Part 15

Master every track in NHL 27, including Atlanta, Bristol, and Daytona. Get strategies for speedways, short tracks, and superspeedways.

This section details every track in NHL 27, outlining its events and providing a strategy for each. Strategy (F) denotes a strategy for Featherlite Modified Cars. Note that event lengths vary per track; lap numbers are listed in the order events appear.

Atlanta

• Length: 1.54 Miles-325/202/130 Laps
• Type: Speedway
• Events/Time: Golden Corral 500/Day (Nextel), Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500/Day (Nextel), Atlanta 500/Night (Nextel), Aaron's 312/Day (Busch), EasyCare 200/Day (Craftsman Truck)
• Strategy: Despite its short length, Atlanta is one of the fastest tracks. Reach approximately 190 MPH on straightaways and slow to 165-170 MPH for turns. Be mindful of your car becoming too tight.

Bristol

• Length: 0.533 Miles-500/250/200 Laps
• Type: Short Track
• Events/Time: Food City 500/Day (Nextel), Sharpie 500/Night (Nextel), Sharpie Professional 250/Day (Busch), Food City 250/Night (Busch), O'Reilly 200/Night (Craftsman Truck)
• Strategy: High banking makes this short track simple. Reach about 130 MPH on straightaways and cruise at 105 MPH through turns. This track is mostly one-laned, so qualifying well is crucial, especially on extreme difficulty.

California

• Length: 2 Miles-250/150/100 Laps
• Type: Speedway
• Events/Time: Auto Club 500/Day (Nextel), Pop Secret 500/Night (Nextel), Stater Bros. 300/Day (Busch), Target House 300/Day (Busch), American Racing Wheels 200/Night (Craftsman Truck)
• Strategy: Similar to Atlanta but longer with a straighter front stretch. Reach up to 200 MPH on the front straightaway, then throttle back to 165 MPH for the front turns. Turn three approaches faster than turn one, limiting back stretch speed to about 195 MPH. Treat back turns like front turns. The track is wide, allowing frequent passing, especially through the first two turns. Low banking can make the car tighter.

Chicagoland

• Length: 1.5 Miles-267/200 Laps
• Type: Speedway
• Events/Time: Tropicana 400/Day (Nextel), Twister 300/Day (Busch)
• Strategy: Very similar to Atlanta and California, with a curved back straightaway. Reach 185 MPH on straightaways and brake to 160 MPH for turns. Be cautious entering the front turns due to the straighter front stretch, which can cause the car to tighten.

Darlington

• Length: 1.366 Miles-293/367/292/147 Laps
• Type: Speedway
• Events/Time: Carolina Dodge Dealers 400/Day (Nextel), Mountain Dew Southern 500/Day (Nextel), Darlington 400/Night (Nextel), Diamon Hill Plywood Co. 200/Day (Busch), BI-LO 200/Day (Busch), Darlington 200/Night (Craftsman Truck)
• Strategy: Oddly shaped like an egg and very narrow; stay above the white line. Reach 170 MPH on the front stretch, then brake slightly to 150 MPH for the first turns. Watch the turn two exit, then accelerate to about 175 MPH on the back straightaway. Turns three and four are tighter, requiring a speed reduction to 130 MPH or less. Accelerate again on the front stretch.

Daytona

• Length: 2.5 Miles-200/160/70/120/100 Laps
• Type: Superspeedway
• Events/Time: Daytona 500/Day (Nextel), Pepsi 400/Night (Nextel), The Shootout/Night (Nextel), Hershey's Kisses 300/Day (Busch), Winn-Dixie 250/Night (Busch), Florida Dodge Dealers 250/Night (Craftsman Truck)
• Strategy: Restrictor plates limit engine power, negating the need for heavy braking. Maintain speeds between 185-190 MPH and RPMs between 6900-7100 throughout races.

Dover

• Length: 1 Mile-400/200 Laps
• Type: Speedway
• Events/Time: MBNA 400 "A Salute to Heroes"/Day (Nextel), MBNA 400/Day (Nextel), Dover 400/Night (Nextel), MBNA America 200/Day (Busch), Stacker 200/Day (Busch)
• Strategy: A mix of Atlanta and Bristol. High banking in turns, but faster than Bristol, making it similar to Atlanta. Reach about 170 MPH on straightaways and slow to 145 MPH on turns. Be aware of the tight turn two exit.

Homestead/Miami

• Length: 1.5 Miles-267/200/134 Laps
• Type: Speedway
• Events/Time: Ford 400/Day (Nextel), Ford 300/Day (Busch), Ford 200/Day (Craftsman Truck)
• Strategy: Before 2003, this track had low banking, making it difficult. Added banking has made it faster and looser. Reach up to 185 MPH on turns and slow to 150-155 MPH during turns.