Delve deep into the strategic aspects of racing in NASCAR Manager, a free-to-download race management title from Hutch Games—the developer behind F1 Clash - Car Racing Manager and Rebel Racing. While it doesn’t put you in the driver’s seat, unlike NASCAR Heat Mobile or the F1 games, being the Team Boss puts you in a position where strategy and tactics reign supreme on the track.

Hence, in NASCAR Manager, players are tested on their ability to formulate strategies and make split-second decisions in the middle of a race, helping their drivers conquer their rivals and secure a well-earned victory.

Think ahead of the race

In NASCAR Manager, the drivers are your greatest assets, and all of them possess varying overtaking, defending, qualifying, fuel management, and tire management stats. From the stat values alone, you should be able to gauge which of the drivers would best suit the strategy you have in mind and the race they’re going to participate in. Vehicle components also play a critical role in races.

This is because upgraded components contribute to a vehicle’s power, grip, aero, durability stats, and average pit stop time. In addition, a well-planned pit stop is key in this racing game, as it keeps vehicles in tip-top condition without compromising your drivers’ positions. By thinking ahead and improving your drivers and car parts, victory will always be in your grasp. 

Like other free-to-play games, microtransactions and loot boxes are the bread and butter of this title. Crates, for instance, contain items, drivers, and components of varying drop rates. It’s important to point out that drivers and components are divided into three rarities—Common, Rare,and Epic. However, diehard NASCAR fans will be disappointed as none of the drivers are based on real-life NASCAR drivers. Lagging and graphical issues are prevalent, too.

Be the best team boss

Exploring the strategic side of racing, NASCAR Manager lets players take on a leadership and tactician role, planning pit stops, upgrading drivers and components, and making critical decisions that may turn the tide of a race. While some can stomach the loot boxes, microtransactions, and technical issues, the lack of real-life-based drivers can put off hardcore NASCAR fans from the game.