NASCAR Racing 3
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | NASCAR Racing 3 |
NASCAR Racing 3 is a racing simulation title created by Papyrus Design Group and released by Sierra Sports for Microsoft Windows in 1999.
Gameplay
The game allows participants to race in the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and 1999 NASCAR Busch Series. Additionally, the Craftsman Truck Series Expansion introduces vehicles and tracks from the 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Official patches for both the base game and its expansion were distributed through Sierra's official website.
A demo version, included with the official program of the 2000 Daytona 500, featured the Daytona International Speedway, which was officially introduced in the follow-up title, NASCAR Racing 4.
Development
Originally scheduled for release in late 1998, NASCAR Racing 3 was intended to feature physics modeled after those used in Grand Prix Legends, as hinted at within the Busch Series expansion of NASCAR Racing 2. This concept was ultimately abandoned in favor of a final product more closely aligned with its predecessor’s mechanics, while enhanced physics were reserved for implementation in NASCAR Racing 4.
Reception
The title garnered positive critical acclaim, achieving an aggregate rating of 84% on GameRankings.
In terms of commercial performance, it sold over 100,000 copies within the United States, although it was later outperformed by NASCAR Racing 4, which reached sales of 260,000 units. By August 2006, cumulative sales of NASCAR Racing series games released during the 2000s had surpassed 900,000 copies in the US market.
NASCAR Racing 3 was honored with GameSpots "Driving Game of the Year" award for 1999, recognized for its ambitious approach to driving simulations. It also received a nomination for CNET Gamecenters "Best Racing Game" accolade, which was ultimately awarded to Need for Speed: High Stakes.