| NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY GETS A FACELIFT | The half mile asphalt speedway, built in 1966 as a dirt track, is celebrating it's 34th annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing held every year during Speedweeks, but the fans, drivers, and track officials are also celebrating much needed track improvements. New Smyrna Speedway has undergone some major physical changes in recent months and though the work is still ongoing, much has already been done.
The major construction centers around the addition of a new entrance to the track surface in turn four making it much more fan friendly. One of the problems has always been the big rigs parked in the infield blocking the fans from seeing the whole track. No more says Tammy Bratcher, an official at the track. "It's just wonderful, it's a heck of an improvement" and added "Don was very instrumental", referring to track promoter Don Nerone, who also operates the Florida Sunbelt Late Model Series. Nerone has had a hand in promoting many of Florida's speedways over the last 20 years is in his second year with the speedway and the series.
The big rigs can now park outside the turns 3 and 4 wall, where new grandstands, concessions, and other facilities have been installed. A new road runs onto the track out of turn four and the fans have an unobstructed view of the entire track. In addition the track facilities have been repainted, and all new safety fencing has been installed to add a safety factor for the fans.
The speedway winds up it's Speedweeks racing this Saturday evening with a full slate of high powered Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, NASCAR Tour-Type & S/K Type Open Wheel Modifieds, FLA/IMCA Open Wheel Modifieds, and Super Stocks. New Smyrna Speedway is located 10 miles south of Daytona Beach, between I-4 & I-95.
For more information and photos of the track improvements, check out the New Smyrna web site at www. newsmyrnaspeedway.com.
-Jack Smith
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