Martinsville Getting New Racing Surface
Written by John Davison · June 9, 2004
After an embarrassing incident at this Spring’s Martinsville NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race in which a piece of the track’s concrete surface popped up and damaged Jeff Gordon’s car, the track is getting a complete repave. Martinsville is the oldest track still on the NEXTEL Cup schedule, and is the only true short track left. Some purists will argue that Bristol and Richmond are true short tracks as well, but in this writer’s opinion, Bristol’s banking rules it out and Richmond is just barely too long to qualify. (Not that either of them provide anything but great racing.)
After a couple of months of thought, research and planning, Martinsville Speedway”s racing surface is set for a total facelift.
Construction crews began demolition of the concrete in the turns this morning in preparation for a total resurfacing of the .526-mile oval. The project, which includes new concrete in the turns and asphalt on the straights, should be finished by mid-July.
“I think the drivers are going to like what they see when they come back in the fall,” said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. “A lot of time and effort has been put into this to make the racing surface as smooth, as near-perfect as it can be.”
Drivers and fans alike will notice a slight change at the exits of the second and fourth turns. The two grooves of concrete will be extended about 100 feet past the exit point of the turns.
“Drivers have expressed concern for years about the transition between the concrete and asphalt,” said Campbell. “In the past they were still trying to accelerate off the corner while they were changing surfaces. Now the concrete will extend out further. It will be less upsetting to the car.”
The transition point from asphalt to concrete entering the first and third turns will remain the same. “Entering the turn isn”t really an issue,” said Campbell.
Surveying crews spent several weeks carefully charting the racing surface to make sure the finished product was as smooth as possible.
“The resurfacing will be done with computer precision,” said Campbell. “The track is going to be very smooth; the transition points will be near-perfect.”
The new surface will get its first test in the Bailey”s 300 Late Model Stock race on October 10.
The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers will get their first look at the track during the SUBWAY 500 weekend October 22-24. MW Windows Pole Day is scheduled for Friday, October 22, with the Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race scheduled for Saturday, October 23. The SUBWAY 500 will be run on Sunday, October 24.
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