The characters of the Need for Speed game Need for Speed: The Run.

For Black Box's final installment before its dissolution in 2013, The Run focuses more on an all-American setting featuring characters from cross-country.

Starring Sean Faris as the main protagonist Jack Rourke, The Run puts him on an embarking adventure across the namesake race, where there are characters, companions or rivals otherwise, waiting for him to meet.

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Standard Version

Main Characters

Jack Rourke

"Cars, I got covered."

Car: Porsche 911 Carrera S (991), BMW M3 GTS (Signature Edition), SPOILER CAR^*, player's available cars as listed below: ^{Click to view}

Portrayed by: Sean Faris

"Jack is a driver. One of the best.

His cockiness and arrogance have led him into a debt he can't repay. The mob have put a price on his head.

He's looking for a way out."

— Bio

The main protagonist of The Run.

He has a massive debt he owes the mob and is also a frequent target of the cops for stealing vehicles and participating in illegal street races. With the help of Sam Harper, he enters The Run, an illegal street racing event from San Francisco to New York, to help clear his debt.

Badass Driver: This is his Informed Ability, but it is justified as he is an Instant Expert, capable of not only driving anything from a muscle car, to a police cruiser and even hypercars with no degradation to his driving skills, but also driving them in situations that would most likely kill anyone else, such as against SUVs with machine guns, or even through an operational subway network.
Big "YES!": Says this when he reaches the top 150 in Las Vegas and later when he wins the Run.
Broke Your Arm Punching Out Cthulhu: Downplayed. Jack finally gets rid of the helicopter from The Mob that accosted him through the game after making a ramp jump to hit its tail boom with his car, causing the helicopter to crash into an abandoned building and explode. However, whatever car Jack will be driving at the time will get seriously damaged in the process, and the first thing Jack does afterwards is to ask Sam for new wheels.
Brought Down to Normal: Jack loses his car twice during The Run, the first time to the cops in Las Vegas, and the second time to the mob in Chicago. In both cases, Jack is shown to be really adept at escaping from everyone and everything on foot.
Continuity Nod: In Payback, The Curator mentions the one who "Ran The Run" as a racer worthy to compete in the Outlaw's Rush.
Cop Killer: Downplayed. Whenever Jack is out of the car during QTE cutscenes, he uses his wits to resist arrest by assaulting police officers that stand in his way.
Cutscene Incompetence: As long as the player is controlling him behind the wheel or in situations that requires them to Press X to Not Die, Jack can be the badass the game describes him to be. In several cutscenes, however, you will see him being spectacularly shunted off course by other drivers from hits that don't usually cause the player to lose control of their car, or getting Distracted by the Sexy. Heck, the game even starts off with him already being caught by the mob and visibly beaten up.
Determinator: In a long-distance illegal street race, there are some things that would stop most people from continuing the race. Running away from an helicopter that has its guns blazing, for instance, or nearly getting run over by a train while being stuck inside an upside-down car. Jack experiences these during the course of The Run, but his resolve to continue is unshaken, although this can be justified as him already having his back against the wall with nothing to lose.
Distracted by the Sexy: While stopping for gas, he spaces out when he sees Nikki and Mila who are also refueling their cars. Sam had to snap him out of it.
Distressed Dude: Jack is stuck inside a red Porsche 911 at the very beginning of the game—bound at the wrists to the steering wheel with duct tape, while it was about to be dropped into a car crusher at a scrapyard while members of the mob were watching. He got out of it.
The Gambling Addict: It's implied that Jack has a gambling problem (and even that it might be the reason for his debt with The Mob), going by the cutscene as he approaches famed gambling capital Las Vegas.
Sam: Oh, and Jack?
Jack: Yeah?
Sam: No casinos.
Jack: [roguish smirk] Never even crossed my mind...
Here We Go Again!: Starts off the game being chased by the mob, ends the game being chased by the cops. On the upside, he repays his debt.
Ink-Suit Actor: Modeled after his voice actor Sean Faris.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Despite his in-game biography stating that he is a complete jerk, his longstanding platonic relationship with Sam implies that he has certain redeeming qualities about him.
Le Parkour: Jack has some rooftop hopping skills while escaping from the mob’s helicopter.
Mid-Season Upgrade: Jack gets into far better and powerful cars as the story progresses:
- At the very beginning, he steals a white Audi RS4 while escaping from the mob.
- From Stage 1 to Stage 7, he drives any Tier 4 car ranging from his signature BMW M3 GTS to a Shelby GT500 Super Snake or even a modified Nissan Fairlady 240ZG.
- When Jack loses his car, steals a police cruiser, then loses said cruiser whilst attempting to escape from the Mob's attack helicopter in Chicago, he secures an Audi for Stage 8. It can be either the R8, a tuned Quattro, or...a white RS4, identical to the one he used to escape from the Mob right at the beginning of the game. The chosen Audi will be damaged beyond repair after Jack uses it to make a Hellish Copter.
- With Uri's help, Jack secures a powerful hypercar (a Pagani Huayra, a track-only Porsche 918 RSR, or a Lamborghini Aventador) to complete the final stages of The Run.
- Various races throughout the game also give you the opportunity to change your car at a drive-thru gas station. The available cars depend on the stage you're playing, and can include such cars like the Lexus LFA or the Nissan GT-R.
Noodle Incident: Beyond his Visible Silence upon meeting Sam, and her mentioning it as "a wrong turn", it is never explicitly stated what Jack did that made him owe a huge sum of money to the mob—a sum he has no hope of repaying on his own—but it is clear that it was bad enough for the mob to put a price on his head for it.
Suddenly Voiced: If Ryan Cooper is the first to have a name, Jack is the first to have a face and the first ever Player Character to talk.
Villain Protagonist: Jack is the playable character, but he is a villain in the eyes of the cops, as he is breaking the law for partaking in an illegal cross-country street race.

