NASCAR The Game 2011 released on Xbox, PS3

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- NASCAR racing is back in the hands of the fans with the release of NASCAR The Game 2011. Activision Publishing, Inc. and leading independent developer Eutechnyx announced the release of NASCAR The Game 2011 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation3 computer entertainment system. NASCAR The Game 2011 captures the thrill and spectacle of NASCAR with a complete field of 43 cars and drivers, 23 authentic tracks, full damage modeling, realistic wrecks, pit stops and truly authentic details from pre-race flyovers to victory spinouts.

 

Players now have full access to renowned NASCAR drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne. Fans also have the ability to create their own driver, embarking on a career that will gain sponsors, endorsements, friends and foes. The driving style of each driver has been meticulously recreated and the game factors in points standings, past encounters and team affiliations as players progress through to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

On the track, rivalries flare as players draft, bump and rub at incredible speeds. Additionally, high impact crashes, collisions and debris must be navigated with split-second decisions to achieve glory at the checkered flag. There is also split-screen two-player action and 16-player online racing for the ultimate challenge against friends. Customizable options and settings make NASCAR The Game 2011 the most accessible racing game available for fans of every skill level.

"This game embodies the spirit of our sport, along with the intensity and pure excitement of racing upwards of 200 mph. Aside from being on the track, this gameplay is the best way for fans to get an unprecedented, realistic NASCAR experience," Blake Davison, vice president, licensing and consumer products at NASCAR said.

"We've been able to incorporate awesome NASCAR elements that will help rookies and pros alike make every race a high-octane adventure," said Ed Martin, executive vice president at Eutechnyx. David Oxford, executive vice president at Activision Publishing, added, "Any motorsports enthusiast or fan of racing games will thoroughly enjoy NASCAR The Game 2011 -- the speed, rush, tension, excitement and energy of the sport is an experience unlike any other."

Exclusive GoDaddy.com paint schemes and garage signage have been integrated and are available by retrieving unlock codes at GoDaddy.com/Danica or GoDaddy.com/Mark. A partnership with Sprint brings enhanced game replays, a special unlockable Sprint decal pack and even Miss Sprint Cup into the game. Additional game content, video and special features can be found at GoDaddy.com and on Sprint NASCAR's mobile app and website.

NASCAR The Game 2011 is available now on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 system for $59.99 MSRP and on the Wii System from Nintendo later this Spring for $49.99 MSRP. It is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more information visit www.NASCARTheGame.com or follow the game on Twitter

 

Berry bumps his way to victory at Martinsville

Josh Berry emerged the winner at Martinsville Speedway after push came to shove in the final laps of last night's NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship event. With half a dozen laps remaining, Berry (Hendersonville, Tenn.) came to a restart behind series leader Ray Alfalla (Cape Coral, Fl.), Thomas Hazard (Rochester, Minn.) and Josh Parker (Cranston, R.I.). As Alfalla and Parker traded paint heading into Turn One, Berry got into Parker, sending him into the two leaders. The resulting wreck triggered the last of a series record 25 yellow flags and gave Berry the victory from Hazard and Parker. Chris Main (Germantown, MD) and Brad Wright (High Point, N.C.) completed the top five as Alfalla was credited with a ninth place finish.

"The last restart . . . got crazy as I expected," Berry said. "I was pretty much just watching Ray and Hazard dart all over the track getting into One. I bumped Parker out of the way and the seas parted, and I came away with the lead."

Predictably, there was plenty of controversy after the checkers had fallen, with Parker being particularly critical of some drivers' actions. After voicing his disappointment with the on-track conduct, Parker moved past Martinsville and looked at the big picture. "It was an exciting race to say the least," he said. "I guess I can't be too upset over a third place finish."

The rough and tumble race has also prompted iRacing officials to take their own look at the big picture.

"We fully understand that incidental contact is part of the excitement of short track racing," said Tony Gardner, president of iRacing. "But 25 cautions in a 250 lap race is unacceptable. iRacing is reviewing its existing rules and procedures in light of last night's race and will implement any necessary changes."

