The annual All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway Saturday (Jan. 30) in Irwindale featured even more racing than usual, and a dose of Hollywood glitz.
by Scott Hettrick
Michael Rooker, co-star of the 1980 Tom Cruise NASCAR movie “Days of Thunder” was on hand to ignite the race with his “Drivers, start your engines” call and to meet with thousands of fans on the track who were allowed to walk amidst the starting grid of dozens of stock cars and drivers.
As part of a promotion of an upcoming multiplayer “Days of Thunder” arcade videogame this summer (2010) Paramount Digital Entertainment provided free DVDs of the movie celebrating its 20th anniversary to the first 1,000 fans who previewed the game in several tents and demo areas at the track.
And in true Hollywood fashion, the entire movie was shown before the race on a giant 40-foot inflatable screen facing the grandstands (and secured with ropes attached to sponsor Jan’s Towing trucks).
As you’ll see in the following fast-paced three-minute video highlight of the event (click play arrow with photo below), the media got an even closer look at the game from PDE executives and Rooker, and a ride-along in the pace car by well-known NASCAR driver Brett Bodine. – By Scott Hettrick
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(Click here to see previous video highlights of a typical weekend of all sorts of racing at Toyota Speedway.)
The “Days of Thunder” videogame will be introduced this summer (2010) for PlayStationNetwork, Xbox LIVE Arcade, PC and Mac, allowing up to 12 players to compete in stock-car racing against each other and the film’s characters such as Cole Trickle, Rowdy Burns, and Russ Wheeler.
Key features:
Four single-player modes:
– Quick race – Time trial: determine starting position in future races – Career mode: four different circuits at varying difficulty levels – Derby mode: win by dealing the most destruction without breaking down
Head-to-head with Trickle, Burns, Wheeler
Three car types based on cars in film:
– Accelerator: accelerates fastest but most vulnerable to damage – Regulator: balance of speed and power – Intimidator: slowest acceleration but fastest top speed and can deliver most damage
Drop the Hammer: Draft behind other cars
“And rubbin’, son is racin’!”: damage meter to determine when it’s time to pit for repairs
Pull into pit for tune-up: mini-game to build up your hammer meter
SIXAXIS support: steer your car with motion control
Customize your ride: choose from hundreds of colors, logos, decals, body types, performance upgrades
Trophies and achievements