I admit, I'm not the most adamant NASCAR fan in the world. It's like watching golf on TV, there's a certain tolerance level you need to have in order to really have some fun. Otherwise, it's a matter of watching cars go, lap after lap, with someone trying to take the lead and sometimes employing a dirty tactic to get there (you listening, Tony Stewart?). Of course, there are some particular match-ups I can't get enough of, like watching Jeff Gordon challenge Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the checkered flag. I

Like the NASCAR Thunder games before it, NASCAR 2005 tries its absolute best to satisfy both die-hard fans of the sport and newcomers who wouldn't know a stock car from a Volkswagen Beetle. It really does the trick on both counts, as it has the kind of gameplay that's easy to get into but hard to really master. And fans of the racing sport will like the addition of a particular item called the Intimidator Factor, which adds a whole new level of depth unseen in last year's NASCAR game.

The Intimidation Factor not only adds a sense of how you perform in your races, it also transforms your driver as well. In the game's Chase For the Cup career mode, you basically start out in a street race against Ryan Newman, showing off your skills in your Viper. Following that, you go through a number of races with different vehicles, from American Muscle cars to Featherlites to Craftsman trucks, and finally to the stock cars that NASCAR is known for. Along the way, you can make friends (allies) and enemies (rivals), and that makes the difference with Intimidator.

Intimidator basically allows you to do one of two things during a race. It allows you to try and intimidate your rival racers into letting you through, and either chickening out on your authority or attempting to just take you out of the race, even if they go out with you. As far as fellow racers are concerned, you can ride along in a "drift" and maintain a good position in the race, while still vying for the lead. Intimidating rivals can be exciting, but after the race, don't be surprised if they come running up to you, looking for a fight.

The career mode is dazzling in its depth, right down to making key decisions during each race, customizing your driver and vehicle to utter perfection, and even gathering a fan base. (There's a neat little autograph signing thing included with this, don't miss it.) There could've been more management factors, and maybe a slight bit more focus on your boys in the pit, but, hey, this is a great addition in itself and I love it.

The gameplay remains tried and true to the NASCAR series, Intimidator aside. The cars still handle like they would in real life, and you have to listen to your crew feed you radio chatter, informing you of your position, who's up to what, and what you need to fix on your car in the next pit stop. A lot of events have variety to keep gamers playing, but some races may be a bit too much for them to bear, especially the multi-lap go-arounds that get a little too taxing on the nerves. Fans, though, will eat up these events as they work their way to the Nextel Cup and personal glory.

There are other modes to check out as well, including Lightning, Speed Zone, and, for the first time on Xbox, Online. The game is full Xbox Live supported, and the lobbies are set up brilliantly. There are a number of different races to pit yourself in, including international leagues that are pretty cool in their own right. The best of the NASCAR elite can find themselves in a "best of the best" league, where only the top 100 ranked racers can challenge others. There's also voice support (perfect for yelling at rivals), stat tracking, rankings, and even a little sports ticker to remind you of what's going on elsewhere.

The presentation is excellent, as the animation on characters remains very good (watching NASCAR racers shove each other is a hoot) and the tracks look nice. However, sometimes the car models don't look as sharp as they need to. That's a minor complaint, because the game still has the look of a champion, right down to the glare on the race track and the crowd cheering in the seats.

Sound is also a plus here, as there's full 5.1 surround support that absolutely blasts your speakers to next-level capacity. The roar of the engines is fully authentic, and some voicework is thrown in, including authentic NASCAR racers, that fits the game. There are also a few EA Sports Trax featuring a few popular artists blaring on the menus.

NASCAR 2005: Chase For the Cup isn't the most thorough, nor the most enjoyable, racing game of the year. That honor would belong to another EA triumph, the insane Burnout 3: Takedown. NASCAR 2005 still has a lot to offer, particularly with its Career and Online modes, which will keep you busy for hours at a time. No matter what fate you determine, you're bound to have a great run. Just make sure to let Stewart have it on the outside when you get a chance, will ya?