NASCAR Thunder 2004


 * Developer(s): Image Space Inc. (PC); EA Tiburon (PS2, Xbox); Budcat Creations (PSX).
 * Publisher(s): EA Sports.
 * Platform(s):
 * Windows/PC
 * Playstation
 * Playstation 2
 * Xbox
 * Gamecube (cancelled)
 * Release Date(s):
 * North America: September 16, 2003.
 * Genre(s): Arcade racing.
 * Mode(s): Single-player, multiplayer, multiplayer online.
 * Distribution(s): DVD-ROM (PS2, Xbox); CD-ROM (PC, PSX).

NASCAR Thunder 2004 is a racing simulator by EA Sports that was released in 2003 and available in separate versions for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. It features the 2002 champion Tony Stewart on the cover with a scowling look to represent the new Grudges and Alliances feature. It was the only game as of 2002 to feature the previous Winston (now Sprint) Cup Champion on the cover. The game had the most extensive soundtrack of the series up from four songs from the previous game. The game also has a career mode, season mode, Lightning Challenge mode, SpeedZone, as well as a tutorial mode featuring Richard Petty. The game is an EA Sports Bio game, and is compatible with other EA Sports Bio games like Madden NFL 2004 and NCAA Football 2004.

Career Mode

 * The player takes control of a custom driver, and races to get sponsors, equipment for his garage, and respect from other drivers.

Season Mode

 * Allows players to take control of either a custom driver, or an existing driver for a season or more, with custom rules and schedules.

SpeedZone

 * Players can hone their skills in passing, blocking, drafting, as well as time trials.

Lightning Challenges

 * The player takes control of a driver and race in a situation that occurred in the 2002 Winston Cup and 2003 Winston Cup seasons to that particular driver, which also comes with a video with Michael Waltrip as the reporter, and beating these challenges unlocks the player new Thunder Plates, which unlocks new tracks, fantasy drivers, Busch Series drivers from the 2003 season, as well as legendary drivers.

Online

 * A new game mode where players can race online if they have an Internet connection and adapter. Microphone support also was available

Tutorial

 * (Called "Thunder License" in-game) featuring NASCAR legend Richard Petty, in which the player has to follow a driver of his/her choice along a racing line around the track, with various voice commentary by Petty. The racing line can also be toggled in Race Now mode.

List of drivers
''        This section only lists what drivers are in NT2004. Go to the drivers list page to see pictures of every driver.''

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List of tracks
''        This section only lists what tracks are in NT2004. Go to the tracks list page to see pictures of every track.''

* Fictional

Gameplay
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Multiplayer
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Trivia

 * This was the first game to feature the "Grudges and Alliances" feature.
 * This was the last game in the series before the inplementation of the Chase for the Cup.
 * This was the last game to allow racing back to the line.
 * The Bristol and Martinsville tracks in NASCAR Thunder 2004 have a bug in which a caution can come out when Ward Burton, Jeff Gordon(at least at Martinsville), and Christian Fittipaldi pits
 * Sawmill Speedway has a bug which causes AI cars and (if auto-brake is turned on) the player to randomly slow down on the straights and into the turns.
 * Dave Blaney with 77 Jasper Ford is not included in this game like in previous game.