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Round and Round They Go
Check out these overviews of the tracks available to get a head start before you get in your car.
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Atlanta Motor Speedway: This 1.54-mile oval is considered one of the fastest on the circuit. You’ll need to hit speeds over 190 MPH on the straight-aways before dropping down to about 175 MPH in the turns if you want to be successful.
Bristol Motor Speedway: This track is very short — just .533 miles around — so you won’t be able to hit top speeds as you whip around it. On a track like this, it’s important to block other drivers on the short straight-aways to keep your standing. California Speedway: Located in Fontana, CA, this 2-mile oval track doesn’t have steep banking in the turns, so you’ll want to keep your gas pedal on the floor if you want to win here. Chicagoland Speedway: This 1.5-mile D-shaped tri-oval offers one solid straight-away, along the backstretch, so the rest of the time you’ll be jockeying for position. Coca-Cola Superspeedway: This track exists only in the minds of the developers at Papyrus. It’s 3 miles around and it features very long straight-aways with short turns, so it’s your chance to really open up the engine and push your car to its limits. Darlington Raceway: The turns bank a fairly steep 25 degrees, and one of them is shorter than the other, so pay attention to which one you’re in so that you know when to hit the gas as you come out of it. Daytona International Speedway: Probably the most famous track on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit, the key to victory on this 2.5-mile tri-oval is hitting speeds of more than 190 MPH on the straight-aways and dropping down to the upper 170s/lower 180s in the turns. Dover International Speedway: Just a mile long, this symmetrical, oval track allows you to stomp on the gas in the straight-aways. Homestead-Miami Speedway: Another symmetrical, oval track, this 1.5-mile stretch of asphalt has low banking in the turns, which means that you have less opportunity for passing as you whip around them. Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Yes, this is the home of the Indy 500, but that's an IndyCar race, not NASCAR. (This site also hosts the United States Grand Prix, which is a Formula One event.) Also known as The Brickyard, Indianapolis Motor Speedway boasts a 2.5-mile long oval track with modest 12-degree banking in the turns. Infineon Raceway: Previously known as Sears Point, Infineon is one of two road courses on the circuit. You’ll need extra practice before racing here because of its complex twists and turns. Unlike the other tracks, it’s not easy to memorize. |
Kansas Speedway: This 1.5-mile tri-oval features slightly different banking on the front and back stretches, so pay attention.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Another 1.5-mile track, Vegas doesn’t have any important distinguishing features, so you won’t need much prep before you race on it. Lowe’s Motor Speedway: In 1992, this 1.5-mile quad-oval was the first speedway to host a night race. Martinsville Speedway: Like Bristol, this is a short track, although the front and back stretches at Martinsville are a little longer. Michigan International Speedway: A 2-mile tri-oval track, this course’s high banking in the turns and wide surface allow for passing, so watch your rear-view mirror constantly. New Hampshire International Speedway: It’s 1.058 miles long and features long straight-aways, so prepare to stomp on the gas as you exit the turns. North Carolina Speedway: Because it’s a tri-oval, the straight-aways are different lengths, and the turns have slightly different banking, so you’ll need to remember which ones are which and react accordingly. Phoenix International Raceway: Not only are the two straight-aways here quite different in length, but one of them has a crook in it that will keep you from hitting top speeds. Pocono Raceway: It’s supposed to be a tri-oval, but the 2.5-mile Pocono course is more like a triangle. It features three turns, each of which has different banking, so don’t fall asleep behind the wheel on this one. Richmond International Raceway: This track is a .75-mile oval that has a much longer front stretch than back. Talladega Superspeedway: Aside from Coca-Cola, this track offers the most pedal-on-the-floor racing in the game. It’s a 2.66-mile track with high banking in the turns and very long straight-aways. Texas Motor Speedway: This 1.5-mile quad-oval track features 24-degree banking in the turns, which means more jockeying for position before you hit a straight-away. Watkins Glen International: The other road course in the game, this 2.45-mile track has many turns, including a couple sharp ones where you’ll smash into the wall if you don’t drop your speed enough before going into them. |
System Requirements
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