Shortly after the release of Grand Prix Legends the sim racing community looked forward to another title that promised to offer a similar insight into historic racing. Trans-Am Racing ’68-’72 ultimately never released, a victim of a publishers shady dealings, but as a part of my research I uncovered a VHS of a never-released trailer for the game. Watch the trailer and read about what sim racing missed out on.
Video game development is full of names that have made groundbreaking steps you’ve never even heard about. Shawn Nash is a behind-the-scenes pioneer responsible for SODA Off Road Racing’s incredible physics, Papyrus’ graphical advancements and iRacing’s use of laser scan data for the physical track surfaces.
This interview with RSC, published in 2021, details his early life and career, through both his own company, Papyrus, Electronic Arts, to his time at iRacing.
EA announced today that Dale Earnhardt Jr will be on the cover of their upcoming title.
Full press release:
DALE EARNHARDT JR. JOINS THE EA SPORTS FAMILY OF COVER ATHLETES ON NASCAR THUNDER 2003
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.- September 4, 2002–NASCAR® superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. of DEI Racing will become the official cover athlete for the EA SPORTS™ franchise NASCAR Thunder™ 2003. Dale Jr. also contributed to the development of the game and his likeness will appear on all NASCAR Thunder 2003 packaging and merchandising.
“I’ve been a long time fan EA games, so to be on the cover of the NASCAR Thunder 2003 is quite a thrill for me,” commented Dale Earnhardt Jr. “NASCAR Thunder helped me win the EA Sports 500 in Talladega this year and my first season on the circuit I would prepare for the upcoming event by racing my EA game over and over. NASCAR Thunder gives you the true experience and puts you ‘in the game.’”
From the moment the 27-year-old Dale Earnhardt Jr. blasted on the scene in 1998, he was considered “the future of NASCAR.” Dale is in the midst of his third full year of NASCAR Winston Cup competition for the team and is positioned nicely for another top finish in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The 2001 season marked his first top-10 points finish in NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing with the No. 8 team, while adding three victories and multi-million dollars in winnings to his brief but impressive racing resume. This included his win at the EA SPORTS 500 at Talladega Superspeedway® on October 21, 2001.
“Dale Jr. embodies the spirit and competitive edge that EA SPORTS captures in our NASCAR Thunder video games,” said Ed Martin, Director of NASCAR video game production, Electronic Arts. “His contribution to the product has been invaluable, giving us design feedback and ideas on improving features and gameplay, we couldn’t have a better driver grace the cover of NASCAR Thunder 2003.”
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