Texas Motor Speedway completes latest safety project
NASCAR advises track to install additional tire barriers at TMS.
Race winner Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Action Sports Photography
Texas Motor Speedway added a total of 250 feet of tires barriers to 1.5-mile track on the recommendation of NASCAR.
The project, which included approximately 450 tires bolted together and secured by a 3/8-inch cable in five different areas along the inner wall, was completed on Wednesday in preparation for next week’s Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series events.
We always follow their advice on safety matters, but they requested we only add 250 feet of tire barriers.
Eddie Gossage
"NASCAR officials were here last Sunday and examined the speedway," Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said in a release. "We always follow their advice on safety matters, but they requested we only add 250 feet of tire barriers. Considering that the inside wall and outside walls total almost 16,000 feet, adding 250 feet of tire packs is a minor addition.
"To me, that means NASCAR found the track to be extremely safe."
The longest addition was a 115-foot barrier of tire bundles that stretched along the inner wall at the exit of pit lane. Other bundles were attached to the entrance of pit lane, the jet truck staging area openings in Turn 1 and emergency vehicles exits in Turns 1 and 4, which were between 30 and 35 feet each.
Texas Motor Speedway is the latest track to complete safety enhancements following Kyle Busch’s vicious crash at Daytona International Speedway in the season opening NXS race on Feb. 21. Busch sustained injuries to his right leg and left foot and isn’t expected to return to racing until late May at the earliest.
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