Stern• 2005• Whitestar• Pat Lawlor / Louis Koziarz

NASCAR

Spell RACE, lock two balls, send balls screaming around the magnetic outer track, freeze jackpot values with SPIN, work through ten Garage modes, climb from 10th place to Victory Lap, and collect CHAMP #1 letters for the four-ball Champion Challenge.

RACE Multiball Outer Racetrack Garage Modes Victory Lap Super Party Champion Challenge

Playfield

2 flippers · 2 ramps

Outer racetrack · Test Car · Garage

Multiball

5 modes

Main RACE MB + Garage / wizard modes

Production

3,500

Pinside listed production

Estimated value

$3,700–$4,300

Current Pinside estimate range

The game at a glance

Three games at once: Multiball, Garage, and race position.

NASCAR has three intertwined progress systems. Complete the right-side drop bank to light R-A-C-E shots and qualify the main multiball. Bash the Test Car to open the Garage and play one of ten modes. Meanwhile, alternate the spinning-car / SPIN features to move from 10th place toward 1st Place and start Victory Lap.

Why it feels different

The outer racetrack is not decorative. Balls can physically circulate around it under magnet control, sometimes for many laps, while you continue shooting the main playfield. The track feeds directly into multiball jackpot rules and several Garage modes.

The safest mental model

Think in layers: spell RACE for protection, play Garage modes for value, and keep working race position / CHAMP #1 in the background. Good games stack those layers instead of treating them as separate objectives.

No traditional skill shot Current strategy references list no conventional plunge skill shot. Your opening priority is usually to get control quickly and begin RACE qualification or Garage progress rather than chasing a one-time plunge award.

New player guide

How to play in seven steps

Complete the three drop targets.
Finishing the bank lights the R-A-C-E collection shots. Shoot those lit shots until all four letters in RACE are complete.

Spell RACE to light the locks.
Once RACE is complete, the left ramp lights for Lock. Lock two balls, then make the left ramp again to start the main RACE Multiball.

During Multiball, collect the lit Jackpot.
After a Jackpot, the left ramp lights for Bonus Jackpot. Collecting it relights jackpots, adds another jackpot shot to the next cycle, and sends a ball onto the racetrack for 10 laps.

Use SPIN while a ball is racing.
When a ball is on the outer track, hit the captive-ball SPIN shot to freeze a new, higher jackpot value. The racing ball exits the track and Multiball continues.

Open the Garage and start modes.
Hit the Test Car to raise it and expose the Garage scoop. The flashing Garage insert is the next mode; the two spinners rotate the selection clockwise or counterclockwise.

Climb from 10th to 1st place.
Hit the spinning car in the hauler, or the lit SPIN shot when the car is not spinning, to improve race position. Reaching 1st starts Victory Lap.

Collect CHAMP #1 letters.
Speed Shots, Hard Racing, Road Course, Victory Lap, and some Mode Bonus awards give CHAMP #1 letters. Complete them to light the Scanner for Champion Challenge.

Main multiball

RACE Multiball: Jackpot → Bonus Jackpot → bigger cycle.

Official rules ↗

Qualification

Drop targets: complete the bank to light the R-A-C-E collection shots.
Spell RACE: make the lit R-A-C-E shots until all four letters are collected.
Lock 1: left ramp when Lock is lit.
Lock 2: left ramp again after the next lock is qualified.
Start: with two balls locked, shoot the left ramp to launch Multiball.

Jackpot cycle

One Jackpot shot starts lit.
Collect it to light the left ramp for Bonus Jackpot.
Bonus Jackpot relights jackpots and adds one additional lit Jackpot shot each cycle.
Bonus Jackpot also sends that ball onto the outer racetrack for 10 laps.
When the track ball is active, SPIN can freeze a higher jackpot value.

★

Use the racetrack to build the next jackpot cycle The important NASCAR-specific trick is not merely collecting Bonus Jackpot. When that ball begins its 10 laps, use SPIN to set a better jackpot value before returning your attention to the relit shots.

Ten selectable modes

The Garage is the other half of the game.

Hit the Test Car to raise it and expose the Garage. The flashing insert in the circular mode ring shows what is currently selected. The left spinner moves the selection clockwise; the right spinner moves it counterclockwise.

Happy Hour2-ball multiball. Build laps on the left ramp, then enter the Garage to collect the Jackpot.

Infield PartyAdd-a-ball mode. Use orbit / short-track shots for Jackpots before the racing ball completes its laps.

Short TrackTimed orbit mode; repeated left and right orbit shots score while the timer is running.

Test CarTimed mode. Hit the captive ball to raise the value, then enter the Garage to collect the Jackpot.

Hauler RideAdd-a-ball mode built around the left ramp; spinning-car activity can multiply the Jackpot.

Light Extra BallLights Extra Ball at the three-target bank; tournament settings usually convert it to points.

Bump N' RunTimed mode. Hit the Test Car for Jackpots while the spinners build the Jackpot value.

Right Sides OnlyFour right-side Jackpot shots; the drop-target bank collects a Super Jackpot based on prior Jackpots.

Super FanTimed ramp mode with increasing Jackpots on the two ramps.

Gas N' GoThe Garage lights Jackpot shots that can be collected during the mode or remain lit afterward until ball end.

Mode Bonus can pay you twice After completing a Garage mode, the drop-target bank can recollect its value as a Mode Bonus. Some Mode Bonus awards can also supply a missing CHAMP #1 letter.

Signature mechanism

The racetrack is a live scoring system, not decoration.

How balls enter and leave

Balls can enter from the shooter lane and from Pit Road.
Magnets circulate the ball around the outer racetrack.
A ball can stay on the track for multiple laps.
Diverters can route the ball to Pit Road or back to the main playfield.
A track ball can also eventually drain into the trough depending on mode state.

