FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Texas Motor Speedway is going to completely repave its 1 1/2-mile track and reduce the high banking in the first and second turns.
The project announced Friday comes after both NASCAR weekends and the IndyCar race at Texas last year were hampered by rain. TMS President Eddie Gossage said the old asphalt has become porous, almost like sponge, making it difficult to dry in a timely matter.
The repave will feature an asphalt mix similar to the surfaces at SMI sister tracks, Kentucky Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The mix used in conjunction with the construction method will aid in the track’s properties of an “aged” track.
Extensive drainage improvements will also be made on the frontstretch and backstretch of the track that opened in 1997. For the installation of the French drainage system, trenches will be cut in numerous locations on the frontstretch and backstretch to provide multiple points for water to drain away from the facility more quickly and efficiently than the current system. The drainable mat installation that will tie into a continuous toe drain will aid in the drainage of the track as well.
Texas Motor Speedway will also undergo a re-profiling in Turns 1 and 2 to give the venue a more unique layout from its currently symmetrical 24-degree banking in all four turns. While Turns 3 and 4 will remain unchanged, the banking of Turns 1 and 2 will be decreased to 20 degrees with the racing surface width expanding from 60 to 80 feet in that section of the track.
The track was last completely repaved in 2001.
Work is scheduled to begin Monday and be completed by mid-March. The next Cup race in Texas is April 9, part of a NASCAR doubleheader weekend there.
Lane Construction Corp., with offices in nearby Justin, has been hired for the repaving project. The company is known for its work on NASCAR speedways. The company has paved several speedways since 2003 including such marquee facilities as Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway. – FWBP contributed to this report.