Guide - Guide for NASCAR Thunder 2002

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=======================================================================
                              Nascar Thunder 2002
                           Platform: PlayStation2
                             Author: Warhawk
                          Real Name: Stephen Harris
                     E-Mail Address: [email protected]
                       Date Created: February 2, 2002
Websites that this guide will be on: www.gamefaqs.com
=======================================================================
UPDATES:
2/2/02   9:11PM  EST -Busch Drivers added in Drivers section

2/7/02   4:20PM  EST -Career Mode Added

2/8/02   4:39PM  EST -Credits and References Sections Added
                     -Guide Modified a bit

2/16/02 12:15PM  EST -Guide fixed a bit
=======================================================================

This document Copyrighted 2002 Stephen Harris.  If anyone wants to put 
this guide on their website please contact me first to get my 
permission.  If you post this Guide without my permission I will have to 
contact the one in charge of the website to tell them to take the guide 
off of your website (that's if you host on a website).  EX: 
www.classicgaming.com/ummxzw which is a example of that kind of a 
website.  This guide will only be posted on www.gamefaqs.com and other 
websites that are listed above, unless someone asks for my permission to 
put it on their website.  If this strategy guide is published without my 
consent will be taken to court and will be sued for publishing this 
guide.

NOTE: I would like to mention something to people who read this strategy 
guide.  If you see this guide on another website other than the ones 
posted please let me know ASAP so I can talk to them about it.  If they 
already have my permission then I won't do anything about it.  Also this 
guide may seem similiar to the one I done for the PlayStation (PS One) 
version of this game but there are few things different in this guide 
then that of the one I did for the PS One.

===================
 Table of Contents
===================
1. Contact the Author of this FAQ
2. Controls
3. Tracks
4. Winston Cup Drivers
5. Busch Drivers
6. Car Setups
7. Career Mode
8. Credits
9. References

====================================
 1. Contact the Author of this FAQ:
====================================
To contact Warhawk (Stephen Harris) you can send a e-mail to me at the 
following e-mail address:  [email protected].  If anyone has any 
questions about something that I mentioned in this FAQ and might need a 
little more help don't feel afraid to contact me, but if you have any 
questions, comments, or anything that I might have forgotten to put in 
the FAQ please feel free to contact me about this.

=============
 2. Controls
=============
Gas- X                             Shift Up- R2
Brake- Square                      Shift Down- R1
Reverse- Triangle (when stopped)   Pause Game- Start
Change View- Circle                Toggle HUD ON/OFF- Select
Track Map/Damage meter- L1         Toggle Rear View Mirror- L2

===========
 3. Tracks
===========
Atlanta
Location: Hampton, GA         Banking on Straightaways: 5*
Distance: 1.54 miles          Back Stretch: 1,320 ft.
Track Type: Speedway          Banking in Turns: 24*
Front Stretch: 1,415 ft.      Website: www.atlantamotorspeedway.com 
Track History:

Bristol
Location: Bristol, Tennessee  Front Straight: 650 ft.
Distance: .533 miles          Back Straight: 650 ft.
Track Type: Short Track       Website: www.bristolmotorspeedway.com
Banking in Turns: 36*
Banking on Straightaways: 16*
Track History: Before the banking was 33*, the banking used to be 22*.
               In the ver first race at Bristol 42 cars started the
               but only 19 finished.  In the spring in 1978 the name of
               the track was changed to Bristol International Speedway
               but in 1996 it was offically changed to Bristol Motor
               Speedway.

California
Location: Fontana Cali.       Banking on Back Straight: 3*	
Distance: 2.0 miles           Front Straight: 3,100 ft.
Track Type: Oval              Back Straight: 2,500 ft.
Banking in Turns: 14*         Website: www.californiaspeedway.com
Banking on Front Straight: 11*
Track History: In May of 1995 the California Speedway opened.  But it
               wasn't until 1997 when the Nascar Winston Cup made their 
               debut on this unique track.

