NASCAR Thunder 2002 is a stock car racing game developed by EA Sports for the PlayStation. Released in 2001, it brings the intense pack racing of the Winston Cup Series to the console, featuring real-world drivers, teams, and official tracks from the era. Players can jump straight into the action with quick races or build a career in the full season mode, battling through the field to claim the championship.
How to play
Your goal is to master high-speed pack racing, using drafting and precise cornering to outpace the field. Standard PlayStation controls apply: use the D-pad (mapped to the arrow keys in your browser) to steer, X (mapped to the Z key) to accelerate, and Square (mapped to the A key) to brake. Maintaining control while racing three-wide requires smooth steering inputs and careful throttle management.
Tips
- Use the draft: On large superspeedways like Daytona, stay tucked in behind the car ahead to gain a speed boost, then pull out to slingshot past them.
- Brake early: On short tracks, it is better to brake in a straight line before the turn rather than slamming the brakes mid-corner, which can cause you to slide up into the wall.
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