{{Short description|1999 video game}} {{Infobox video game | italic title = yes | title = NASCAR Road Racing | image = NASCAR Road Racing box art.jpg | caption = Cover art featuring the car of [[Mark Martin]] | developer = [[FarSight Studios]] | publisher = [[EA Sports]] | series = ''[[EA Sports NASCAR]]'' | engine = | platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]] | released = {{vgrelease|NA|May 26, 1999}} | genre = [[Racing video game|Racing]] | modes = [[Single-player video game|Single player]], [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]] }} '''''NASCAR Road Racing''''' is a computer [[racing simulator]] developed by [[FarSight Studios]] and published by [[EA Sports]]. It was released on May 26, 1999, for [[Microsoft Windows]].
It is essentially a reskin of EA's older title ''[[Andretti Racing]]'' with the same tracks and engine.{{not verified in body|date=November 2025}} The game received generally mixed reviews from critics, facing criticism for the controls and functionality, with the graphics being considered inferior and others praising its easy-to-play and simple nature.
==Gameplay== Unlike the typical [[NASCAR video games|NASCAR video game]], ''NASCAR Road Racing'' focuses on [[road racing]] rather than [[oval track racing]] as what the sport is known for. In lieu of real [[List of NASCAR tracks|tracks]], 12 fictional circuits are available to race on.<ref name="FarSight">{{cite web|url=https://farsightstudios.com/portfolio/1999-ea-sports-nascar-road-racing/|title=1999 {{!}} EA Sports: NASCAR Road Racing|work=FarSight Studios|access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref> The game has a licensed roster of 26 drivers, all of which are identical in performance.<ref name="FarSight" /><ref name="Xtreme PC">{{cite magazine|title=Nascar Road Racing: El misterioso rezagado de EA Sports|magazine=Xtreme PC|page=56|date=July 1999|language=Spanish}}</ref>
Before races, the player can make adjustments to the car's setup such as tire type, gear ratio, fuel capacity, and modifying the spoiler.<ref name="FarSight" /><ref name="PC Joker">{{cite magazine|title=NASCAR Road Racing|magazine=[[PC Joker]]|date=October 1999|page=91|language=German}}</ref> Races span between three and 24 laps with between 10 and 26 cars.<ref name="FarSight" /> [[Pit stop]]s and car damage can also be toggled.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fields|first=Gary V.|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-whats-hot-in-co/183649116/|title=What's Hot in Computers, Technology|newspaper=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=July 6, 1999|access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref>
The game is compatible with a keyboard, controller, and [[gaming steering wheel|steering wheel]].<ref name="PC Joker" /><ref name="Screenshots" />
==Development== ''NASCAR Road Racing'' was one of three [[EA Sports NASCAR|NASCAR games]] published by EA in late 1998 and 1999 alongside ''[[NASCAR 99]]'' and ''[[NASCAR Revolution]]''. Promotion of the game had what ''[[PC PowerPlay]]'' called a "discernable lack of enthusiasm" from EA as more focus was placed on its companion titles.<ref name="PC PowerPlay">{{cite magazine|title=NASCAR Road Racing Review|magazine=[[PC PowerPlay]]|page=82|date=October 1999}}</ref>
[[Visa Inc.]] offered cardholders a free demo if they purchased tickets to the [[1999 UAW-GM Quality 500]] at [[Lowe's Motor Speedway]]. The card company also gave a discount for those who bought the full game.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer/183649140/|title=Visa advertisement for NASCAR Road Racing|newspaper=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 6, 1999|access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref>
The soundtrack was composed by Steve Goldstein.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racingsoundtracks.com/game/nascar-road-racing|title=NASCAR Road Racing|website=Racing Soundtracks|access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref>
==Reception== The game was poorly received by some reviewers, with criticism aimed at the graphics and gameplay. Michael Galuschka from ''[[GameStar]]'' pointed out that ''NASCAR Road Racing'' is just a "light version" of ''[[Andretti Racing]]'', giving it an 18% score.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Galuschka|first=Michael|title=Nascar Road Racing 2000|magazine=[[GameStar]]|date=October 1999|page=177|language=German}}</ref>
In a 28 out of 100 review, ''PC PowerPlay'' derided the game as an obvious attempt to promote ''[[NASCAR 99]]'' and ''[[NASCAR Revolution]]'', criticizing the poor graphics, lack of 3D support, and underdeveloped soundtrack.<ref name="PC PowerPlay" /> ''[[Secret Service (magazine)|Secret Service]]'' expressed disappointment that it was supposed to be EA's decisive title to establish itself as the top NASCAR developer, calling it a "game with great intentions and rather average execution" with more inferior graphics and a less-functional handling model than ''Revolution''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=NASCAR Road Racing|magazine=[[Secret Service (magazine)|Secret Service]]|p=43|date=1999|language=Polish}}</ref> Christian Sauerteig of ''PC Action'' likewise proclaimed, "Anyone who previously thought that the name EA Sports automatically stands for high-quality computer games is now [[wikt:disabused|disabused]] of this notion", and described ''NASCAR Road Racing'' as a "questionable attempt by the industry leader to capitalize on an outdated game concept".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sauerteig|first=Christian|title=Kartoffel im Auspuff|magazine=PC Action|page=105|date=September 1999|language=German}}</ref>
''Xtreme PC'' commended the large roster of tracks and their design; otherwise, the magazine was critical of the poor [[artificial intelligence]] and how the closest thing to a difficulty setting was changing the player car's damage level. While a negative review, ''Xtreme PC'' felt that the game could have succeeded with an updated [[game engine]].<ref name="Xtreme PC" />
A more positive review came from ''SuperGamePower'', writing that it appealed to non-NASCAR fans because it lacked the technical jargon and nuances of a simulation game.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Novo Nascar foge ao tradicional e tern bom desempenho no PC|magazine=SuperGamePower|date=August 1999|page=42|language=Portuguese}}</ref>
[[StarTech.com]]'s Nathan DeBacker praised the game's controls, commenting on how "the ability to pick up and easily play is by far one of [its] best attributes". However, he disliked the lack of a season mode and felt dedicated NASCAR fans might not enjoy its arcade nature.<ref>{{cite news|last=DeBacker|first=Nathan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-nascar-road-racing-of/183649332/|title=NASCAR Road Racing offers gamers a wild ride|newspaper=[[Arizona Daily Star]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=June 25, 1999|access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref> Bryan Crowson of ''[[The Birmingham News]]'' called it "fun to drive" but found a myriad of issues when playing with a [[Microsoft SideWinder]] controller.<ref name="Screenshots">{{cite news|last=Crowson|first=Bryan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/183649345/|title=Screenshots|newspaper=[[The Birmingham News]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=August 2, 1999|access-date=October 26, 2025}}</ref>
==See also== * ''[[NASCAR SimRacing]]'', a later Windows-only NASCAR game by EA
==References== {{reflist}}
{{EA Sports NASCAR series}} {{NASCAR video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:NASCAR Road Racing}} [[Category:1999 video games]] [[Category:EA Sports games]] [[Category:FarSight Studios games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:NASCAR video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Windows-only games]]