Sam Harper

"The purse is 25 million. Do the math."

Portrayed by: Christina Hendricks

"Sam and Jack go way back.

She's made money off Jack's racing past and she's betting on his future. $250K to get in The Run and a $25 million prize for the winner.

Victory for Jack solves both their problems."

— Bio

Jack's affiliate in The Run, as well as his longtime friend.

She signs Jack up for The Run as a way for him to clear his debt to the mob should he win, and acts as his guide throughout The Run regarding the upcoming stages, unexpected dangers, and rivals.

Ink-Suit Actor: Modeled after her voice actress Christina Hendricks, right down to her being a redhead and her infamous... torso measurements.
Mission Control: Sam keeps Jack updated on developing situations in his vicinity via the tablet given to them by the organisers of The Run.
Office Lady: Sam is usually seen dressed in full office attire.
Professional Gambler: She enters Jack as her driver in The Run, which has a winning prize of $25 million, with a $250k buy in. Her calm demeanour throughout the registration process implies she is very used to paying massive bets.
True Companions: With Jack. Her in-game biography, as well as her first few lines in the game, indicates that she and Jack have known each other for a very long time, and she is on good terms with him, willing to offer him a cut of the winnings in The Run to clear his debt to the mob. Their relationship is platonic, as neither she nor Sam express any romantic interests during the course of the game. Also, even though Sam is set to win 90% of The Run's purse if Jack wins, she offers Jack to throw away the race more than once whenever Jack appears to be in grave danger (and especially after it becomes clear that the mob will resort to kill Jack so that he doesn't win), but Jack refuses.
Voice with an Internet Connection: Although she meets Jack in person at the start and end of The Run, for a majority of the race, she communicates with him via a tablet.

The Mob

In General

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfstr_cayenne_turbo_mob.jpg

The Mob's Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Car: Porsche Cayenne Turbo (957)

An underground criminal organization.

The Mob holds a vendetta against Jack who owes them a great debt. They follow him everywhere he goes throughout the duration of The Run.

Evil Wears Black: Not their clothes, but their Cayenne Turbos painted in black.
Gangland Drive-By: If any of the mob cars manage to stay steady on Jack's side, they will open their windows and draw their automatic weapons and attempt to shoot Jack.
Hellish Copter: The Mob owns a helicopter and wouldn't be afraid to have its guns ablaze. In the final race of Stage 8, Jack takes off a ramp inside an abandoned factory and rams his car to the helicopter, causing it to lose control and explode upon impact.
Lightning Bruiser: Thanks to its Rubber-Band A.I., it seems that their bulky Cayenne turbos were able to catch up with Jack's car, regardless of type.
Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Did we mention that "The Mob" is the name of a criminal organization trying to hunt down someone?

