Earlier this month, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart revealed on Twitter that he and Monster Games were working on a game based on the All-Star Circuit of Champions, titled Tony Stewart’s Sprint Car Racing. The ASCoC isn’t at the same level of popularity as World of Outlaws, but Stewart being the organization’s owner does make it a force in the dirt-track business. Taking that as well as Monster’s racing-game resume into account, I was optimistic that this new racer would deliver the goods…And I’m pleased to report that it does indeed get the job done.
If you don’t know what the ASCoC is, it’s a sanctioning body that holds sprint car races, albeit without the star power of the World of Outlaws. This game simulates that series along with wingless sprint cars and midget cars. You race on a large number of dirt-covered oval tracks, sign sponsorship contracts, upgrade your equipment, and grow your fanbase. The career mode is clearly very similar to NASCAR Heat, which isn’t surprising since it’s developed by the same studio. With tight controls and the obligatory car-setup tools, the racing is fun and accessible to even the least-experienced dirt-track drivers. And of course, you can set up multiplayer races in the form of two-player split-screen or 25-player online.
Tony Stewart’s Sprint Car Racing is nowhere near the high-budget pedestal that Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport share, but it provides a hefty dose of dirt-track fun for ASCoC fans and racing gamers alike. Is it worth your $30? The only way to find out is to fire up your engine and sling some mud.
Silver Soul Gaming 