This year, NASCAR fans won't have to wait until October to get behind the virtual wheel of the Car of Tomorrow. EA Sports is releasing "NASCAR 08" this July. It marks the first time the franchise will race onto next generation consoles PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game will also ship for PlayStation 2.

Two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will grace the cover of this year's game, which is bring developed by EA Tiburon--the same studio that makes "Tiger Woods Pro Tour Golf 08," "Madden NFL 08," "NCAA Football 08," and "Arena Football: Road to Glory."

“Being on the cover of NASCAR 08 is an honor for me and my team,” said Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing. “I am really impressed with the next generation game features and graphics - the realism and authenticity are amazing.”

Stewart’s two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championships have come in the past four years, and since he entered Cup in 1999, he has amassed 29 victories in NASCAR's top series and never finished lower than 11th in the final point standings. During his most recent championship season in 2005, the Columbus, Ind., native won five races and led all Nextel Cup drivers in top-five and top-10 finishes, which included a victory at Stewart’s “home” track – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – when he won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Throughout his career, Stewart has finished in the top-10 in 59% of the races in which he has competed.

The new "NASCAR 08" game allows players to gain experience points during every race, which can be used to modify your car's handling with over 40 tuning options. Also new this year is online racing for up to 16 players. With the advent of next generation high definition graphics, this year's "NASCAR 08" promises to bring the TV experience home.

Speaking of the TV experience, anyone who has Xbox 360 can purchase and download condensed high definition NASCAR races throughout the season, storing them on your hard drive. With "NASCAR 08" on Xbox 360, you'll be able to play races and watch races all on the same system.

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