A primitive system to detect incidents was maintained with your profile. Moving to online, at launch there was the Sierra lobby. The way that tires fell off, how the car would drive differently with less fuel or a melted right rear was incredible for the time. Competing against the AI drivers was a treat. The in-game paint booth wasn’t really anything to write home about, but it was serviceable. Having the ability to import your own paint schemes or logos made the experience even grander. Even if this game didn’t have a community behind it, these things were sharp. The original 2003-style bodies were pretty awesome on their own. It was still before the time of laser scanning, but these tracks had a true realistic nature surrounding them. With the majority of the NASCAR Cup Series field included with realistic ratings, players could immerse themselves in racing at all 23 tracks on the current schedule at that time. The base edition of NASCAR Racing 2003 Season was pretty legit on its own. NR2003 is one of those games that will always be remembered in my own metaphorical racing game Hall of Fame. That’s what it said on the box, at least. For that, I’ll always appreciate what NR2003 was and still is to this day – to me, it’s an absolute icon in sim racing. I’ve made lifelong friends, progressed through college and even picked up a job in writing about NASCAR through that game.

Truth is that I probably wouldn’t have a career in writing if it wasn’t for that community. From 2005 to 2020, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season was my primary racing game of choice.

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