Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge

Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge brings stock-car racing to the computer with a focus on speed, car setup and the unforgiving business of keeping a powerful machine on the track. Players can compete in races while dealing with the practical details of motorsport, giving the game more depth than a simple arcade racer. The challenge comes from finding the right balance between going fast and not turning the car into expensive scrap metal. Tracks, opponents and handling all contribute to the experience, while the NASCAR licence gives the game an authentic sporting flavour. Its graphics are certainly dated, but racing games have one advantage over time: the basic thrill of crossing the finish line first never really gets old. For fans of motorsport history, this is a worthwhile glimpse at the early days of serious NASCAR simulations on home computers.