HAMPTON, Ga. (Nov. 24, 2015) – Atlanta Motor Speedway was last resurfaced in 1997 and today is among the oldest racing surfaces on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. While track officials are constantly monitoring the track’s condition, there are, at this time, no plans in place to resurface the track.
“The well-used racing surface at our track produces some of the most exciting racing in NASCAR,” said Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark. “Competitors participating in our recent NASCAR test sessions gave the surface high marks and encouraged us to maintain the racing surface as it currently stands.”
A favorite among many NASCAR drivers, the aged, abrasive surface produces slick racing conditions and some of the fastest tire fall-off in NASCAR. The conditions require race teams to take a more strategic approach, oftentimes with high-risk/high-reward situations.
Tony Stewart, a three-time Sprint Cup Series race winner at Atlanta, expressed his strong sentiments against repaving the track in a 2011 post-race interview. Other drivers like Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon have all verbalized their fondness for the slick conditions of the aged surface.
With very little alteration since its most recent repave 18 years ago, regularly scheduled maintenance programs, including filling cracks with pavement preservation products, is performed on the 1.54-mile asphalt surface between races. Mild Georgia winters and the thorough maintenance program have played a key factor in the track’s longevity.
NASCAR racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway Feb. 26-28, 2016, featuring an XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 27 and the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 28. For more information, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visitwww.atlantamotorspeedway.com.
