EA-plus

It's no secret that I'm a PlayStation fanatic. I got hooked on the system years ago and became a discerning joysticker, concentrating on basically three games: Madden, MLB and NASCAR .

This year's EA Sports racing entry, NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup, is the whole kit and kaboodle. (I don't know what that really means, but apparently it's all anyone can ask for, which is the case with this game.)

Chase for the Cup's overhauled gameplay is now the benchmark for racing games -- and second place is a lap down, at best. The graphics are top-shelf and the wrecks are sensational.

The game includes:

? Fight to the Top -- Become a superstar owner or driver and decide where and how you want to race. Develop essential racing skills, increase fan support and compete in three new racing series as you become the driver top NASCAR teams are looking for. (This quickly became my favorite addition.)

? Chase for the Cup -- The first and only game to feature the new point system. This 10-race championship shootout is available in both "Fight to the Top" mode as well as its own stand-alone game mode.

? Grudges and Alliances -- Make your driver a hero or a villain. Force mistakes with the new Intimidation Button or flatten competitors' tires by rubbing fenders (as you risk flattening your own). Rivalries even spill off the track with post-race confrontations.

? Three new racing series -- Chase for the Cup expands its racing field with the addition of the Busch , Truck and Featherlite Modified series. Opportunities present themselves on all levels -- you're a few wins away from hittin' The Show: the Nextel Cup series .

? American muscle production cars -- Settle bitter rivalries with other NASCAR drivers through the streets in production cars. The top American performance cars, including the Ford GT , Dodge Viper and Corvette Z06 , provide a high-speed, no-holds-barred style of racing.

? Win the crowd -- Fans play an important role in your success. Make decisions that define your driver's popularity, like whether to participate in the Autograph Session mini-game. Sales of customizable merchandise, including bobbleheads, T-shirts and die-cast cars, depend on your actions both on and off the track. And remember, you don't have to be a nice guy to become a fan favorite.