Marcus Blackwell (SPOILERS)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfstr_marcus_blackwell_8.jpg

Marcus Blackwell Is About to Shoot You.

Car: Aston Martin One-77

Portrayed by: Beau Briceno

"Marcus comes from a 'connected' Chicago family.

His passion for cars is funded by his Uncle, who calls all the shots.

Beyond winning, Marcus' primary motivation is to take Jack out of the race...permanently."

— Bio

The main antagonist and Jack's main rival.

Hailing from Chicago from what's described as a "connected" family, he joins The Run, as funded by his uncle, who supplied his ride. His motivation is not only to win The Run, but also to kill and take out his archrival: Jack Rourke.

Cool Car: He drives a rare purple two-toned Aston Martin One-77 with Löwenhart LC1 wheels and with low ride height. Doubles as an Improbably Cool Car since only 77 units were produced.
Dynamic Entry: How Marcus greets Jack's whenever he show up; by deliberately ramming his car or directly shoot him with his pistol, and snatching his place.
Early-Bird Cameo: Marcus can be first seen in the first few minutes of the game, as he's actually one of the two mobsters who watched over Jack◊ as he was dropped into a car crusher at a scrapyard before Jack escaped, which explains why Marcus is out to kill Jack during The Run.
Final Boss: The final level of the game consists in a duel against him in the final stretch of the Run - but given that said duel is less about gaining the lead itself and more about holding it long enough so Marcus flips his car over and crashes out after going through a narrow pass at the very end of the level, he might also count as a Zero-Effort Boss.
Gangland Drive-By:
- Marcus goes full-on with his intent to murder by aiming his pistol directly to Jack while racing, almost pulling the trigger in the process.
- He did the same when both meet in the final stage in New York, but nearly pulled the trigger as when he and Jack were split up at the fork.
Hate Sink: He shows up to The Run to prevent Jack from winning via A) Winning it himself, or B) Killing Jack. There's nothing worth redeeming that represents Marcus.
The Heavy: The Mob that he represents are the actual main villains of The Run (Jack's debt with them being what causes him to enter The Run), but Marcus is the one who most actively affects the plot by virtue of being an actual competitor in The Run (and eventually the game's Final Boss).
Jerkass: Dear god, Marcus is really a big asshole.
Laser-Guided Karma: Near the finish, Marcus's one last attempt to end Jack had his car flipped several times, incapacitating him in the process, and even losing The Run with all his chances blown away.
Outside-Genre Foe: In a video game franchise focused on street-racing, where you beat your opponents in, well, street races, Marcus apparently sees no problem in preventing Jack from winning The Run by trying to kill him, which makes him look more like a character from Grand Theft Auto than Need for Speed.^note
The Rival: To Jack, but more like arch-rival, as stated in his bio.
Silent Antagonist: While Marcus does have his face shown, he never speaks a single word.
Spoiled Brat: He has plentiful of cars that were funded by his uncle. And uses one of them to enter The Run and cheat his way to kill Jack.
Zero-Effort Boss: A rare example where the game's Final Boss is also this; his boss battle is less about the race itself and more about making it to the end in one piece, as he is scripted to crash right at the end to give Jack the win.

Rivals of The Run

Nikki and Mila

Nikki Blake and Mila Belova

Nikki (left) and Mila (right)

Car: Nissan 370Z (Z34, 2009) (both)

Portrayed by: Chrissy Teigen (Nikki), Irina Shayk (Mila)

"Nikki & Mia come from very different worlds.

After losing her mother, Nikki spent most of ther time in the garage, where her father worked as the mechanic for Mila's wealthy family. She and Mila became inseparable.

Nikki and Mila are in The Run to enjoy a life of luxury, together."

— Bio

A duo that are participants of The Run that are encountered during Stage 3. Jack first encounters them at a gas station near Las Vegas, and has to pass both of them in a sprint race event to climb up to position 150 before continuing to Chicago. Mila will challenge Jack in Stage 9 again.

