This is what a NASCAR game should be.
The game was truly addictive with its series best career mode. The new games may have the different series, but those were too easy. This one made you REALLY work to get to the top of the then Winston Cup series, making you sign your own sponsors, do your own tech research, and build your own equipment. As you got better, you could get more stuff like better crew members, Busch series and (possibly) Winston Cup paint schemes for your career ride, and the almighty Thunder Plates. EA never went back to this type of career mode since, opting for the now standard Fight To The Top career mode, and it has taken the challenge level down in the newer games. EA, if you're reading this, mix the two systems together!
The soundtrack was the series best and the best EA had in its games in 2004. The main theme, "Nothing Sacred" by Memento, was purely amazing and some of the other songs, such as "Guilt" by Fingertight and "This Time" by Depswa, were great too. Also, the car sounds, while outdone by its latest versions, were the most realistic since Gran Turismo 3 came out 3 years earlier.
The driving gameplay, with the new feature of Alliances and Grudges, was one of the best ideas ever in a racing game. The strategy side of the game really started to show itself when it was implemented, teaching the player not to ram by someone like their name was Robby Gordon, or they would be plowed next time that driver got a chance. It was particularly important to race clean in career, where you had to take care of your stuff.
This truly was the best in the series, and I wish EA would go back to having their NASCAR games like this one... Maybe in 07?