NASCAR Heat 2 will feature XFINITY, Camping World Truck Series

Hopefully you’ll be able to race your way to the very top of the sport in NASCAR Heat 2 just like most drivers have to do in real life.

When NASCAR Heat Evolution was released last fall, the overwhelming reaction was one that said, “Eh.” Yes, it had all the real life drivers, sponsors and tracks, and it was better than having no NASCAR game at all. But it also left a lot to be desired in other ways, one of which was its unquestionably shallow career mode.

Developer Monster Games and publisher 704Games are looking to change that this September with NASCAR Heat 2. Cognizant of the fact that career mode was a letdown, the companies behind the sequel are promising (via Jayski.com) a “deeper career mode supporting all three national racing series,” meaning we’ll see the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the first time. And since those series run some different tracks than the Cup Series, it’s also good to hear there will be three more ovals, two road courses and one dirt track.

Trucks at Eldora Speedway in a video game? We’re there for that.

Other improvements promised for NASCAR Heat 2 include improved visuals, physics and damage models, beefed up online multiplayer and the ability to play side by side on the same console. Yet the addition of the XFINITY and Truck Series promises to be the most lauded new feature, if only because they should allow people to start at the bottom and earn their way to the big time in career mode — which is how it mostly happens to real NASCAR drivers.

You can follow the latest news on the game at nascarheat.com. NASCAR Heat 2 is currently slated to release for PS4, Xbox One and PC on Sept. 12.