The Cameo: All of the highlighted rivals through The Run are played by relatively unknown actors… except for Nikki & Mila, who are played by, of all people, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue models Chrissy Teigen and Irina Shayk.
Early-Bird Cameo: Mila can already be seen during the registration for The Run at the beginning of the game, where Jack and Sam bump into her◊ at the Chinese restaurant.
Fanservice Extra: In a game where the major female character, Sam Harper, isn't a source of Fanservice like in most previous Need for Speed games (despite being played by the lovely Christina Hendricks), it is provided instead by Nikki & Mila, who (aside from Mila's Early-Bird Cameo at the beginning of the game) don't even appear in the story until the gas station scene. Subverted in that unlike most examples they at least get to have first names, and Mila reappears later in the game, being given a full name at that!
First-Name Basis: They are introduced as just "Nikki & Mila". However, when Mila reappears to challenge Jack in Stage 9, her full name is revealed to be Mila Belova, and if you look at the signature of Nikki when highlighting her car, her full name is revealed to be Nikki Blake.
Ink-Suit Actor: Both are modeled after their actresses, right down to their swimsuit-model measurements. The game's behind the scenes features even show that, despite being basically a cameo, they went through wearing mo-cap suits for their roles.
Interclass Friendship: Their bio states that they met after Nikki's dad worked as a mechanic for Mila's wealthy family, although nowadays both Nikki and Mila are affluent. Their bio even states that "Nikki & Mila come from very different worlds."
Missing Mom: Their bio states that Nikki started to spend most of her time in the garage after her mother died.
Out of Focus: In comparison to Mila, who gets an Early-Bird Cameo at the registration scene at the beginning of the game and later reappears to challenge Jack in Stage 9, Nikki only appears at the gas station scene near Las Vegas.
Show Some Leg: It's implied that their little act at the gas station was an intentional ruse to distract Jack.
True Companions: Their bio emphasizes that they are best friends and are inseparable.
Bio: Nikki and Mila are in The Run to enjoy a life of luxury, together.

Cesar DeLeon

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2022_01_12_at_123454_pm.png

Car: Chevrolet El Camino SS

Portrayed by: Erik Armando Alvarez (credited as Erik Alvarez)

"Cesar made some bad choices growing up on the streets of LA.

The love of a good woman, and the impending arrival of their first-born, have made Cesar change his ways.

In The Run with his two brothers, he's seeking a chance to give his family a better life."

— Bio

One of Jack's rivals encountered in the Rocky Mountains stage and in the final stages of the East Coast.

Cesar once grew up in the wrong side of the streets of LA.

A responsible and respected man, he enters The Run alongside his two brothers hoping to seek a chance of glory for him and his family.

Bandito: A Hispanic-born street racer in his beloved Spanish-named classic American ute, the Chevrolet El Camino.^note His bio all but states that he is a former gang member who became reformed, but nonetheless entered The Run to maintain his family.
Gangbangers: His bio all but states that he was a member of a Los Angeles street gang.
Leitmotif: The only participant of The Run who appears to have one, as "La Calle" by Ritmo Machine (feat. Sick Jacken and Ana Tijoux) starts blasting in the cutscene where Cesar reappears in the final stages of the East Coast dodging the police.
Reformed Criminal: His "criminal" status may be questionable, as his bio all but states that he is a former gang member, but turned his life around after falling in love with a woman and having a child. That is until he enters The Run, where he gets indulged into illegal street racing to keep his family relationship alive.
Sibling Team: Cesar's Badass Crew has his two brothers on his side. Bonus points for his brothers, while counted as official participants of The Run during the Rocky Mountains stage, no longer being counted as such when Cesar reemerges in the final stages of the East Coast; they're just there to support their carnal.
What a Piece of Junk: The DeLeon brothers enter The Run with in their Chevelle-like pickup, the El Camino, and despite its unassuming appearance, it manages to take Cesar up to third place in the final stages of the race.
Wolfpack Boss: While encountering Cesar at the Rocky Mountains stage, Jack has to also face off against his two brothers.
Wrong Side of the Tracks: He grew up in the slums of LA, as stated per se in his bio.

Calvin Garrett

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2022_01_12_at_20647_pm.png

Kid Dynamite on wheels.

Car: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Portrayed by: LaMonica Garrett

"Calvin is a retired boxer from Atlantic City.

