I can't believe this game has gotten so cheap, it's awesome! The layout is one of Lawlor's best, and it has a ton of stuff to do. 2 ramps, 3 kickouts, 3 magnet accelerators, a moving car bash toy, 2 spinners, 3 drops, 7 diverters, a captive ball and a "windmill" target thrown in for good measure. It's a beast!

I just put up 54M on mine after shopping it out and dialing it in (factory, 3 ball, outlanes at "medium"). The flow on this game is GREAT. Sorry for doing a "best game evar" kinda post, but I'm really enjoying it! I was planning to play it and flip it at the next Gameroom Expo here in Atlanta, but I think it's a keeper. I'm really looking forward to re-theming this as "Talladega Nights" when I get some down time. Woohoo!

This PDF is a must read if you own the game, or you're playing it in a league or tourney:

http://mirror2.ipdb.org/files/5093/Stern_2005_NASCAR_Playfield_Shot_Map.pdf

Here are a few pics from my shopout:

IMG_6087.JPG
IMG_6093.JPG

The rules are surprisingly good. Louis Koziarz and Pat Lawlor teamed up on NASCAR in 2005 after doing RBION in 2004 - another great, underrated pin.

Yes, that's probably the main reason it's been rated so low. There are a lot of good tips for fixing this, but what worked best for me was just changing the coil strength to "soft".

I posted a fix for the SDTM problem here:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/tech-help-with-nascar-ball-shoots-out-of-garage-sdtm#post-1943335

I'll do a cleaner installation and report back in a month or so with long-term results.

It's a beautiful fall day here, great time to take out the engine and give it a good cleaning:

engine1.jpg
engine2.jpg

I noticed that after doing a "complete shopout" the game was getting dirty after a few dozen games. I'm pretty sure this was the cause, as the engine was filthy. It was much easier to clean outside the game.

Now I have to do the other one...

That's pretty much what I did to mine, but I got lazy and didn't take out the "engines" the first time - big mistake. TZ is easy to shop out compared to NASCAR.

1:43 scale models fit perfectly, just a tiny bit bigger than the test car.

I'll be installing my new car tonight, if my vision pans out. Pics to follow.

EDIT: see continued post here:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/replacing-the-test-car-on-nascar#post-1964753

Sorry for the split topic...

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/replacing-the-test-car-on-nascar#post-1964753

I made a mindmap for Nascar's rules - this game is deep! Here are some icons and abbreviations:

= extra ball opportunities
magic wand = goal needed to reach wizard mode
hourglass = timed mode
JP = Jackpot
+JP = Increases Jackpot
SJP = Super Jackpot
MB = Multiball

[EDIT: diagram updated 2:00pm OCT 18]

NASCAR.png

I'll check this out tonight and add some score values. I'd like to know where the big points are, for league play.

Thanks, I was trying to figure that out!

One thing that bugs me is that I always see the same 4 scanner awards. And the right column is always a copy of the left! Do I have an older ROM? How can I tell the version of code I'm running? There's no label on the game ROM.

EDIT: I got my code versions by disabling fast boot. I'm on 4.50 CPU and 4.00 DISPLAY, which I think are the latest.

OK, I learned some more things this morning:

The game randomly picks 3 of the garage modes to light Mode Bonus for a CHAMP1 letter. You can see which ones by using the INSTANT INFO. Use the spinners to get one of these lit.

As Pascal said, the right orbit must be qualified by the right ramp. The first time it's easy to advance the right orbit, because there's no timer. But after you've played Hard Racin' once, you can only advance the right orbit by hitting a right ramp - right orbit combo.

Stacking Speed Shots with Multiball is very lucrative.

Hitting the right ramp repeatedly awards double hauler miles. Are there any other combos?

Always shoot an orbit if its light is flashing.

Thanks Pascal. I was trying to think of how to diagram the "Good Thinking" trick and I gave up. I think notes will always be needed to complement the diagrams.

