NASCAR Heat 2002 is a racing game that puts you in the seat of one of twenty-five drivers competing at nineteen tracks from the 2001 Winston Cup season. You can race against your friends or try to beat the ghosts of real drivers in Race The Pro . The challenge level is increased with Beat the Heat , which recreates realistic racing scenarios.
The Xbox version has some key differences from its PS2 counterpart, including new track models, textures, and car models. Additionally, the player experiences a continuous "race day" atmosphere on screen, without interruptions to the practice/qualify/race UI.