He loves the rush of risking it all and has dropped his last $250K into The Run in the hopes of hitting the jackpot.

He refuses to accept anything less than total victory."

— Bio

One of Jack's rivals encountered in Minnesota and in the final stages of the East Coast.

Calvin is a retired boxer who hails from Atlantic City in New Jersey.

A risky gambler who spent his last quarter-million dollars in his entry for The Run and hopes to aim for the grand prize.

Badass Driver: While all the drivers on The Run could count as this by default, Calvin is perhaps the biggest example, since by the time he reappears in the final stages of the East Coast he managed to be in second place, meaning that had it not been for Jack (and Marcus Blackwell shadowing him), Calvin would've most likely won The Run.
Black Boxer Stereotype: Given that he's an African-American retired boxer, this dude certainly bares more than a passing resemblance to Mike Tyson. The mention that he's entered The Run with "his last quarter-million dollars" seems to be a reference to how in real life Tyson also blew much of his fortune away (including, most infamously, on pidgeons).
Early-Bird Cameo: Calvin can already be seen during the registration for The Run at the beginning of the game, where he exits the Chinese restaurant's kitchen◊ (and even looking at Jack's table), most likely after going through the registration process Jack and Sam go through moments later.
The Gambling Addict: He's one helluva risky gambler who loves to raise the odds and putting all his earnings on the line.
Retired Badass: He was once a boxer before venturing in The Run.
Riches to Rags: It's stated that after he lost most of his money on gambling, he put his last $250k to compete in The Run, implying that he loses it after Jack manages to beat him, leaving Calvin broke.
Scary Black Man: Oooooh... scary Calvin is never to be underestimated on the wheel, especially putting his savings on the line.

Eddie Cooke

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2022_01_12_at_21701_pm.png

The other Eddie was an exception.

Car: Ford Mustang Boss 302 (Gen. 5)

"Eddie makes his living as a legitimate driver in the world of motorsport.

His lack of sponsorship, however, prevents him from ever seeing the big money.

The Run is his ticket out."

— Bio

One of Jack's rivals encountered in the final stages of the East Coast.

Eddie is once a motorsports racer who participated in sanctioned racing events.

He an unlucky dude who couldn't find a sponsorship to even support his career, but seeks to enter the Run as ticket to wealth.

Brought to You by the Letter "S": A subtle one. Eddie's small "Ed" moniker is stickered on top of the door handle of his Mustang.
From Camouflage to Criminal: Eddie is the opposite of Ryan Cooper, as he goes from 'legitimate' racing to 'illegitimate' racing.
Last Episode, New Character: Eddie makes his only one-time appearance during the last stage of the Run.
One-Steve Limit: He shares the same name with Eddie, the Big Bad of Underground. This comes into play if one obtains Eddie Cooke's car, as it is labeled the "Ed" Edition, since The Run also features Eddie's car from Underground as a DLC car.^note
Useless Accessory: Eddie is seen wearing his headphones around his neck, but has absolutely no use during his races.

Other Characters

Uri

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfstr_uri.jpg

Portrayed by: Jay Alan Christianson

"You seem to know me. But I do not know you."

Supporting character of The Run. Uri is a mechanic from Cleveland who is also a friend of Sam.

After his last car was badly damaged while escaping from the mob, Sam recommends Jack to find Uri who can help find a new car for the remainder of The Run.

Angry Guard Dog: He has a black Doberman pinscher named Shevchenco.^*
Cool Car: Uri has 3 supercars in his garage in which one of which Jack can use for the last stages of The Run; a Pagani Huayra, a track-only Porsche 918 RSR or a Lamborghini Aventador^note.
Dub Name Change:
- Non-English releases of The Run has his name changed to Yuri.
- A variation; the Latin-American Spanish dub has his dog's name changed from Shevchenco to Boris. Meanwhile, the Russian dub is changed to Taraska, whereas the Italian dub has Ivanenko as its name.
The Engineer: Mechanic to be exact.
Flat Character: Uri lacks any proper backstory and personality, other than his prized possessions stated above.
Last Episode, New Character: Uri was introduced at the end of Stage 8, merely 2 stages away to the end of The Run.
Minor Major Character: While appearing as a minor character, with his screen time lasting only under a minute, Uri made a vital role as he procures Jack a hypercar that puts him back on the map in time for the final 2 stages.

