NASCAR Heat 3 preview, first impressions: Taking it to the dirt

Getting to compete against the best stock car drivers in the sport could require getting a little more dirty in NASCAR Heat 3.

Not every NASCAR star gets a start by dirt track racing on short tracks around the country, but it’s a time honored way to hone one’s skills in the hopes of someday trading paint with the best. In NASCAR Heat 3, it’s going to put you to the test in a brand new way and be your ticket to the big time.

Officially announced today prior to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR Heat 3 is heading to consoles later this year and bringing back some of the things that fans enjoyed most about its predecessor, including full 40-car online play. But as we found out last month at E3, the game’s career mode is receiving much more than just a roster refresh and new paint schemes, as it will make you race your way into the national NASCAR series via something called the Xtreme Dirt Tour.

That’s exactly what it sounds like: an eight-track circuit where you’ll need to master the very unique art of dirt racing on both real tracks like Bristol and Richmond that have now added a very healthy helping of dirt over their famous layouts, and even a fantasy road course that just happens to have dirt instead of asphalt. We got a chance to try both Richmond and the road course in L.A., and gamers are in for a treat as the challenge is much different, particularly learning when and how hard to get back on the throttle in corners.

New driver aids will help, including a preferred driving line you can toggle on in practice to aid in finding the best way around. The team at 704Games also told us that the NASCAR Heat 3 career mode will progress as before when you advance from the Xtreme Dirt Tour, moving you (hopefully) through the Truck Series and XFINITY Series on your way to Cup Series stardom. However, this year, money will actually mean something, as you’ll need to buy cars, complete team and owner tasks and generally keep tabs on more aspects of your racing life overall.

The graphics for NASCAR Heat 3 look like they’ve received another round of improvements as well, and the ability to choose between pre-defined setups and custom setups if you feel like tweaking every little part of your car like you were a real life crew chief will also be very much in evidence. And yes, the dirt tracks will be evident in every game mode, including online play, so expect to see the dirt flying in multiplayer as well.

The NASCAR Heat series has taken some big strides forward since NASCAR Heat Evolution a few years ago, and NASCAR Heat 3 looks like it has what it takes to continue that trend. Look for it on PS4, Xbox One and PC later this year.