CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 25, 2011) – Construction crews have nearly completed the first phase of work on the site where the world’s largest high-definition video board will rise 110 feet above the track for its debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 2011 May race events.
Using heavy earth-moving equipment, crews from Granite Contracting, of Concord, N.C., have removed 18,000 cubic yards of dirt and 3,000 cubic yards of concrete behind the backstretch where the gigantic, nearly 16,000-square-foot screen will be located. The concrete bleachers that were removed were part of the speedway’s original construction in 1960.Â
The next phase of site work will include removing another 900 cubic yards of dirt by drilling 12 holes, each 54 inches in diameter, more than 50 feet deep to bedrock level. Concrete piers will then be installed in the holes to support the massive 500,000-pound steel frame that will hold the 165,000-pound video board. When completed, the total structure will weigh 332-and-a-half tons or 665,000 pounds.
Designed and created by Panasonic, the approximately 200-foot-wide and 80-foot-tall screen will be centered along the backstretch between Turns 2 and 3, across from the start/finish line. Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 will have clear viewing angles of instant replays, leaderboard updates and interactive entertainment displayed in 720P high-definition visuals. The screen will be illuminated by more than nine million LED lamps during each NASCAR race event at Charlotte Motor Speedway this spring, including the May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the May 29 Coca-Cola 600.
Frontstretch tickets with the best views of the new HD video board and pit road start at just $49 for the May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Fans can also purchase two frontstretch tickets for just $99 to the May 29 Coca-Cola 600 by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
