not only decreases the number of AI drivers in a race while also randomizing them, meaning only a handful of drivers end up participating in the entire season. However, like in Quick Race, they can be disabled for a 2–4 player competition. Thunder License is the time attack mode of the game; basically a tutorial and time trial of how to race across the included tracks. Lightning Challenges are playable re-enactments of Winston Cup races from 1999, 2000, 2001, and the 1st part of 2002. These challenges are played on all three difficulty levels. The drivers tell the players about what happened to them in the race. The player then has the chance to re-enact or alter history according to the particular scenario's requirement. Release A month after the console versions' release, a PC version of NASCAR Thunder 2003 was made available, becoming the second PC game in the series. Despite its later release, it removes all special modes (and the entire Thunder Plate system) except for Season mode. A new testing mode is added, and 16-player multiplayer over the Internet or LAN is supported. It generally received lower scores from reviewers than the console version did. Reception The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms except the PC version, which received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. The GameCube version was a runner-up for the "Best Driving Game for GameCube" award at GameSpots Best and Worst of 2002 Awards, which went to NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona. The game was also a runner-up for the "Console Racing" award at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which went to Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2. References External links Official EA Sports website for NASCAR Thunder 2003 Racing simulators NASCAR video games 2002 video games North America-exclusive video games PlayStation (console) games PlayStation 2 games GameCube games Windows games Xbox games Image Space Incorporated games EA Sports games Sports video games with career mode Multiplayer and single-player video games Split-screen multiplayer games Video games developed in the United States Simulation video games Simulation games Budcat Creations games Games with GameCube-GBA connectivity