NASCARŽ

Stern Pinball's 2005 release, NASCAR, captures the high-octane excitement of stock car racing, transporting players to the world of professional drivers and teams. Concept by Pat Lawlor, and designed by Louis Koziarz and Pat Lawlor (via Pat Lawlor Design), this solid-state electronic machine features art by John Youssi, dot animation by Adam Rhine and Greg Dunlap, music and sound by Chris Granner, and software by Koziarz and Chip Curtis.

The machine's design draws directly from real NASCAR teams, featuring three licensed race cars: Rusty Wallace's No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge (Penske Racing South), Kevin Harvick's No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet (Richard Childress Racing), and Ricky Rudd's No. 21 Motorcraft Ford (Wood Brothers Racing), plus a 'Test Car X' model car toy. Voice-over is provided by Allen Bestwick, NASCAR television analyst for NBC, and the soundtrack includes Sammy Hagar's 'I Can't Drive 55,' a favorite among NASCAR fans.

Gameplay features two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, a captive ball, a Newton ball (which uses momentum transfer through a line of captive balls to launch a ball toward a target, in the manner of a Newton's Cradle), a 3-bank drop target, and a 3-target dropping bank. The same game was sold internationally as Stern's 'Grand Prix' (outside the USA and Canada), and a later production run was reissued as Stern's 2007 'Dale Jr.'