It's 50 years following championship sprint racing, as it was known. In the midst of a nuclear disaster and the chaos that ensued, racing had to adapt to the methods needed to stay alive in the post-war era. Such is the setting for Badlands, a racing title by Atari that serves as an unofficial sequel to the Championship Sprint series.

From a top-down perspective, race your vehicle through a variety of different tracks, avoiding the various obstacles and traps which litter the roads. Acquire golden wrenches which allow you to power-up your vehicle through the shop between races. In addition, defend yourself and gain advantages against your opponents with the car's machine guns and missiles, which can either slow or destroy other vehicles. ~ Paul Biondich, All Game Guide