Nintendo Wii/3DS Version

Main Characters

Matt

Car: Shelby GT500 (1967), Lotus Exige Cup 260 (originally by the Co-Driver), Ford Mustang Boss 302 (Gen. 5, originally by the Rival), Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (Gen. 5, rented by the Co-Driver), Nissan GT-R (R35, 2007, bought by the Co-Driver), Aston Martin One-77, Porsche 918 RSR (originally by the Rival), Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake (S-197 II), Pagani Huayra

"Your car...? Who's driving? What do you need me for?"

The main protagonist in the Wii and 3DS version of The Run.

Matt gets introduced when a bunch of goons pushed and submerged him and his car down in the San Francisco Bay. Luckily he manages to escape unscathed, but he was confronted by a mysterious woman who orders him to immediately get into The Run. With her by his side, Matt enters the biggest high-stakes race of his thrilling life.

Badass Driver: Not just a capable street race, but pulling "heroic moves" such as improbable barrel rolls, pulling dangerous turns, taking down cops or rivals or even dodging crashed cars and boulders.
Cool Car: Any cool car he drives throughout the story (including his mysterious Co-Driver's Lotus) counts. Previously he was seen driving a classic dark green Shelby GT500. The car that got submerged into the bay.
Dark and Troubled Past: Matt explains to the mysterious woman about how the man who accost them through The Run began attacking him: Matt used to be best buddies with him and has a relationship with his younger sister Wynona who took Matt's car and killed herself in a high-speed crash. Matt was blamed by him for the death of his younger sister and resulted him to be suspended from racing.
Distressed Dude: Downplayed. Though not as intense as Jack's, but being submerged down to the seas of the San Francisco Bay and stuck inside a car can be Matt's problem.
Driving into a Truck: One mission has him attempting to get on board in a truck before it gets out of range, while escaping his pursuers.
Golf Clubbing: He takes one of the clubs and attempted to smash his rival's ride until he was caught red-handed. He later uses the same club and throws it to the police helicopter, destroying it in the process. He uses it a third time in an attempt to free his Co-Driver after the car the Mob held her in fell to the water, but it turned out that she jumped out of it beforehand.
Matt: Fore! [throws the club to the police helicopter, destroying it] My swing is definitely improving!
No Full Name Given: The player is only informed that his name is Matt. Interestingly, a news broadcast has the anchor say his full name, but it's drowned by the sound of Matt accelerating his car and running away.
Trapped in a Sinking Car: Matt was trapped inside his car and was submerged in the San Francisco Bay. Luckily he manages to break free from his car.

The Co-Driver (SPOILERS)

The Co-Driver (real name Sophia Di Marco)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfstrwii3ds_codriver.jpg

Car: Lotus Exige Cup 260, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (Gen. 5, rented, driven by Matt), Nissan GT-R (R35, 2007, driven by Matt), Aston Martin One-77 (previously driven by Matt)

"Show me what you can do, then I'll decide how it goes."

A mysterious woman who helped Matt manage to get into The Run.

The Anticipator: She anticipates Matt's action throughout the entire duration of The Run, ensuring that things go according to her plan.
Cool Car: She drives a yellow Lotus Exige whom she lends it to Matt after his car got submerged. It was later abandoned in the middle of nowhere in favor for Matt exchanging it with the abandoned Mustang.
Curse Cut Short: When Matt defends swapping her Lotus Exige for the Rival's Ford Mustang Boss 302, saying that "American muscle beats European precision any day."
Co-Driver: Maybe, but this seat is broken, and there's a spring sticking right up my—
[loud screech as the car gets a flat tire]
Deadpan Snarker: She is a very sarcastic assistant for Matt.
Defrosting Ice Queen: She is introduced having a rather aloof personality before slowly becoming more friendly over time.
Given Name Reveal: After The Run at the end, she reveals to Matt her full name: Sophia Di Marco.
I Never Told You My Name: She knows Matt in every aspect, even though Matt himself doesn't know her and throughout the majority of the entire story, refuses to give him her name, with Matt even directly asking her "Who are you?"
Ms. Fanservice: She wears very skimpy clothes that focus on her rack.
No Name Given: She refuses to give her name to Matt when they first meet, resulting in going nameless through the majority of the game, with the game even having to resort to refer to her as the player's "Co-Driver". At the end, she finally reveals to Matt her full name: Sophia Di Marco.
Sexy Secretary: She is Matt's co-driver and assistant with such eye-candy features.
Significant Green-Eyed Redhead: She has green eyes and red hair (and the game's comic book-style cutscenes make emphasis of her green eyes), and her mysterious appearance into Matt's life is what kickstarts the game's plot.
Suspiciously Similar Substitute: She is basically the Wii/3DS counterpart of Sam Harper, since she is the one that causes the player character to get involved in The Run (albeit under different circumstances). She even has the same red hair though.