Chicagoland
Location: Joliet, Illinois    Front Straight: 2,400 ft.
Distance: 1.5 miles           Back Straight: 1,700 ft. 
Track Type: Speedway          Website: www.chicagolandspeedway.com
Banking in Turns: 18*
Banking on Front Stretch: 11*
Banking on Back Stretch: 5*
Track History: It took $100 million to build this newly-built track

Darlington
Location: Darlington, South Carolina Front Stretch: 1,229 ft.
Distance: 1.366 miles                Back Stretch: 1,229 ft.
Track Type: Superspeedway            Website: www.darlingtonraceway.com
Banking in Turns: 25*
Banking on Straights: 2*
Track History:

Daytona
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida   Front Straight: 3,800 ft.
Distance: 2.5 miles                Back Straight: 3,400 ft.
Track Type: Superspeedway          Website: www.daytonaintlspeedway.com
Banking in Turns: 31*
Banking on Tri-Oval: 18*
Banking on Straight: 3*
Track History: This track was opened in 1959.  At the end of the of the
               opening race it was a photo finish between Lee Petty and
               Tim Beauhamp.  Dale Earnhardt has more wins at this
               then any other driver with 34 wins (including the 1998
               Daytona 500 victory).  Charles Moneypenny designed this
               2.5 mile oval.

Daytona Beach
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Distance: 2.15 miles(actual length 4.15 miles)
Track Type: Road Course
Track History: Drivers raced here from 1948-1959.

Dover Downs
Location: Dover, Delaware           Front Stretch: 1,076 ft.
Distance: 1.0 miles                 Back Stretch: 1,076 ft.
Banking in Turns: 24*               Website: www.doverdowns.com
Banking on Straights: 9*
Track History:

Homestead-Miami
Location: Homestead, Florida    Front Stretch: 1,760 ft.
Distance: 1.5 miles             Back Stretch: 1,760 ft.
Banking in Turns: 6*            Website: www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com
Banking on Front Straight: 2*
Track History: 

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Location: Speedway, Indiana         Front Stretch: 3,300 ft.
Distance: 2.5 miles                 Back Stretch: 3,300 ft.
Banking in Turns: 12*               Website: www.brickyard.com
Banking on Straights: 9*
Track History: It took 3,200,000 bricks to build this 2.5 mile
               rectangular track.  The constructing of this track began
               in the spring of 1909 on 328 acres of farm land five 
               miles northwest of the capital of Indiana.  The original
               surface consisted of crushed rock and tar proving 
               hazardous at the opening motorcycle and automobile
               events.  It was later then paved with the 3.2 million
               bricks with motar and sand, and that's when the track
               became known as "THE BRICKYARD".  Nascar WC series made
               their debut at this track in 1994, with Jeff Gordon
               winning the inaugral race at this track.

Kansas
Location: Kansas City, Kansas       Banking on Front Stretch: 10*
Distance: 1.5 miles                 Banking on Back Stetch: 5*
Track Type: Speedway                Website: www.kasasspeedway.com
Banking in Turns: 15*
Track History: 

Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada         Front Stretch: 2,275 ft.
Distance: 1.5 miles                 Back Stretch: 1,572 ft.
Track Type: Speedway                Website: www.lvms.com
Banking in Turns: 12*
Banking on Front Stretch: 8*
Banking on Back Stretch: 5*
Track History: 

Lowe's (Charlotte)
Location: Concord, North Carolina   Front Stretch: 1,952 ft. 
Distance: 1.5 miles                 Back Stretch: 1,360 ft.
Track Type: Speedway                Website: www.lowesmotorspeedway.com
Banking in Turns: 24*
Banking on Front Stretch: 5*
Track History: This track was designed and built in 1959 by current
               chairman O. Bruton Smith and the late Curtis Turner as 
               hisbusiness partner.  On June 19, 1960 the first World 
               600 was held at this track.  The lighting system at this 
               track was installed in 1992 allowing for night time auto 
               racing events at this track.

Martinsville
Location: Martinsville, Virginia  Front Stretch: 800 ft.
Distance: .526 miles              Back Stretch: 800 ft.                     
Track Type: Short Track           Website: www.martinsvillespeedway.com
Banking in Turns: 12*
Track History: This track opened back in 1947.  This track is nicknamed 
               "Two drag strips with two turnaround at each end."
               NASCAR made their here in 1949 and Red Bryon won the 
               inaugral at this track.  Martinsville wasn't paved until
               1955.  This track was designed by Clay Earles.

