Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines and get ready to rumble. It’s time to bump and bang, to grind the walls, to challenge the slick high side of the track or cut low to zip past an opponent.

It’s NASCAR 2001, a PlayStation console game from EA SPORTS™ that may be short of options, but is long on quality racing action.

There are only four initial options in this game – quick race, single player, multi-player and options (which configure the controls of the game). Choose either the single-player or two-player game, and you are presented with four more sub-options: Single race, Season, Hall of fame or Track records. That’s it. Pick, hit the accelerator, and rocket down the course in force feedback play.

While there may not be a host of racing options, there are some wonderful secondary attributes to this game. There are 39 drivers, from Jeff Gordon to Darrell Waltrip, the Labontes and the Earnhardts, and Dale Jarrett to Rusty Wallace. If you have ever seen a NASCAR race, you will recognize a vast number of these drivers, and their trademark cars. If you like diversity in tracks, this program has that. There are 26 tracks, featuring well-known courses like Talladega and Watkins Glen, and everything in between. From challenging courses to simpler oval tracks, this program has a race track that will fit your skill level.

The controls are not hard to manage. You can use with the D-pad or analog controls to nudge your car around the track. The controls are not as touchy as some comparable PC games, but you will have to lean on the steering controller on some of the tighter turns to keep from sliding high on the track.

The graphical elements are very well rendered, from the camera angles and the smoke pouring from engine and tires. Like all EA SPORTS™ products, the audio track is very well done.

NASCAR 2001 has the solid racing action, graphics and sound that are hallmarks of terrific racing programs. Easily accessible to all age groups, this is a product that will fit easily into any racing fan’s collection.

Install: N/A

Gameplay: 8.5
This program rips along at breakneck speeds, moving through each racing challenge flawlessly.

Graphics: 8.5
Very well rendered and smooth, this program presents excellent racing action and manages to incorporate the feel of the spectacle through its visual candy.

Sound: 7.5
The audio track of this program is exactly what you would expect, though quite bright.

Difficulty: 8.5
This isn’t simply about going around in circles. It is about figuring out the track, judging the cars you are racing against, and then taking the line that will enable you to capture that checkered flag.

Concept: 7
Ok, so the racing genre has been around for about as long as there have been console games, but that doesn’t detract from a well-built program.

Multiplayer: 7
Split-screen action is the result of multi-player games. Not the best, but until there is a way to split to multiple monitors, it will have to suffice. Though the multiplayer aspect is good, this is a product that plays equally well in either single or multiplayer modes.

Overall: 8.5
Terrific racing action that will appeal to any age of console gamer, NASCAR 2001 combines solid gaming action with top-drawer graphics for an appealing and high-revving ride.