The NASCAR 08 game lets you play as yourself in the NASCAR series, with your own name and custom car design. You can also change the color scheme of your car.
One mode is called Earn Your Stripes, where you start by doing time trials to get better starting contracts. Then you can race, tune up your car, and complete objectives set in your contract. As you win races and gain reputation, more contracts will come in. You can also share your setups online with friends.
The game has different cars to drive, including the Craftsman Truck, National (Busch), and NEXTEL Cup. There's also a chase mode where you have to do challenges like drafting or passing to unlock new features. All versions of the game allow players to compete in online multiplayer races.