NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup

* **Developer(s):** EA Tiburon.
* **Publisher(s):** EA Sports.
* **Platform(s):**
	+ Gamecube
	+ Playstation 2
	+ Xbox
* **Release Date(s):**
	+ North America: August 31/September 4, 2004
* **Genre(s):** Sim racing.
* **Mode(s):** Single-player, multiplayer (online and split-screen).

***NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup*** is the eighth installment of the EA Sports' NASCAR video game series. It was developed by EA Tiburon and released on August 31, 2004 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox and on September 4, 2004 for the GameCube. NASCAR 2005 is the first game in the series to drop the word Thunder from the title since NASCAR 2001. Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 GM Goodwrench Chevy Monte Carlo, appeared on the cover. It also marks the first time the original PlayStation has been excluded from the NASCAR lineup. This was the first NASCAR edition to be released exclusively on six generation home consoles.

Unlike previous entries, which would normally add a few extra features but leave most of the game identical to its predecessor, the game brought massive change to the series. One example is the inclusion of NASCAR series other than the NEXTEL Cup Series; the National Series (Busch Series), the Craftsman Truck Series, and the Featherlite Modified Series, plus muscle cars. More examples include the implementation of NASCAR's new Chase for the Cup points system, and Fight to the Top mode, where the player controls a custom driver throughout his career starting in the lower series and working up the ladder (similar to NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona). Another change is the absence of the cockpit view and the absence of makes and models in the Truck series, all of which appear to be Ford F-150s. Also due to failed negotiations Pocono Raceway is not included. This was the last NASCAR game released for the Nintendo GameCube. The score is composed by David Robidoux.

## Game Modes

### Career Mode

* **The player starts out with a street race in Dodge Vipers with Ryan Newman, who afterwards gives the player an offer for a one year contract in a Modified car. Every car offer is rated between one and five stars, which is showing the quality of the car upgrades and pit crew. As the player gains prestige, they will receive better offers and in the other series, but when enough money has been saved up, the player can create their own team, hire drivers, buy upgrades and train their crew.**

### Lightning Challenges

* **Lightning Challenge mode includes challenges of moments that happened in NASCAR from 2003 and the 1st part of 2004. Michael Waltrip, driver of the #15 NAPA Chevrolet, returns as the commentator for all the challenges except for two, Kevin Harvick does the challenges that involve Waltrip being the driver in the challenge. These challenges are played on all difficulty levels. The player must beat a number of challenges at that difficulty level before going to the next difficulty level.**

## List of tracks

*This section only lists what tracks are in N2005. Go to the tracks list page to see pictures of every track.*

\*Fictional

## Trivia

* Most of the Featherlite Modified Series schedule, as well as large portions of the Truck and Busch Series schedules, are made up of fantasy tracks, either for licensing reasons or because none of these tracks were on the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Schedule. Omitted tracks that were on these series' 2004 schedules include:
	+ Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
	+ Stafford Speedway
	+ Waterford Speedbowl
	+ Riverhead Raceway
	+ Lake Erie Raceway
	+ Wall Stadium
	+ Beech Ridge Motor Speedbowl
	+ Seekonk Speedway
	+ World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (later added to NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 2022)
	+ Nashville Superspeedway (later added to NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 2021)
	+ Kentucky Speedway (on Cup Series schedule from 2011 to 2020)
	+ Pikes Peak International Raceway
	+ Memphis Motorsports Park
	+ Mansfield Motorsports Park
* In addition, Pocono Raceway was omitted from the game entirely due to failed negotiations. Conversely, the Featherlite Modified Tour schedule has Richmond, Martinsville, Lucas Oil IRP, and Rockingham (aka North Carolina) on its schedule, and Watkins Glen is available for the Modifieds in Race Now mode, despite the fact the series did not race at any of these tracks in 2004 (though the series would return to Martinsville in 2005 and Richmond in 2021; the series last ran at IRP in 1989, at Watkins Glen in 2000, and never raced at Rockingham).
* Many of the fantasy tracks in the game are based on real-life tracks:
	+ Red Ball Raceway's real-life counterpart is most likely based on Mansfield Motorsports Park
	+ Levi Strauss Signature Speedway is based on the now-defunct Concord Speedway
	+ Old Spice Speedway is a mirrored version of Riverside International Raceway's short circuit configuration
	+ Dodge Raceway Stadium is based on Bowman Gray Stadium
	+ Devil's Canyon is a strong resemblance to the now long gone Oran Park Raceway, specifically its short layout.
	+ Dockside International Raceway has a similar resemblance to Lime Rock Park although with a modified track shape.
* The Daytona Infield Road Course seen in this game bears no resemblence to the road course configuration used in real-life by IMSA and MotoAmerica (and by the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions in other states).
* In the Lightning Challenge scenarios taking place in 2003, cars that should have been Pontiacs are instead depicted using their 2004 manufacturers, and all Dodges have the 2004 Stratus-style nose instead of the 2003 Intrepid nose.

## Photos

Xbox front cover.PS2 front/back covers.Gamecube front/back covers.Desktop background.
## Videos

NASCAR 2005 Chase for the Cup Retro Commercial Trailer 2004 EA GamesTrailer.
## See also

* *N2005 Tracks list*
* *N2005:CftC's Wikipedia page*