Plot

The player arrives at Rockport with a heavily-tuned BMW M3 GTR (E46). Following Mia (played by Josie Maran), the player proves his driving prowess as he is pursued by a veteran police officer named Cross, who vows to take down the player.

Races seems to be in the player's favor until a group of "cheaters" (led by the game's antagonist Razor) sabotages the player and seizes the coveted BMW. Arrested by Cross without a ride, the player is released due to lack of evidence. Mia picks up the player and then informs the player about Razor's plans for Rockport. She then helps out the player by having the player choose a "starter car" and work his way up the Blacklist (a group of drivers most wanted by the Rockport Police Department), eventually beating rivals one by one, achieving a sizable reputation and acquiring comparable rides. She also setups "safehouses" for the player to lie low in throughout Rockport.

The final rival challenge has the player race against Razor with the player coming as the victor, reclaiming the coveted BMW. Just as the player tries to reclaim the BMW over Razor's protests, Mia reveals that she is actually an undercover police officer. Mia throws the keys to the player, and yells at him to go. Razor is taken in custody and the player is pursued by the entire Rockport Police Department under the command of Cross. The player manages to slip away from Rockport by jumping the BMW over an incomplete bridge that Mia points out to the player in a last phone call.
Part of the final cutscene where the player escapes Rockport by jumping over a bridge under construction.
Part of the final cutscene where the player escapes Rockport by jumping over a bridge under construction.

After the player's inevitable escape, Cross issues a 'Most Wanted' status over the player and lists him in the National Most Wanted List. In addition to Razor, the entire Blacklist are arrested, with the "help" of the player.