The Martinsville race began with a familiar face at the front of the field after Derek Wood (Lincoln, Neb.) set the pace in qualifying en route to his second pole of the season. Although he led the first twenty laps, Wood fell down the order once he got shuffled out of the lead on pit strategy, a common theme in the race. Speaking of strategy, track position proved much more important than fresh tires at Martinsville, as the numerous cautions and repeated short green flag runs made passing impossible without using the front bumper. What's more, track position kept the front runners out of the wrecks . . . for the most part.

Parker was quick all night and led 88 of 250 laps. Alfalla took his turn in the lead for 35 tours, one more than John Gorlinsky (Manasquan, N.J.), with Brad Davies (Wauchula, Fl.) and Daniel Pope II (Smyrna, Tenn.) also enjoying a lot of time at the front. However, several drivers employed the bump and run, sparking a series of accidents in a race that saw more take than give.

Of course, using the bumper can also lead to tempers flaring and new rivalries being born, and plenty of both were in evidence at Martinsville. Parker and Alfalla made it clear they feel as if they can trust no one on the race track, while Brian Schoenburg (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Nolan Scott (Chattanooga, Tenn.) ended their chances for a strong finish with a battle that featured plenty of contact and saw them finish 26th and 32nd, respectively. It was also another disappointing race for defending series champion Richard Towler (Newcastle, England) who finished 42nd after an early accident, all but ending his chances of a second title.

At the other end of the standings, Hazard (164) now enjoys a four point lead over Alfalla in the race for the NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship, with Parker (154) third ahead of Berry (145) and Main (144).

With patience running thin and heated new rivalries being born, perhaps it's appropriate that Talladega Speedway is the next stop on the schedule. Rules adjustments or no, 'Dega is no place to execute paybacks. Veterans and rookies alike would do well to settle their differences off the track rather than risk ending their hopes for a championship in just the fifth round of an 18 race season.

Will tempers boil over yet again, or will cooler heads prevail? Find out in Week Five of the NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship at Talladega Superspeedway!

 

 

2011 MLB Preview: 5 Reasons the Chicago White Sox Will Not Win the AL Central

 

 

The 2011 season is upon us, and although every fan on Opening Day has a delusional feeling about his or her team, only one will come out on top.

Expectations are high on the south side of Chicago, but "All In," the White Sox 2011 slogan, could also be called "A Lot to Lose."

There is a lot of talent and a lot of money put into this White Sox squad. There is absolutely no hint of "Ozzie Ball" or "Small Ball" on it, which is why it has a very good chance to win the American League Central.

For a squad that looked to be starting a rebuilding process, with third or fourth place in the division being its highest hopes, to then suddenly bring back Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski and sign Adam Dunn and Jesse Crain in free agency in a matter of a couple weeks is simply astonishing, especially for a team that usually doesn't bank on the free-agent market.

I'm not sure people realize how close the White Sox were to having Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios as their No. 3 and 4 hitters, which is not bad, but certainly not capable of winning a division.

The White Sox certainly aren't perfect. There's a new guy at third base, Konerko is old and just got paid, Dunn is in the American League, Jake Peavy's absence leaves a revolving door possibility at the fifth starter role, there's a new closer and, as always, there's Ozzie.

Let's look at the worst-case scenario for the White Sox.

And please, don't call me a "hater" simply because I'm pointing out things you've put in the back of your minds, praying they'll just go away.

Pessimism is the secret to never being disappointed.

 

Three of 45 experts predicted the Cubs would win the NL Central

 

It's prediction time at ESPN Chicago and ESPN.com, and while the White Sox drew more love from the expert prognosticators, the Cubs were not forgotten.

Three of 45 experts predicted the Cubs would win the NL Central, while 32 -- including ESPN Chicago's Doug Padilla -- tabbed the Sox as the AL Central champs.