{{Short description|2003 video game}} {{distinguish|NASCAR Thunder 2003}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{more citations needed|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox video game | title = NASCAR Racing 2003 Season | image = NASCAR Racing 2003 Season boxart.jpg | caption = Cover art featuring the 2003 cars of 2002 Daytona 500 front row starters Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick | developer = Papyrus Design Group{{efn|Mac OS X version developed by Westlake Interactive<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Cohen, Peter|date=28 May 2003|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/166410/nascar-4.html|title=NASCAR Racing 2003 Season demo available|magazine=Macworld|publisher=IDG Communications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127055132/https://www.macworld.com/article/166410/nascar-4.html|archive-date=27 January 2023|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref>}} | publisher = Sierra Entertainment{{efn|Mac OS X version co-published by Aspyr}} | designer = | released = '''Windows'''{{vgrelease|NA|11 February 2003<ref>{{cite web|author=McNewserson, Newsey|date=11 February 2003|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/11/nascar-racing-season-2003-ships|title=NASCAR Racing Season 2003 Ships|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204235336/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/11/nascar-racing-season-2003-ships|archive-date=4 February 2023|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref>|EU|15 February 2003|AUS|19 February 2003}}'''Mac OS X'''{{vgrelease|NA|2 April 2003<ref>{{cite web|date=April 2003|url=http://newsletter.vugames.com/si0403nl01/|title=Sierra Insider|website=Sierra Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030609234320/http://newsletter.vugames.com/si0403nl01/|archive-date=9 June 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=27 March 2023}}</ref>}} | genre = Sim racing | modes = Single-player, multiplayer | platforms = Windows, Mac OS X }}
'''''NASCAR Racing 2003 Season''''', or '''''NR2003''''' for short, is a computer racing simulator released in February 2003 by Papyrus Design Group for Windows and Mac OS X. The game was the last to be released by the company before EA Sports bought the NASCAR license exclusively from 2004 to 2009 (parent company Sierra's successor company, Activision Blizzard, reacquired NASCAR rights in 2011, with ''NASCAR The Game: 2011''). The game included all of the 2003 NASCAR season tracks and many of the drivers, including Dave Blaney, who was absent in NASCAR Thunder 2004. In May 2003, Papyrus published a free DLC for the game, containing three fictional tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-04-17 |title=Sierra Entertainment - Downloads - Track Pack |url=http://www.sierra.com/downloadfile.do?gamePlatformId=271&mediaid=7371 |access-date=2024-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040417190359/http://www.sierra.com/downloadfile.do?gamePlatformId=271&mediaid=7371 |archive-date=17 April 2004 }}</ref>
==Gameplay== thumb|left|Cockpit view ''NASCAR Racing 2003 Season'' contains 42 Winston Cup teams that were anticipated to run throughout the season, with the exception of the cars from Chip Ganassi Racing, as well as 23 Winston Cup series tracks, putting the player behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car. Players are able to choose between testing sessions, offline single racing, championship, and multiplayer options as well as car setup choices. The physics engine was refined and enhanced under consultation with NASCAR team engineers.<ref name="allgamereview">{{cite web |url = http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=44166 |title = NASCAR Racing 2003 Season (Macintosh) - Overview| author = Deci, T.J.|publisher = AllGame |access-date =October 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114113839/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=44166|archive-date=November 14, 2014}}</ref>
==Ownership== At the end of March 2004, ''NR2003'' was pulled from shelves when Electronic Arts acquired the exclusive NASCAR rights. In May 2004, Papyrus was shut down, and David Kaemmer bought the source code and assets a couple months later for his company FIRST, LLC where it became the base code for iRacing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iracing.com/membership/faqs/|title=FAQs|website=iRacing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211174054/http://www.iracing.com/membership/faqs/|archive-date=11 February 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=28 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/company/6/papyrus-design-group-inc/|title=Papyrus Design Group, Inc.|website=MobyGames|publisher=Atari SA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531012142/https://www.mobygames.com/company/6/papyrus-design-group-inc/|archive-date=31 May 2023|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> In 2007, Sierra, the game's publishers, shut down the online servers.