The Rival

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfstrwii3ds_rival1.jpg

Hey look! Ryan Cooper is in The Run! Oh wait...

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfstrwii3ds_rival2.jpg

Since when did Tommy Vercetti become a racing driver?

Car: Ford Mustang Boss 302 (Gen. 5), Dodge Challenger SRT8, Porsche 918 RSR, Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

A participant of The Run that Matt and his Co-Driver encounter shortly after the start, whose initial motivation is not only to win The Run, but also to kill and take out his archrival: Matt.

Contrasting Sequel Antagonist: More like Contrasting Reformulated Game Antagonist. While he does share some traits with Marcus Blackwell, namely being an antagonist who singles out the protagonist and tries to kill him, while Marcus was basically a mob enforcer with no redeeming traits who ends up killed at the end of The Run, the Rival is given a sympathetic backstory, makes amends with Matt, and even helps him against the Mob, and ends up surviving the game.
Dynamic Entry: He introduces himself via ramming Matt's car.
Gangland Drive-By: He attempts to kill Matt by shooting him while racing, but is unsuccessful.
Good Ol' Boy: He speaks with a thick Southern accent. Once he and Matt settle their differences, he even seems to display the classic "Southern hospitality", giving him a car from one of his car lots to finish The Run (even though they are still opponents in it).
Easily Forgiven: While his backstory turns out to be quite sympathetic, he still tried to kill Matt (and by extension his Co-Driver), but both Matt and the Co-Driver ends up forgiving him pretty quickly. While Matt is understandably pissed at first when the Co-Driver asks him to save the Rival after his car crashes into snow, not only Matt and the Rival later bury the hatchet, but even seem to become best buddies.
The Faceless: He's initially introduced wearing a helmet that obscures his face, a la Ryan Cooper, but his face is subjected to The Reveal later on, shocking Matt.
Heel–Face Turn: He's introduced being out to kill Matt, but the two eventually resolves their differences, and even helps Matt when the Co-Driver is kidnapped by the Mob.
Improbably Cool Car: After his Dodge Challenger SRT8 is disabled, the next time he's seen he's driving a Porsche 918 RSR, even though the 918 RSR is a concept car of a track-only variant of the Porsche 918 Spyder. Then, after going to what's supposed to be an used car lot to get both himself and Matt new wheels after the 918 RSR catches heat with the police, he somehow produces a Lamborghini Sesto Elemento for himself, of which there are only 20 units produced.
My Sister Is Off-Limits: A tragic example. It's revealed that they reason the Rival hates Matt is because back when the two were best friends, Matt dated the Rival's sister, Wynona, who was killed in a car crash when she drove Matt's car while he was sleeping, and as a result blamed Matt for her death.
No Name Given: His name is never given in the game, with the game resorting to calling him "The Rival" whenever a mission involves him. Interestingly, we get to know that he had a sister named Wynona, but even then, not a clue about his name.
The Rival: Well, duh. There's a reason why the game calls him that. He and Matt get better, though.
What Happened to the Mouse?: What happens to him after Matt and the Co-Driver win The Run isn't seen. The last seen of him is when Matt realizes that both the police and the Mob were waiting for them at the finish line, where the Rival asks what's happening.

The Mob

In General

The Di Marco Family

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfstrwii3ds_themob.jpg

The Mob's Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake

Car: Cadillac CTS, Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake (S-197 II), Dodge Charger SRT8 (LX)

An underground criminal organization, comprising the Di Marco family.

