NASCAR 08 just looks okay. Considering that this is the series' first next-gen appearance, I was expecting a little more than what the final package delivered. All of the cars and tracks are replicated rather well, though there's nothing about either that really pops or stands out in any way. While there are no other NASCAR games to draw comparisons with, there are still a number of excellent racing games out, like the recently released DiRT or F1 Championship, that completely trump EA's effort. There are a few small effects that are nice, but in the end it really doesn't feel like you are getting much more than a cleaner version of last year's visuals.
Sound is very underwhelming. The best thing about NASCAR is the sound of 46 high-powered engines thundering around the track at top speed - a feeling that is completely absent in NASCAR 08. The music selection is a nice mix, though I really wasn't feeling it at all. During races, your pit chief will feed you information, though his advice falls into the same category as the commentary on EA's sports titles; sometimes it makes sense, though you'll also hear a lot of useless trash.