Dover International Speedway extending SAFER barriers

Dover International Speedway extending SAFER barriers along outside frontstretch, backstretch before June 2-4, 2017, NASCAR tripleheader weekend

DOVER, Del. (Feb. 13, 2017) – Dover International Speedway will extend SAFER barriers across the frontstretch and backstretch of the facility in preparation for the 2017 NASCAR season, track officials announced today.

Work will be complete on the project before the June 2-4, 2017, NASCAR tripleheader weekend at the Monster Mile, which includes the “AAA 400 Drive for Autism” Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 4.

Facts on the project plans are listed below:

-- Approximately 1,800 feet of Steel And Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barriers will be added to the one-mile, high-banked, concrete oval. Outside walls along the frontstretch and backstretch, including the gates for track entry, will now include SAFER barriers. With this project, all of the Monster Mile’s outside walls will have SAFER barriers installed.

-- The installation company will be Smith Fence of Clearwater, Fla.

-- Construction will begin in March.

“Continued improvements to our facility, particularly in the areas of fan and driver safety, are of the utmost importance to us,” said Mike Tatoian, president and CEO of Dover International Speedway. “The decision to add more SAFER barriers is a collaborative decision with NASCAR and various stakeholders and collectively we felt this is something that needed to be completed prior to NASCAR’s return to the Monster Mile this spring.”

Before the NASCAR tripleheader weekend in October 2016, Dover International Speedway added approximately 500 feet of SAFER barriers along the outside wall in Turn 2, under the walkover bridge, and along the outside wall of Turn 4 entering the frontstretch.

“Dover has really done a great job in making the facility as safe as possible for us as drivers,” said Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Ford Fusion for Team Penske. “The Monster Mile is an extremely fast track. For only being a one-mile track, the high-banked corners and concrete surface produce really high speeds and with that you increase the risk for heavier impacts.

“As a driver I really appreciate the investment in safety. The initiative to add 1,800 feet of SAFER barrier to completely cover the outside walls is another great step.”

The June 2-4, 2017, NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Dover International Speedway includes the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, June 2 and the NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, June 3.

The Monster Mile is also hosting a NASCAR tripleheader weekend from Sept. 29-Oct. 1, including the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 1, the “Drive Sober 200” presented by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, Sept. 30 and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race on Friday, Sept. 29.

For tickets or more information, call 800‐441‐RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com. You can also keep up with the Monster Mile at Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway, or on Twitter and Instagram at @MonsterMile.

XFINITY SERIES TESTS

XFINITY SERIES DRIVERS FROM STEWART-HAAS RACING,
GMS RACING, JR MOTORSPORTS TEST AT AMS

EDITOR'S NOTE: High-definition footage, including B-roll and one-on-one interviews with drivers from the two-day NASCAR XFINITY Series test at Atlanta Motor Speedway, is available to view and download by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2lA4k9m. HAMPTON, Ga. (Feb. 10, 2017) – Drivers from three NASCAR XFINITY Series teams wrapped up a two-day, pre-season test at Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday afternoon in preparation for the 2017 NASCAR season that gets underway in two weeks. William Byron, who won 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors after winning seven races last season, tested the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports. Byron joins JR Motorsports this season, moving into a full-time NASCAR XFINITY Series role for the first time. It was a homecoming of sorts for Byron, who raced U.S. Legends cars on AMS's quarter-mile "Thunder Ring" in 2013, winning that year's Young Lions Division championship. Testing the No. 23 Chevrolet Camaro for GMS Racing was Spencer Gallagher. Gallagher also moves into his first full-time NASCAR XFINITY Series ride after two full seasons in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the same team. Finally, Cole Custer tested the No. 00 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, whose XFINITY Series program debuts full-time for the first time in 2017. Custer last season drove full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for JR Motorsports, picking up two poles and 14 top-10s. NASCAR racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway March 3-5, 2017, featuring the Rinnai 250 XFINITY Series and Active Pest Control 200 Camping World Truck Series doubleheader on Saturday, March 4 and the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, March 5. For more information or to purchase tickets today, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

FINAL STAGE OF TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY TRACK RENOVATION PROJECT

FINAL STAGE OF TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY TRACK RENOVATION PROJECT TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK WITH REPAVING 

• Completion Of Track Repave On Target For Beginning Of March
• Full Repave Of Pit Lane Added To Project
• New Surface, Layout To Debut April 7-9 At O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR Doubleheader   

FORT WORTH, Texas (February 2, 2017) - The final stage of Texas Motor Speedway's major capital improvement project will begin next week with the repaving of the track surface for the 1.5-mile oval configuration at the world-renowned motorsports facility that annually plays host to NASCAR and INDYCAR events.

The project began Jan. 9 and construction crews already have completed the installation of the drainage system on the backstretch and frontstretch as well as the grade changes in Turns 1 and 2. The re-profiling of that segment of the track will reduce the banking from 24 to 20 degrees and expand the racing surface from 60 to 80 feet. Turns 3 and 4 will remain unchanged from the current configuration of 24 degrees of banking and 60 feet of racing surface.

Lane Construction Corp., known as the preeminent paving company for NASCAR speedways, will direct the repaving project. The entire 1.5-mile oval racing surface will be repaved, along with pit road being recently added to the project list and scheduled for a complete repave. The paving phase is expected to take 28 days barring any delays.

"We didn't initially mention we were going to pave pit road, but over the years it has gotten a little rough and this was an opportune time to add it to the project," Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. "It's been re-patched where needed over the years, but a new layer of pavement will make it nice and smooth for both the NASCAR and INDYCAR competitors.

"Paving equipment will be on the track within the week and the project should be complete and ready to roll by March 1. We are moving ahead wide open and right on target."

Click here for the finished video package with Gossage on the track providing the updates or here for the b-roll video package that includes Gossage sound bites.

The new configuration and racing surface will debut April 7-9 with the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR doubleheader. The weekend features SportsDay Qualifying Day Powered by The Dallas Morning News for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Friday, April 7; SportsDay Qualifying Day Powered by The Dallas Morning News for the XFINITY Series and Cowboy 300 race on Saturday, April 8; and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, April 9.

Tickets are available by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com or calling the speedway ticket office at 817.215.8500.