Martinsville Speedway announces improvement project

Martinsville Speedway Announces $2 Million Improvement Project To Be Completed Before TUMS QuickPack 500 In October

MARTINSVILLE, VA (May 1, 2008) -- Fans and competitors will be the beneficiaries of more than $2 million in improvements set for Martinsville Speedway before the October 19th running of the TUMS QuikPack 500.

Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell announced the projects Thursday afternoon. He said work will begin on them in the next few weeks and will be completed by the fall event.

The centerpiece of the track enhancements will be a new, state of the art scoreboard. Campbell also announced that pit road would be resurfaced, the fourth-turn pit gate will be reconfigured to include SAFER barrier technology and portable chair seats surrounding the track will be replace with individual stadium seats.

"This is a huge step forward for Martinsville Speedway. These are all areas that needed to be addressed and we've been able to do them at one time," said Campbell. "I think everyone is going to be impressed by the scoreboard. It's pretty amazing. And I think we're making improvements that will make everyone's weekend here more enjoyable."

The scoreboard will be 120 feet tall and be positioned behind the backstretch. It will feature three 30-foot video display screens that can be utilized for everything from scoring rundowns to instant replays. There will also be rotating signage atop the scoreboard.

"The way the scoreboard is going to be positioned and with the three screens, it will be visible to everyone," said Campbell.

The addition of roughly 100 feet of SAFER barrier to cover the fourth-turn pit gate and the exit of the fourth turn will improve safety in that area. It is a major undertaking that will include the excavation and resurfacing of the road outside of the gate. Presently the gate opens inward, but with the addition of the SAFER barrier, it will need to open out. Because of that, the roadway will have to be cut down several feet, leveled and resurfaced.

"Everyone is always looking for ways to make tracks safer. We've wanted to add this section for some time, but it took a while to engineer the SAFER barrier into the gate," said Campbell. "I'm sure the competitors will be pleased with this step It's certainly going to improve safety in that area."

The pit-road project will mark the first resurfacing of the area in recent history. The decision was made to use concrete because of its durability.

"Pit road has gotten rough and bumpy over the past few years. It was something we really need to do," said Campbell. "And I think the drivers and pit crews will appreciate it."

For years, a row of padded, portable chairs have circled the track just below the high-rise seats. They have always been some of the track's most popular seats, but over the years have aged. The new individual seats should be even more appealing, with folding seats and storage space underneath.

-credit: Martinsville Speedway