Daytona Asphalt Removal on the Fast Track

Week 2 Daytona Repave Update: More Than 17 Million Pounds Of Asphalt & Lime Rock Removed

After wrapping up its second week, the historic Daytona International Speedway repaving project is running at full speed.

The sounds of race cars have been replaced by construction equipment as Daytona International
Speedway’s entire 2.5-mile tri-oval, skid pads, apron and pit road is being repaved.

Here’s a look at what has been accomplished in the first two weeks of the massive project:

· 57 light poles have been removed from the upper rim road overlooking Turns 1, 2, 3 and 4.

· More than 5,000 linear feet of SAFER Barrier has been removed

· Both the Superstretch racing surface and the Turn 4 short chute has been milled, graded and been given a coat of asphalt primer and is now ready to be paved

·The milling of the tri-oval is completed and now is being graded.

·Trial batches of asphalt are being produced at the asphalt plant located just outside the Superstretch

·The additional skid pad area on the Superstretch has been excavated and is now being graded. The dirt from the skid pad excavation is being used the fill behind the walls on the upper rim road.

·Overall, approximately 17 million pounds of asphalt and lime rock have been removed.

Lane Construction, which repaved other ISC race tracks including Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, will use an estimated 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of Daytona International Speedway and has a target completion date of Jan. 1, 2011.

Speedweeks 2011 will kick off with the 49th annual Rolex 24 At Daytona GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series race on Jan. 29-30 and conclude with the 53rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, the prestigious season-opening event to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Race fans will be able to view the progression of the historic repaving project from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands, which will open free to the public. Track tours will also be available through attraction admission to Daytona 500 Experience.

Daytona International Speedway also is posting updates on the project at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/repave

Press release courtesy of Daytona International Speedway. 

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com