NASCAR will get at least one more race on the old surface at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The speedway announced Tuesday that the repave of the 20-year-old 1.54-mile racing surface has been delayed “at least” until after its 2018 NASCAR weekend.
The announcement comes weeks after drivers spoke out during the March 5 race weekend about wanting to keep the old surface. Drivers love the abrasive surface that creates tire fall off. The track said Tuesday that the decision to delay the repave comes after an in-depth review and exhaustive consultations with NASCAR, Goodyear, race teams and drivers.
“We appreciate all of the input we have received from key individuals in the NASCAR industry, as well as our customers,” said Ed Clark, Atlanta Motor Speedway president. “The overwhelming majority have urged us to hold off on paving so that we can enjoy at least one more weekend of high-speed slipping and sliding in 2018 before the new surface is installed.”
After originally announcing plans to resurface in January, AMS said it will continue a meticulous maintenance program in an effort to maintain the surface and prevent further deterioration. Additionally, patch work on the current asphalt will be completed where necessary. Track officials will reevaluate its condition following the 2018 triple-header NASCAR weekend and determine then whether to resume the resurfacing plans, which called for new asphalt to be lain over top the current surface.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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