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This year there is no opening challenge to the game, you simply load up the game like any other game. This is sort of disappointing as in previous years the opening of the game gave you a sort of storyline reason for playing in the Fight to the Top Mode. It also takes away the chance for new players to get a taste for the game without actually jumping in to deep.

Also returning are the four different racing series, Nextel Cup, Busch, Craftsman Truck and Whelon Modified. These are the four series you will be working your way through in the Fight to the Top mode. Speaking of the Fight to the Top mode, the developers added a nifty little feature to the beginning of the mode that brings the game right to your skill level.

At the start of the mode you are presented with a chance to go to school with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Here are you are given the chance to run your car on a series of tracks and achieve driving rankings (either gold, silver or bronze). Now what is the point of this you may be asking? Well, lets say that you gain more silver rankings on the tracks than anything else. Guess what, that means you get offered a contract to start the Fight to the Top mode in the Busch Series! In other words, they are starting the game at the level of the gamer.

While this is in truth only a minor addition to the game its actually a very important one as it fashions the game directly to that of the person playing it. If you can only achieve bronze’s on most of the tracks than you are placed in the Craftsman Truck Series. If you can’t even get bronze’s than you get placed in the Whelon Modified Series. Nifty huh?

Also returning to this year’s game is the “Total Team Control” feature from last year’s game. You can still work with team mates in this year’s version of the game exactly like you did in the 2006 version of the game. You can switch between your car and your teammates car and it doesn’t matter what car you finish the race in. This gives you much more control over the fate of your team.

The folks at EA Sports always go out of their way to make the sites and sounds of the game as close to the real thing as possible and this year is no exception. The sounds of the motor picking up the gears are just as good as last year and the surroundings look just as good. One added little feature is as you are driving the car and say passing someone you get this sort of streaking look on the screen. It gives you the feeling that you really are going over 160 miles per hour and it is a nice touch.

Also I can’t forget to mention the point system that allows you to unlock more goodies such as paint schemes from the Chase Plates section of the game. Just like in last year’s game as you race you can gather points for leading laps, passing cars clean and just generally playing the game. You can use these points to unlock bonus cars, hidden race tracks and new sponsors for your car among other things.

Something new they’ve added this year is if you complete a race without touching another race car (or maybe just scraping them and doing no damage) you are awarded the Allstate Good Hands Driver of the Race Award. Once you gather three of these you unlock an Allstate item from the Chase Plates section. So every time you gather three of them you unlock a new Allstate item. Ain’t that cool?

As far as the game is concerned this is more of an update of the 2006 version of the game than a new game. Yeah there are a few new additions to the game but nothing worth going out of your way for. If you liked NASCAR 2006: Total Team Control than you’ll like NASCAR 2007, just don’t expect a bunch of new goodies to drool over while you’re playing the game. Besides, if you’re drooling over a video game you need to find a life. Wait, that’s me. Sorry, forget I said anything.