[Computer Gaming World](/source/Computer_Gaming_World)*. No. 202. Ziff Davis. pp. 78–79. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230322220513/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_202.pdf) (PDF) from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Brogger, Kristian (April 2001). ["NASCAR Racing 4"](https://web.archive.org/web/20041214161347/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200104/R03.0804.1445.12833.htm). *[Game Informer](/source/Game_Informer)*. No. 96. [FuncoLand](/source/FuncoLand). Archived from [the original](http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200104/R03.0804.1445.12833.htm) on December 14, 2004. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** le Roux, David (March 9, 2001). ["Test : Nascar 4 : Nascar Heat version 4 ?"](https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/nascar-racing-4-4875/test.html). *[Gamekult](/source/Gamekult)* (in French). [TF1 Group](/source/TF1_Group). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210501045319/https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/nascar-racing-4-4875/test.html) from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Goble, Gordon (February 20, 2001). ["NASCAR Racing 4 Review"](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-racing-4-review/1900-2687981/). *[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot)*. Fandom. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20010223073039/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2687981,00.html) from the original on February 23, 2001. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Lafferty, Michael (February 26, 2001). ["NASCAR® Racing 4 Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080319005216/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r15240.htm). *GameZone*. Archived from [the original](http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r15240.htm) on March 19, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Magruder, Randy (March 9, 2001). ["NASCAR Racing 4"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/10/nascar-racing-4-2). *IGN*. Ziff Davis. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230204235337/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/10/nascar-racing-4-2) from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** pilou (May 7, 2001). ["Test: Nascar Racing 4 \[sic\]"](https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001365_test.htm). *[Jeuxvideo.com](/source/Jeuxvideo.com)* (in French). [Webedia](/source/Webedia). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211117032924/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001365_test.htm) from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Mahood, Andy (April 2001). ["NASCAR Racing 4"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060315140353/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nascar_racing_4.html). *[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)*. Vol. 8, no. 4. [Imagine Media](/source/Future_US). p. 70. Archived from [the original](http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nascar_racing_4.html) on March 15, 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Fox, Edward (May 2001). ["Nascar Racing 4 \[sic\]"](https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-060-2001-05/page/n71/mode/2up). *[PC PowerPlay](/source/PC_PowerPlay)*. No. 60. [Next Media Pty Ltd](/source/Nextmedia). p. 72. Retrieved July 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Saltzman, Marc (March 28, 2001). ["NASCAR Racing 4"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060107001449/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/032801_nascar4.html). *[The Cincinnati Enquirer](/source/The_Cincinnati_Enquirer)*. [Gannett Company](/source/Gannett_Company). Archived from [the original](http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/032801_nascar4.html) on January 7, 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Edge staff (August 25, 2006). ["The Top PC Games of the 21st Century (Page 3)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121019052748/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/3/). *[Edge](/source/Edge_(magazine))*. [Future plc](/source/Future_plc). Archived from [the original](http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/3/) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** CGW staff (April 2002). ["Games of the Year (Best Simulation Game)"](https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_213.pdf) (PDF). *Computer Gaming World*. No. 213. Ziff Davis. pp. 82–83. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230402194513/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_213.pdf) (PDF) from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** CGM staff (March 2002). "11th Annual Computer Games Awards". *[Computer Games Magazine](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine)*. No. 136. [theGlobe.com](/source/TheGlobe.com). pp. 50–56.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** GameSpot staff (2001). ["GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2001 (Best Driving Game)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20020206073549/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2001/p3_08.html). *GameSpot*. CNET. Archived from [the original](http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2001/p3_08.html) on February 6, 2002. Retrieved July 18, 2023.

## External links

- [*NASCAR Racing 4*](https://www.mobygames.com/game//3378/nascar-racing-4/) at [MobyGames](/source/MobyGames)

v t e Papyrus Design Group video games Open wheel racing Indianapolis 500: The Simulation IndyCar Racing IndyCar Racing II Grand Prix Legends NASCAR Racing series NASCAR Racing 2 1999 Edition 3 Legends 4 2002 Season 2003 Season Other games J. R. R. Tolkien's Riders of Rohan Nomad Links: The Challenge of Golf Road Rash SODA Off-Road Racing

v t e NASCAR video games 1980s Richard Petty's Talladega 1990s Days of Thunder (1990) Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge ESPN SpeedWorld Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing Racing Racing 2 98 3-D Ultra Pinball 99 Challenge Racing 1999 Edition Revolution Road Racing Racing 3 2000 Legends 2000s Rumble 2001 Heat Racers Arcade Racing 4 Thunder 2002 Heat 2002 Racing 2002 Season Thunder 2003 Dirt to Daytona Racing 2003 Season Thunder 2004 2005: Chase for the Cup SimRacing 06: Total Team Control 07 08 EA Sports NASCAR Racing iRacing 09 Kart Racing 2010s Gran Turismo 5 Days of Thunder (2011) The Game: 2011 Unleashed The Game: Inside Line Gran Turismo 6 '14 '15 Heat Evolution Forza Motorsport 6 Heat 2 Project CARS 2 Forza Motorsport 7 Heat 3 Heat 4 2020s Heat 5 Ultimate Edition+ 21: Ignition Rivals 25 Series NASCAR Racing EA Sports NASCAR NASCAR The Game NASCAR Heat (2016–2020)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [NASCAR Racing 4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR_Racing_4) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR_Racing_4?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.