Today was a massive 5-hour grind, completely transforming the game from a basic pet project into a much deeper, higher-octane experience. The primary focus was a complete design overhaul for Thunder McKing, ditching the old look in favor of a modern, aggressive NASCAR stock car. The new character design features aerodynamic lines, a high-mounted rear spoiler, Goodyear-style racing slicks, and custom race decals. To make the garage look seamless, every character mood (happy, hungry, sad, sick, sleepy) was re-rendered on isolated transparent backgrounds. A smooth cross-fading system was implemented in the code so when Thunder’s state drops or recovers, the visuals morph fluidly without any clunky image snapping.With the core visuals locked in, the garage environment and pit crew system were expanded to give players more active control over Thunder’s stats. A brand-new tire service mechanic was added, requiring strategic pit stops to keep the race setup performing at its peak alongside the refuel, rest, and engine repair actions. The entire dashboard UI was also overhauled, featuring retro neon gauge tracks, critical low-stat warning alerts, and real-time state detection that reacts immediately to how well Thunder is cared for.The biggest chunk of the build session went into completely rewriting the Race Mode mini-game engine from the ground up. The basic track was replaced with an updated racing canvas that supports fresh map layouts, sharper cornering, and refined driving physics—including custom acceleration curves, drifting feedback, and off-track sand hazards. To make the track feel alive, dynamic AI competitor cars were added to weave around, along with a lap-timing system that tracks split times, triggers flash effects on new laps, and saves your absolute best lap and race records. The result is a much tighter, more rewarding game loop that bridges the gap between pet management and arcade racing!