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | align = left | MC = 89/100<ref name=mc>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-racing-2003-season/|title=NASCAR Racing 2003 Season|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918041746/https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-racing-2003-season/|archive-date=18 September 2023|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> | CGM = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Review: NASCAR Racing 2003 Season|magazine=Computer Games Magazine|publisher=theGlobe.com|issue=150|date=May 2003|page=78}}</ref> | CGW = 3.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Hermes, Wade|url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_226.pdf|title=NASCAR Racing 2003 Season|magazine=Computer Gaming World|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=226|date=May 2003|page=98|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105080811/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_226.pdf|archive-date=5 January 2022|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> | GSpot = 8.8/10<ref>{{cite web|author=Goble, Gord|date=6 February 2003|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-racing-2003-season-review/1900-2910398/|title=NASCAR Racing 2003 Season Review|website=GameSpot|publisher=Fandom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041213035309/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/nascarracing2003season/review.html|archive-date=13 December 2004|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> | GSpy = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite web|author=Osborne, Scott|date=11 February 2003|url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/nascar-racing-2003-season/5600p1.html|title=GameSpy: NASCAR Racing 2003 Season|website=GameSpy|publisher=IGN Entertainment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211045158/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/nascar-racing-2003-season/5600p1.html|archive-date=11 February 2007|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> | GameZone = 9.5/10<ref>{{cite web|author=Ovaldog|date=20 February 2003|url=http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20993.htm|title=NASCAR(r) Racing 2003 Season Review|website=GameZone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005123405/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20993.htm|archive-date=5 October 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=17 April 2020}}</ref> | MW = (Mac) 4.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Cohen, Peter|date=1 January 2004|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/169181/thegameroom-9.html|title=The Game Room Macworld's 2003 Game Hall of Fame|magazine=Macworld|publisher=IDG Communications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210171235/http://www.macworld.com/article/28629/2004/01/thegameroom.html|archive-date=10 February 2008|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> | IGN = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite web|author=Magruder, Randy|date=11 March 2003|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/11/nascar-racing-2003|title=NASCAR Racing 2003 [Season]|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918041742/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/11/nascar-racing-2003|archive-date=18 September 2023|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> | JXV = 16/20<ref>{{cite web|author=Dinowan|date=April 2, 2003|url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00002995_test.htm|title=Test: Nascar Racing 2003 Season|language=fr|website=Jeuxvideo.com|publisher=Webedia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212013543/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00002995_test.htm|archive-date=12 February 2021|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> | PCGUS = 95%<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Mahood, Andy|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nascar_racing_2.html|title=NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season|magazine=PC Gamer|publisher=Imagine Media|volume=10|issue=4|date=April 2003|page=94|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315132652/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nascar_racing_2.html|archive-date=15 March 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> | XPlay = 4/5<ref>{{cite web|author=Jackson, Jonah|date=21 February 2003|url=http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3418112,00.html|title='NASCAR Racing 2003 Season' (PC) Review|website=Extended Play|publisher=TechTV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030221121500/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3418112,00.html|archive-date=21 February 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=17 April 2020}}</ref> }}
The game received "generally favorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.<ref name=mc/>
According to ''Edge'', the game sold at least 100,000 units in the U.S., but was beaten by ''NASCAR Racing 4''{{'}}s 260,000 sales in the region.<ref name=edgepcsales1>{{cite magazine|author=Edge staff|date=25 August 2006|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)|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future plc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019052748/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/3/|archive-date=19 October 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> Total US sales of ''NASCAR Racing'' computer games released in the 2000s reached 900,000 units by August 2006.<ref name=edgepcsales1/>
The game won ''PC Gamer US''{{'}} 2003 "Best Racing Game" award. The magazine's Andy Mahood wrote that it "established a daunting new standard for PC racing simulations that may take years to eclipse".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The 10th Annual PC Gamer Awards|magazine=PC Gamer|publisher=Imagine Media|volume=11|issue=3|date=March 2004|pages=38–40, 42, 44–45}}</ref>
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==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}} {{notelist}}
==External links== * {{moby game|id=/9542/nascar-racing-2003-season/}}
{{Papyrus Design Group games}} {{NASCAR video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nascar Racing 2003 Season}} Category:2003 video games Category:MacOS 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