SPIN interaction

The captive-ball SPIN shot has special value whenever a ball is actively racing.
During RACE Multiball, SPIN freezes a new higher jackpot value.
SPIN also removes the racing ball from the track and returns play to the normal multiball state.
Outside Multiball, SPIN can help advance race position when the spinning car itself is not active.

Race-position progression

Climb from 10th place to Victory Lap.

Moving up the field

Your current position is shown on the numbered inserts leading toward the Test Car.
Hit the spinning car in the hauler to move up one place.
When the car is not spinning, the lit SPIN shot can also advance one position.
Reaching 1st Place gives a bonus and immediately lights / starts Victory Lap.
After Victory Lap, race position resets to 10th and the climb begins again.

Victory Lap

Timed mode.
All major shots are worth 1M during the mode.
Victory Lap awards one CHAMP #1 letter.
Because every major shot is lit, controlled ramp/orbit loops are usually better than random flailing.

Supporting timed features

Speed Shots, Hard Racing, and Road Course.

Speed Shots

Build it through repeated left-orbit progress.
When qualified, Speed Shots becomes a timed mode.
All major shots score 500K.
It can run alongside many other modes.
Starting it awards a CHAMP #1 letter.

Hard Racing

Build it through repeated right-orbit progress.
A logical sequence of shots lights around the playfield.
Each successful shot scores a 1M Jackpot.
Starting Hard Racing awards a CHAMP #1 letter.

Road Course

Short-track laps qualify Road Course.
Once lit, work the right ramp repeatedly.
Up to five right-ramp completions build the feature.
Road Course is another CHAMP #1 source.

Hauler Miles & Extra Ball

Both ramps award Hauler Miles.
Enough miles light Extra Ball.
Extra Ball is also available from Garage and Scanner awards.
Under tournament settings, Extra Ball is typically converted to a points award rather than another playable ball.

Long-game wizard progression

CHAMP #1 → Champion Challenge

Collect the letters in C-H-A-M-P-#1 from Speed Shots, Hard Racing, Road Course, Victory Lap, and qualifying Mode Bonus awards. Once the entire phrase is complete, the Scanner lights for the four-ball Champion Challenge.

What turns on

Four-ball multiball.
Pop bumpers are set to maximum value.
Spinners are set to maximum value.
Outlanes light for Special or large point awards, depending on settings.
All seven Jackpot shots are lit, including Super Jackpot.

Race-position loop

Champion Challenge begins with race position set to 6th.
Hit the Test Car to raise it.
Enter the Garage to move up one position.
Reach 1st to reset all Jackpots and Super Jackpot, then restart the position climb.
The Super Jackpot increases as the mode continues.

Champion Challenge is the CHAMP #1 payoff This mode is less about one single jackpot and more about cycling the entire playfield at maximum value. Use the opening ball save to establish controlled shots before trying to manage all four balls.

Garage wizard mode

Super Party

Complete all ten Garage modes, then enter the Garage again to start Super Party. It is a multiball built around short-track Jackpots, bumper countdowns, and an escalating Super Jackpot.

Jackpot loop

Short-track shots score the main Jackpots.
Pop-bumper hits count a displayed requirement down toward zero.
When the bumper requirement reaches zero, the drop-target bank lights for Super Jackpot.
The first Super Jackpot is 2M.
Later Super Jackpots increase: 3M, then higher on subsequent cycles.

How to approach it

Keep balls moving through orbits / short-track shots to collect Jackpots.
Let uncontrolled balls work the bumpers while you concentrate on safe major shots.
When the Super Jackpot lights, prioritize the drop-target bank before losing too many balls.
The cycle repeats until only one ball remains.

NASCAR has two separate long-game payoffs Super Party comes from finishing the Garage mode ring. Champion Challenge comes from completing CHAMP #1. A very strong game can progress toward both at the same time.

Competitive play

Tournament strategy

The dependable opener

Spell RACE first. Main Multiball is the game's cleanest protection and scoring structure.
Complete the drop bank whenever RACE shots go dark. It is the reset switch for qualification.
Use the left-ramp lock shortcut if your software / setup allows it. Current strategy references note that holding the left flipper on the plunge after Lock 1 can help secure Lock 2.
Do not enter Multiball without a jackpot plan. Know where the first orange Jackpot is before the balls arrive.

Garage-mode priorities

Bump N' Run can be excellent. Build the Jackpot with spinners and cash it at the Test Car.
Right Sides Only has a real Super Jackpot. Collect the four right-side Jackpots before taking the drop bank.
Happy Hour / Hauler Ride provide protection. Their add-a-ball / multiball structure makes them useful times to attack riskier progress.
Mode Bonus matters. Recollecting completed modes at the drop bank can be worth significant points and occasionally a CHAMP #1 letter.

Race-position discipline

Do not ignore the spinning car simply because you are focused on Multiball qualification.
Victory Lap is a straightforward all-shots-for-1M timed mode and also gives CHAMP #1 progress.
If you are close to 1st place, finishing the position ladder before starting another unrelated mode can create a clean scoring window.

Setup-specific checks

Test whether balls circulate cleanly around the outer track.
Watch the Test Car / Garage mechanism for weak or inconsistent movement.
Learn the left-ramp lock return because it is central to the main Multiball.
Check whether the captive-ball SPIN shot can be safely repeated from control.

★

If you only remember one competitive strategy Spell RACE, lock two balls, start main Multiball, and use each Bonus Jackpot to send a ball onto the track. While it is racing, hit SPIN to freeze a stronger jackpot value, then continue the next jackpot cycle.

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