Lightning Challenges
Lightning Challenge mode includes challenges of moments that happened in NASCAR from 2003 and the 1st part of 2004.[5] Michael Waltrip, driver of the No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet, returns as the commentator for all the challenges except for two, Kevin Harvick does the challenges that involve Waltrip being the driver in the challenge. These challenges are played on all difficulty levels. The player must beat a number of challenges at that difficulty level before going to the next difficulty level.[6]
Career Mode
The player starts out with a street race in Dodge Vipers with Ryan Newman, who afterwards gives the player an offer for a one-year contract in a Modified car. Every car offer is rated between one and five stars, which is showing the quality of the car upgrades and pit crew. As the player gains prestige, they will receive better offers and in the other series, but when enough money has been saved up, the player can create their own team, hire drivers, buy upgrades and train their crew.[7]
Multiplayer
NASCAR 2005 supported online multiplayer. On 1 October, 2006, the online servers for both the PS2 and Xbox versions were shut down due to "inactivity" online[8]