Ugh, sorry to hear that Scott. Can you get into the diagnostics at all? Also check to make sure there are 4 balls installed and that they all register in their trough positions.

I just remembered that I'm having this problem too - I need to add it to my list. Have you checked the voltage at the coil?

That's normal, unfortunately.

It's a great board. I have one in my CSI, and I wouldn't do LEDs without it.

In my diagram, I used the "magic wand" symbol to show all of the ways to score CHAMP1 letters.
NASCAR Diagram.png

Ah, now I get you. Unfortunately I don't think there is any Instant Info that helps here. I wonder if some of these could be completed multiple times to qualify more than 1 letter:

Speed Shots
Hard Racin'
Road Course
First Place
Victory Laps
Mode Bonus
Scanner Award

I'll try it with the glass off. There have to be at least 6 ways to earn a letter, otherwise you'd be waiting for the scanner award to come up.

What I really want to see is a 3D hauler mod, done with a scale-model truck.

I made some changes to settings last night that really opened up the game for me. I forgot that I had set it to tournament mode. After doing a Factory Reset and setting the coil strength to "hard":

- Scanner awards are much better, and not duplicated
- Hauler miles EB is much easier to get (only 700 miles)
- My scores have gone up dramatically
- No more track problems

It's probably not right for league play, but it's a lot more fun this way!

Yeah, it kind of shocked me. I'm used to seeing 2 columns of 4 awards that are the same thing. Now I'm seeing things like "Rudd hat" and "Rusty shirt", and every one of the 8 is unique. It's also giving me some pretty good awards - add 5 laps, move up 1 place, etc.

CPU 4.50, Display 4.00. I just changed it to Free Play, that's all. Definitely do a Factory Reset (from the Install or Reset Menu).

I just put up 77M, which is great for me. 23M of that was Race Multiball, and it wasn't even stacked with anything! One of these days I'll stack Victory Laps with it and really clean up.

I just updated my diagram in post #130 to the original PNG - much better resolution. I need to update the Scanner awards, since they're a lot more varied now.

Here's my Free Play card. I like to give credit to the whole design team; let me know if I missed anyone.

Free Play.jpg

EDIT: yep, I missed some people:

Dots/Animation by: Adam Rhine, Greg Dunlap
Mechanics by: John Krutsch, John Filz

The mechanical engineering for NASCAR is pretty complex. Those guys definitely deserve some credit.

Holy crap, how did I do this after 3 really strong beers???

WOOHOO, I finally got to play Champion Challenge!!! I also played 3 RACE multiballs, and my bonus at one point was 15M. I think this GC will stick for a while.

IMG_3222.JPG
IMG_3223.JPG
danicapatrick.jpg

Added a poll.

Nope. Spell CHAMP1, shoot the scoop and strap in for a great 4-ball multiball!

My right ramp broke on the right side (just above the drop targets). I didn't realize it until the ball got stuck up there! Has anybody used another game's ramp protector successfully there? I don't think Cliffy has done this one yet.

Thanks,
John

There was a gorgeous cleared playfield for $500 at the Texas Pinball Festival (HSA or HEP, can't remember the TLA). I seriously thought about it, but I just signed up for a CPR Paragon playfield this week.

http://www.hsapinball.com/HSA_PINBALL/About_Us.html

I'm having NASCAR withdrawal. The right side of my right ramp broke a few weeks ago, and I haven't found a Cliffy that works there. I need to pull the whole monster ramp assembly out to do a JB Weld repair, and I can't get motivated.

Because that's a much worse system. I hate working on games where you can't pull the playfield forward. This system allows you to pull the playfield out and lean it backwards against the head.

Pretty much invisible now, especially given the location of the repair. Nice work.

Me too - I still think it's the best Stern bargain out there. I replaced mine with a Bally Medusa - not sure that was terribly smart.

I'm missing my NASCAR a little. I essentially traded it for a Medusa, which I'm loving...but NASCAR was a great pin to own for a year. Loved the Multiball.