Published in the summer 2011 issue of MyLIFE magazine
Race car driver Jeff Gordon helped get construction started for PIR’s upcoming track pavement project by making the first demolition cuts into an old racing surface at the raceway that had been in place for 20 years.
Phoenix International Raceway—the famed PIR in racing circles (no pun intended)—is undergoing a singular and signature face-lift slated for completion in September of this year.
In making the announcement earlier this year, PIR President Bryan Sperber stated details relating to the NASCAR facility’s first major track paving project since 1990.
Construction is ongoing, with the removal of the facility’s current racing surface and the subsequent installation of a new surface to go with a series of changes designed to promote side-by-side racing. While maintaining the integrity of PIR’s oval— including the 1-mile distance—the slight racetrack configuration changes will allow race cars to increase their average speeds by two to three miles per hour.
According to officials, PIR’s major upgrade will allow race cars to increase their average speeds by two to three miles per hour.
“When the time to repave PIR approached due to the life expectancy of our current racing surface, we wanted to make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to make a good thing even better for our fans,” Sperber said. “Our goal for this project was to not radically change a track that’s celebrated by fans and drivers alike, but to utilize new technology to ensure great moments for the next chapter of racing history for PIR.”
The demolition of the old track began moments after the checkered flag was dropped after the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 in February. NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon made the first cuts in the pavement after winning that SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500.
Since that time the demolition team has completed the removal of the track and pit road pavement areas. In addition, the exterior concrete wall between turn 3 and turn 4 has been removed. Also, the old pit road and jump wall have been demolished.
Project leader Bill Braniff, who is senior director of construction for North American Testing Corporation, a subsidiary of PIR’s parent company, International Speedway Corporation, said the decision “to tweak” PIR’s layout came after spending hundreds of man-hours on computer simulations. PIR’s pavement project will be the seventh of its kind for Braniff, including last summer’s high-profile repave at Daytona International Speedway.
“We’re very confident that we’ll have multigroove racing at Phoenix from day 1 because of the variable banking that will be implemented,” Braniff said.
Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. With deep roots and a rich racing history, PIR entertains more than 300,000 fans each year, with two hallmark NASCAR weekends.
MAJOR UPGRADES
Aside from the installation of a new, four-layer asphalt and aggregate surface, PIR will make the following adjustments:
• Widen the front stretch from 52 to 62 feet
• Reconfigure pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls
• Push the dog-leg curve between turn 2 and turn 3 out 95 feet
• Tighten the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet
• Implement variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10- to 11-degree banking between turn 1 and turn 2, 10- to 11-degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg and 8- to 9-degree banking in turn 4.
The construction team is pleased to report that the project is on schedule and moving forward in all phases of the work.
The following work activities have already taken place:
• Fine-grade track subgrade and installation of aggregate base
• Completion of construction of exterior concrete walls
• Placement of asphalt test strips
• Tighten the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet
• Completion of the fabrication and installation of the phase 1 tunnel sections for the future turns 1 and 2.
“All of the changes—including the adjustment of the dog-leg— will be put in place in order to present additional opportunities for drivers to race side by side.”
It’s been reported that the cost of the super renovation project will be somewhere near $10 million.
A tongue-in-cheek comment that is making the rounds that the design and construction team may not move as fast as the NASCAR vehicles that speed around the facility during the racing events, but they are rapidly pushing ahead and gaining ground on the project. Upon completion, genuine pieces of PIR’s current racing surface will be available to fans for purchase. Visit PhoenixRaceway.com/repave for details.
To commemorate the last 20 years of NASCAR competition on PIR’s bygone surface, fans voted for their favorite moment at PIR from 1990 to 2010.The track received an overwhelming response from fans in an online vote to determine the most memorable NASCAR moment at PIR during those 20 years.
The winning moment: when Jeff Gordon tied Dale Earnhardt for 75 Sprint Cup wins on April 21, 2007, with a win in that year’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500.
Since 1964, PIR has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval, including five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and many more.
Race fans will get to experience four days of on-track action and entertainment this November at PIR when the Kobalt Tools 500 returns as the semifinal race in NASCAR’s playoffs— the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The fall-event weekend at PIR, which takes place Nov. 10–13, will be the first event held on the facility’s new, reconfigured racing surface.
So, be sure to get in on the excitement!
For more information, visit PhoenixRaceway.com.
