The success of the NASCAR video games leans widely on its fans. That's because each and every year, those who are devoted to the stock car sport rush right out and buy the latest NASCAR game, while the casual fan may question what's so exciting about racing around in a circle for 250 laps. So what am I getting at? Well, the company's always remained true to the nature of the sport with their games, but a door just doesn't seem to be open to new players. A good driving game should be approachable and have some kind of long-term value to keep players coming back for more- sort of like Burnout 3. I'm still gathering Takedowns in that game.

NASCAR 07, the latest in the long-running series, comes closer than ever to being as realistic as the sport it mimics. But it also offers a bit of an adrenaline boost that may very well attract the audience it's been working on getting. This is due to the game's new Momentum system, an ambitious feature which attempts (and mostly succeeds) in trying to put a fresh new spin on putting you behind the wheel. As crashes and competition surround you, you work to maintain a high level of speed while also keeping an eye on your tires, engine, and other important items on your car. The intensity is bumped up immensely, and you'll not only feel it, you'll see it. The game features motion-blur effects and an odd (but effective) fish-eye lens appearance that conveys the speed to a visual recourse.

However, with the thrill comes a risk that runs high. You'll want to make sure you don't push your performance into overdrive, like poor Ricky Bobby did in the movie Talladega Nights. With this new system, you can actually put even more pressure on yourself and bet some skill points on the race. By doing this, you can double up your points and gain a better performance with your vehicle. However, if you lose them, you'll have to work your way back up to regain them. A pink slip race it isn't, but it's nice to be able to put something on the line that won't result in a grand jury indicting later on down the road.

The game's appearance is as good as it's going to get on the Xbox, although I could tell that most of last year's visual performance is present here. The cars still look like the real deal, gathering real damage as you bump and bruise your way to the top. The speedways may lack in integrated track design, but they do look faithful to their real counterparts, right down to the cheering crowds and the gates along the road way. But the visuals still feel a bit recycled, and the question remains- what's been keeping this game off the Xbox 360? Seriously. That system looks like it's ready to handle a next-gen beast with 60-frames per second animation, tons of flying car debris, and the kind of visuals that look like they're yanked from a TV telecast. Hopeful thinking for next year, I suppose.

The audio's not as deep, but at least it's true to the sport. You'll hear constant radio chatter from members of your pit crew, filling you in on your situation and helping you to try and keep the lead. You may feel it's pointless, but it's this advice that will help you become a champion. The faithful roar of the engines will engulf fans in the NASCAR experience as well. The little music that's provided here is acceptable, I suppose, but it's time like this you'll want to blare your Custom Soundtrack- especially if you have something high-energy like Slipknot or Korn. Just don't forget to balance the volume where you can still hear your crew- there's a reason they don't install XML in stock cars.

As far as gameplay, it's true to form, but only if you really like the technical side of racing. There's racing thrills galore, but if you try to push too hard, you'll find your ride taken apart faster than a poorly assembled bicycle. Fortunately, you can adjust your ride for performance, modifying certain things and draft styles to make it feel just right for you. There's not really enough broadening in the draft styles though, and you'll have to adjust quickly. Thus why I feel the game will benefit sim racing fanatics more than arcade fans who might get their kicks on Daytona USA instead. The game has speed, but you'll have to work on finding the right tone to it. And patience just isn't a virtue with some people.