An excellent review of this game has already been submitted 
by Brandon Lawson, and I agree with everything he has said. 
I would like to add these extra points.

Although there is a resemblance between the original NASCAR 
and the new NASCAR'98, they feel like completely different 
games, and NASCAR'98 feels better.  In the original NASCAR, 
the simulation aspect of tires slipping during turns was 
outstanding, and really gave me the thrilling feeling of 
driving "at the edge" of the tires adhesion to the road.  

When multiple cars simultaneously start bumping and 
slipping around, it was marvelous to see.  Unfortunately, 
the calculations necessary for this strict simulation made 
the frame rate slow, and sometimes disturbingly choppy when 
driving with a lot of traffic nearby.  That was the biggest 
problem with NASCAR, and the reason I didn't buy it.
In the new NASCAR'98, the frame rate is dependable, and 
driving in traffic is easy, actually a little too easy. 
They achieved this by cutting down on the simulation 
calculations.  The competing cars hardly ever slip or skid, 
and if  you bump them, they just swerve a bit and keep 
going.  Meanwhile, if they bump your car, the consequences 
are more severe.

I really enjoy the feature of setting percentages for your 
cars horsepower (and other settings).  As you are learning 
the game, its nice to be able to bump up your horsepower, 
to perhaps 105%.. just enough to let you start at the back 
of the pack and gradually pass them.  (Its boring to drive 
too far behind or in front of the other cars).

This leads me to a minor gripe.  I find oval tracks are 
boring on TV, but great fun to drive (on PSX). I wish there 
were more ovals!

NASCAR'98 is the first racing game IMO where the ability to 
tune the car's features to the track, is done simply and 
clearly enough, that it becomes fun.  An excellent 
bar-chart shows you how tire pressure and downforce changes 
wil affect speed, acceleration and tire adhesion during 
turns.   This game also has a visible "drafting" indicator 
that lights up when your car is close enough to feel the 
tow from the car in front.  I can't actually "feel" it, but 
I'm more aware of it now.

The graphics are pretty darn good. The colors of grass, 
surroundings and buildings are a nice mix, and definately 
improved over the drab appearance of original NASCAR.  Some 
effects are really excellent, including the skid marks and 
dust that your tires throw out when driving on grass or 
shoulder areas.  The tracks and other cars have an 
amazingly far visible horizon, with no popup. Only the 
buildings beside the tracks have popup, which is fine.

The sound effects are excellent. The music is ok (but I 
usually turn it off).

In summary, this is a great racing game that is fun to 
drive, has lots of tracks and lots of features to tinker 
with.

----------------------
Steve Halls
steven.halls@cancerboard.ab.ca