The Mob hunt down the Co-Driver, for reasons related to a briefcase she holds. They follow her and Matt everywhere they goes throughout the duration of The Run.

Covert Group with Mundane Front: Their cars are branded with a logo for "Di Marco Trading: Quality Italian Goods".
Elite Mook: Out of their vehicles, their vans and their helicopter are this in comparison to their standard Cadillacs/Shelby GT500 Super Snakes, by virtue of being able to drop rockets (and in the van's case, also barrels).
Evil Wears Black: Not their clothes, but their cars painted in black.
Gangland Drive-By: If any of the mob cars manage to stay steady close to Matt, they will draw they MAC-10s and attempt to shoot Matt. In a difference to the standard version of the game though, they also use rocket launchers.
Glass Cannon: Downplayed with the vans. Their ability to drop rockets and barrels make them more dangerous than The Mob's standard vehicles, but whenever the game allows them to be taken down, they have the same durability.
Hellish Copter: The Mob owns a helicopter and isn't afraid to have its guns ablaze. Instead of dropping explosive barrels like in the stardard version, this one straight-up drops rockets.
Mid-Season Upgrade: They seem to become aware that they are in a racing game, as they will start out using Cadillacs, but midway through will swap them for more powerful Shelby GT500 Super Snake.
Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Did we mention that "The Mob" is the name of a criminal organization trying to hunt down someone?
Van in Black: Besides their sedans, they also make use of black vans that are supposedly for "Italian goods".

Di Marco

The head of the Di Marco crime family, aka the Mob, who sends his minions to kill the Co-Driver to avoid having her reveal the Mob's crimes.

Greater-Scope Villain: While his goons are the visible villains of the game, they work for Di Marco, but Di Marco himself never directly involves himself with the plot.
He Who Must Not Be Seen: Di Marco never reveals himself in the open.
Kinslaying Is a Special Kind of Evil: Di Marco orders the Co-Driver killed to avoid having her reveal his outfit's crimes with the information she has in the briefcase she holds. At the end of the game, the Co-Driver reveals that her real name is Sophia Di Marco, revealing herself to be a relative of the Di Marco family, meaning that Di Marco was capable of killing one of his own blood save his hide, explaining why even his minions were shocked (if only briefly) by his order.
No Full Name Given: He's only called "Di Marco" after his family name, his first name not being given.

Other Characters

Wynona

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nfstrwii3ds_wyonna.jpg

"I used to be friends with that guy. We were teammates back in my racing days, best buddies... [...] I was dating his younger sister Wynona. She was... she was really sweet... but she was also a racing freak. Hung around the pits all day, always pestering us to let her drive the cars. But we just laughed and promised. Then one night, one night while I slept, she took my keys and put my car into the main stand... killed instantly. I got suspended, never racing again. Her brother's always blamed me... and now he's out for revenge."

— Matt

The Rival's sister, who was also Matt's lover.

Back during Matt's racing days, he and the Rival were teammates and best friends, time during which Matt dated the Rival's younger sister Wynona. A racing enthusiast, Wynona asked both Matt and the Rival to drive their cars, but they would always politely refuse. However, one night while Matt was asleep, she took his car out but suffered a car accident, in which she was killed. This event resulted in Matt being banned from professional racing, and also caused her brother to blame Matt for her death, and thus the reason for him reemerging during The Run to attempt to kill Matt.

Girlish Pigtails: For what's seen of her in flashbacks, she wore her hair in two braids.
Ms. Fanservice: Similar to the Co-Driver, she gets drawn with ample breasts.
Nice Girl: From Matt's description, she was nothing but a sweet girl.
Posthumous Character: She's dead by the time the game takes place, being mentioned in flashbacks.
Small Role, Big Impact: She's shown in one flashback, but her death turns out to be both the reason why Matt was banned from professional racing (and thus the down-on-his-luck situation he was at the start of the game) and why the Rival is out for Matt's blood early on during The Run.
Thrill Seeker: From Matt's description, she was a big racing fan (to the point Matt calls her "a racing freak"), even asking Matt and the Rival to let her drive their cars. Unfortunately, this resulted in her death.

Characters / Need for Speed: The Run

Standard Version

Main Characters