Your Guide to Victory Lane in NASCAR 08

Published August 14, 2007

Discovering the keys to victory lane in NASCAR® 08 is no easy task. Whether you're a veteran of the series or a newcomer, consider the following tips when first starting out on your own private chase for the cup.

Resist the urge to bump.

Easy Turns
Most racing games require an aggressive relationship with the steering wheel as you tackle technically demanding road courses with tight turns. There is the occasional road course in NASCAR 08, but the majority of your time will be spent on oval tracks at an extreme rate of speed. Here, any kind of corner must be handled with care.

Even the lightest press on the control stick will point your racecar in that direction, so be very cautious. If you still find yourself spinning out more often than you'd like, head to the Options menu and reduce the sensitivity of the steering control. Taking the proper angle in corners may be the single most important skill to master in NASCAR driving.

The result of aggressive steering.

A Word on Drafting
Learning the art of the draft is the second biggest key to success in NASCAR 08, and there are a couple of things to keep in mind when slotting your car behind an opponent.

Once you've fallen in directly behind another car, ever so slowly ease off the gas until you see that you're maintaining a consistent distance between you and the car in front of you. This will prevent you from crashing into the car in front of you, and it saves on fuel.

Take a quick look at your HUD to see whether the drafting meter (lower left-hand corner) says "slingshot" or not when you're getting ready to make a pass. If it doesn't, center your vehicle more firmly behind the car ahead of you and give your vehicle a bit more gas. Then, come up behind the car and gently slide above or below to overtake them.

Choose to go high or low based on where the next car is placed in line. For example, if you're in fifth place and the third place car is hugging a lower line, pass the fourth place car on the low side and immediately begin drafting the third place car for a quick pass.

Listen Up
The constant chatter from your crew chief isn't just for atmosphere. They also offer vital strategy tips throughout the course of a race, such as giving you a heads up when a car is ready to overtake you. Listen closely and you'll know whether an opponent is going high or heading low to try and pass. If you catch these notices in time, you can adjust your track position and cut off the offending car.

Time to head low.

No Need to Lead
The desire to be out in front is strong, but with NASCAR races, sometimes the ideal spot is in the lead pack, but not necessarily in first place. By sticking close in second through fifth place, you can draft cars in front of you, saving fuel and energy for the final charge. Saving any wear and tear and maximizing your fuel economy can be an enormous boost when slingshotting around your competition during the last couple of laps.

High, Low
Finding the swiftest line on a course is an endless pursuit, but when tackling corners, there's a simple rule that should help the novice driver. For long gentle turns, hug the lower line to take the shortest path. For tight turns, start high and then cut down low. If you come into the turn too low, you won't be able to hold your line and will end up in the wall.

Let the car guide you when coming out of the turn. Too much traction on the steering wheel can reduce speed, so turn only as much as you have to and come out of each curve at maximum speed. This will put you close to the wall but that's racing!

You can hear the engines roar.

Rubbin' May Not Be Racin'
Impact may be unavoidable in a crowded chase around the track, but if you live by the slogan of "rubbin's racin'", your car will inevitably come to irreparable harm. Try avoiding contact as a rule. Remember, NASCAR races are a marathon, not a sprint.

Tuning Setups
Hardcore fans are sure to embrace the exceptionally detailed tuning options available, but there remains a large portion of NASCAR 08 gamers who aren't quite so comfortable with the mechanical side of the sport. Fear not. If you're not mechanically inclined, go online and trade customized tuning setups with the EA Locker feature. Make sure to try them out on a test track first to make certain they fit your driving style, and the requirements of the next race.

With these tips, and the assistance provided by the EA Locker setup feature, you'll be ready to compete with the best drivers that NASCAR 08 has to offer.

Article by Ryan Treit