Michigan
Location: Brooklyn, Michigan        Front Stretch: 3,600 ft.
Distance: 2.0 miles                 Back Stretch: 2,242 ft.
Track Type: Speedway                Website: www.mispeedway.com
Banking in Turns: 18*
Banking on Front Stretch: 12*
Banking on Back Stretch: 5*
Track History: Charles Moneypenny (the one who designed the track
               Daytona)designed this 2.0 mile oval.  The original  
               layout including inferior and exterior which could be
               convered in three ortwo 1.9 road courses.  These road 
               were designed by Stirling Moss and are still used on a 
               limited basis forpassenger car testing by law by
               enforcement agencies

New Hampshire
Location: Loudon, New Hampshire        Front Stretch: 1,500 ft.
Distance: 1.058 miles                  Back Stretch: 1,500 ft.
Track Type: Speedway                   Website: www.nhis.com
Banking in Turns: 12*
Banking on Straights: 2*
Track History:

North Carolina
Location: Rockingham, North Carolina   Front Stretch: 1,300 ft.
Distance: 1.018 miles                  Back Stretch: 1,367 ft.
Track Type: Short Track          Website: www.northcarolinaspeedway.com
Banking in Turns 1&2: 22*
Banking in Turns 3&4: 25*
Banking on Straights: 8*
Track History: 

Phoenix
Location: Avondale, Arizona        Front Stretch: 1,179 ft.
Distance: 1.0 miles                Back Stretch: 1,551 ft.
Track Type: Short Track            Website: www.phoenixintlspeedway.com
Banking in Turns 1&2: 11*
Banking in Turns 3&4: 9*
Banking on Straights: 0*
Track History: 

Pocono
Location: Long Pond, Pennsylvania      Banking in Turn 3: 6*
Distance: 2.5 miles                    Front Stretch: 3,740 ft.
Track Type: Superspeedway              Short Stretch: 3,055 ft.
Banking on Straights: 1*               Website: www.poconoraceway.com
Banking in Turn 1: 14*
Banking in Turn 2: 8*
Track History: 

Richmond
Location: Richmond, Virginia    Front Stretch: 1,290 ft.
Distance: .750 miles            Back Stretch: 860 ft.
Track Type: Short Track         Website:www.richmondracewaycomplex.com
Banking in Turns: 14*
Banking on Front Stretch: 8*
Banking on Back Stretch: 2*
Track History: Richmond used to be a 1/2 mile dirt track until it was  
               paved in 1968.  The first race here at Richmon was held   
               October 12, 1946.  This track was reconfigured in 
               September of 1988.

Sears Point
Location: Sonama, California
Distance: 1.949 miles
Track Type: Road Course
Website: www.searspoint.com
Track History: 

Talladega
Location: Talladega, Alabama           Front Stretch: 4,300 ft.
Distance: 2.66 miles                   Back Stretch: 4,000 ft.
Track Type: Superspeedway              Website: 
www.talladegasuperspeedway.com
Banking in Truns 1&2: 33*
Banking on Front Stretch: 18*
Banking on Back Stretch: 2*
Track History: 

Texas
Location: Fort Worth, Texas            Banking on Straights: 5*
Distance: 1.5 miles                    Front Stretch: 2,250 ft.
Track Type: Speedway                   Back Stretch: 1,330 ft.
Banking in Turns 1&2: 24*              Website: 
www.texasmotorspeedway.com
Banking in Turns 3&4: 8*
Track History: 

Watkins Glen
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
Distance: 2.454 miles
Track Type: Road Course
Website: www.theglen.com
Track History:

=======================
 4. Winston Cup Drivers
=======================
Driver Name         Make       Car #    Sponsor
John Andretti       Dodge      43       Cheerios
Casey Atwood**      Dodge      19       Dodge
Johnny Benson       Pontiac    10       Valvoline
Jeff Burton         Ford       99       Citgo Supergard
Ward Burton         Dodge      22       Caterpillar
Kurt Busch**        Ford       97       Sharpie
Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Chevy       8       Dale Earnhardt Jr.*
Bill Elliott        Dodge       9       Dodge
Jeff Green          Chevy      30       America On-Line
Jeff Gordon         Chevy      24       DuPont
Bobby Hamilton      Chevy      55       SquareD
Kevin Harvick**     Chevy      29       GM Goodwrench Service
Dale Jarrett        Ford       88       UPS
Matt Kenseth        Ford       17       DeWalt
Bobby Labonte       Pontiac    18       Interstate Batteries
Terry Labonte       Chevy       5       Kellogg's
Jason Leffler       Dodge      01       Cingular Wireless
Kevin LePage        Chevy       4       Kodak
Sterlin Marlin      Dodge      40       Ganassi Racing*
Mark Martin         Ford        6       Mark Martin*
Jeremy Mayfield     Ford       12       Mobil 1
Jerry Nadeau        Chevy      25       UAW-Delphi
Joe Nemechek        Chevy      33       Oakwood Homes
Ryan Newman         Ford       02       ALLTEL
Steve Park          Chevy       1       Pennzoil
Kyle Petty          Dodge      45       Sprint PCS
Richard Petty       Dodge      43       STP
Ricky Rudd          Ford       28       Havoline
Elliott Sadler      Ford       21       Motorcraft
Ken Schrader        Pontiac    36       M&M's
Mike Skinner        Chevy      31       Lowe's
Jimmy Spencer       Ford       26       K-Mart
Tony Stewart        Pontiac    20       Home Depot
Rusty Wallace       Ford        2       Team Rusty*
Kenny Wallace       Pontiac    27       Duke's Mayonnaise
Michael Waltrip     Chevy      15       NAPA Auto Parts

*Actual Sponsor is a Alcohol or Drug
**Rookie of the 2001 Season

==================
 5. Busch Drivers
==================
Drivers Name        Make       Car #    Sponsor
Greg Biffle         Ford       60       Grainger
Mike Dillion        Chevy      21       Rockwell Automation
Jeff Green          Ford       10       Nesquik
Kevin Grubb         Chevy      37       Timber Wolf
Shane Hall          Ford       63       Lance Snacks
Jason Keller        Ford       57       Albertsons
Randy Lajoie        Pontiac     7       Kleenex
Chad Little         Chevy      74       Staff America
Mike McLauglin      Pontiac    18       MBNA
Jamie McMurray      Chevy      27       Williams Travel Centers
Tony Raines         Chevy      33       Bayer
Jay Sauter          Chevy      43       Quality Farm and Country
Elton Sawyer        Ford       98       Starter/Hot
Michael Waltrip     Chevy      99       Aaron's Rent
Scott Wimmer        Pontiac    23       Jani-King

*Actual Sponsor is a Alcohol/Drug
**Rookie of the 2001 season

Note: To unlock the Busch Drivers you must go through a Championship to 
get Busch Drivers unlocked.  To get more of these drivers in the game 
just go through another championship.

============
 8. Credits
============
     -I would like to give credit to Tiburon for making such a great
      NASCAR game
     -Finally I would like to give credit to Tiburon all 23 tracks for
      the first time in a NASCAR game.
     -Nascar Thunder 2002 strategy guide written by Keith M Kolmos and  
      Prima Pubishing for the strategy becuase that's were I got most
      information from.  The only information I didn't get from the 
      guide is for the setups for the 23 tracks in the PlayStation 
      version of Nascar Thunder and the track history.
     -I would like to give credit to the following websites for the
      history of the tracks: www.nascar.com, www.mispeedway.com,
      www.brickyard.com, www.bristolmotorspeedway.com,
      www.lowesmotorspeedway.com, www.martinsvillespeedway.com

===============
 9. References
===============
My reference in making this guide was the Nascar Thunder 2002 strategy 
guide written by Keith M. Kolmos and published by Prima Games.  If you 
want to contact Prima publishing for a copy of their guide please 
contact them at the following address, website and phone number:

Prima Games
A Division of Random House, INC.
3000 Lava Ridge Court
Roseville, CA 95661
(916)-787-7000

www.primagames.com

NOTE: I can not guarantee know if you contact Prima Games with the 
address or the phone number, that you'll be able to get information 
about getting the strategy guide made by Prima Games.