What happens in NASCAR Heat 2, stays in NASCAR Heat 2.
That’s what Brad Keselowski preached during his video game showdown Wednesday versus Ryan Blaney, who ended up pulling off an epic comeback to take down his future Team Penske teammate 4-3 on the virtual tracks.
“I think it’s definitely an improvement from where we were Year 1,” Keselowski said. “I helped build the game. I’m a little bit biased, but definitely a step up. I think the vision all along was for it to get better and better every year.”
MORE: Pick up your copy of NASCAR Heat 2 now
A split-screen option is the biggest, and most important, update in the latest version of NASCAR Heat 2 (published by 704Games and developed by Monster Games) — a feature both drivers agreed was a game-changer.
“You want to be able to play with your friends and talk trash in the same room,” Blaney said.
Keselowski came ready to race in his fire suit and told NASCAR.com that there was no doubt the matchup would get competitive — and he wasn’t wrong. The drivers tried out seven different tracks (they originally were slated for four, but Blaney wanted a chance at redemption): Chicago, New Hampshire, Dover, Charlotte, Talladega, Kansas, and Martinsville.
The No. 2 driver took an early 3-1 lead, but the No. 21 pilot dubbed himself a “Cleveland Cavalier” and mounted three consecutive wins in the final four tracks to claim the trophy. Racing as themselves, Keselowski and Blaney found themselves battling it out for first and second place often — even nudging each other into fences and traffic to gain momentum.
When asked how he would celebrate a real-life championship, Blaney said he would rent a plane, load up his boys and head to Nashville, Tennessee.
“Probably burn the place down,” the 23-year-old explained.