NASCAR SimRacing (NSR) Recommended Fixes, Settings, and More
By TheBenCrazy
Updated 12/18/23 6:45 PM
This guide will walk you through recommended changes you should make to improve NASCAR SimRacing.
Guide Updates
12/18/2023- Added the controller and difficulty settings
Table of Contents
How to Use the Default Car Setups
Due to compatibility issues with modern hardware, the default car setups are not available. This also means if you create a setup, you will have to select the setup in the garage for each session (practice, qualifying, etc.). Although there is currently no fix, there is a work around to be able to use the default setups following the steps below.
For each series of cars, enter a test session, go to the garage and save a setup.
Exit the game and in your NASCAR SimRacing install folder, go to the save folder, your profile name folder, settings and there should now be 4 folders for the 4 different series.
Go back to the save folder and if you scroll down, you will see all of the default setups which are .svm files.
Copy and paste the setups into their respective folder. Setups starting with CTS go in the 2004 CTS folder, setups with NNS go in the 2004 NNS folder, and setups starting with NCS can be added to both the 2004 NEXTEL Cup and 2005 NEXTEL Cup folder.
Open the game and in the garage for each of the series of cars, you should now see the default setups.
The .svm files can also be opened with Notepad and modified if it's easier for you to change the race setups from there instead of inside the game.
Unfortunately, you will still have to select the setup in the garage for each session (practice, qualifying, etc.) but at least you now have the default setups to choose from.
Nvidia Control Panel Settings
Note that I have a Nvidia GPU so if you have an AMD or Intel GPU, try your best to match these settings if they are available.
Right click on the desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel.
Select adjust image settings with preview and make sure that Use the advanced 3D image settings is checked. If not, change it and hit apply.
Select manage 3D settings, select the program settings tab, and select NASCAR SimRacing in the drop down menu (If it does not show up, click add, find the NASCAR SimRacing.exe and click open. It should now show).
Copy the settings pictured below and click on apply.
Note!
Please note that some GPUs will have more or less settings available depending on how old or new your GPU is.
Also note that some of my global settings will be different so be sure to check that those settings match on your control panel.
Antialiasing - Setting and Antialiasing - Transparency set to 8x might be too high for low end PC's. If you experience low framerates, lower these settings to 4x or 2x.
Settings you do not need to change include Monitor Technology, Preferred refresh rate, and Vertical sync.
If you want to limit the fps to lower the amount of resources NSR is taking, you can change Max Frame Rate to a set fps.
Below is a before and after applying the Nvidia control panel changes. The shadows and the track surface are now sharper along with the border between the track surface and the grass.
Player Config Changes
Go to the save folder and your profile name folder and there will be a PLR file with your profile name. This file allows us to make more changes to the game settings which are not available from the games option menu. Before making any changes, it is recommended to backup this file as an incorrect space or character can cause the game to revert back to the initial profile creation menu when you start the game. Open the file with Notepad.
Under Driving Aids
No AI Control=”1” -This will allow you to crash your car without the game kicking you out to the menu. If you get dqed, you will still get kicked to the menu screen.
Tire Sampling="1" -Allows more accurate tire modeling at the cost of CPU usage.
Under Graphic Options
Rearview Backplane Multiplier="5.00000" -Increases rearview viewing distance.
Rearview Mirror Shake="0" -Turns off mirror shake (personal preference).
Self In Rearview="1" -Allows your car to show in the rearview (personal preference).
Vehicle Sparks="1" -Turns on sparks from vehicle contact.
AI max texture size="0" -Stops max texture size of AI cars from being limited to 512.
Compressed Textures="0" -Stops the textures from being compressed.
Cockpit Shake On="0" -Turns off cockpit shake (personal preference).
Under Game Options
Instant Replay Length="30" -Increase instant replay length to 30 seconds when the instant replay button is pressed (personal preference).
CURNT Opponents="42"
QUICK Opponents="42"
GPRIX Opponents="42"
CHAMP Opponents="42"
CAREER="42" -sets field size to 43
Below is a before and after making changes to the .plr file. You can see that the cars now have a higher texture resolution and the mirror shows more of the track.
Controller and Difficulty Settings
These settings below are personal preferences but a good baseline to start with. I have set my deadzones in DS4Windows since I use a PS4 controller so you might need to increase your deadzone settings depending on your controller. I have yet to get rumble working for the controller but the option is on in the settings below just in case a fix is found in the future.
If you run into any issues or problems, comment below so the community can help you! Also, that will allow me to correct any mistakes in the future by updating the guide! Click the button below to go back to the NSR guides.
If this guide helped you, please consider donating. The money will help keep the website running, keep it ad free, and allow me the resources to continue building the site!