Why won't they re-pave Darlington?

Question

The track is a dump.I don't care how much history is there.Refurbish it or stop racing there.

Answer 1

They can repave it all they want, but unless they change the geometry, it will remain the most challenging track on the schedule.

What makes it so tough? It's not the abrasive track!

The fast end.

Turns 1 & 2
Banking: 25 degrees
Width: 79 feet
Radius: 600 feet

Although entered at lower speed than the slow end, you have to enter low, allow the car to slide up to the wall to get a good run off T2 and you can carry more speed through the corner than in 3 & 4. Exit speed is high.


The slow end.

Turns 3 & 4
Banking: 23 degrees
Width: 62 feet
Radius: 525 feet

Although speeds entering this corner, with new tires, can approach 190 mph or higher, you have to slow drastically to keep the car off the wall, but close to the wall is the fastest groove. Exit speed is low.


The track is narrow all the way around and more so in the corners. It narrows up exactly where you would want more room and requires precise throttle application.

All the repaving will do is improve tire wear some and alleviate the bumps. With the increased speed most likely to occur, the track will become even tougher.

Answer 2

I love Darlington racing myself and from the looks of it I'm one of very few. Going there to watch a race is like going back in time, it is awesome. Everything about the place is old but like STEBO said, this is a piece of Nascar history and one of only very few tracks that long time fans have to hold onto. Maybe repaving it would make it better, but man at the same time I dont want to lose the track. Because like old school has pointed out, three sell outs in a row, not to many tracks are doing that right now. It sells out, because of the history of the track and I feel that one day we will lose it, fans want to get there and watch a race so that they dont miss out like I did with the Rock.

Answer 3

I'll agree that the track is a dump, but it is apart of NASCAR history. I personally like the track the way it is. If ISC took Darlington away and say put a new race at Miami or Kentucky I would have a problem with that. NASCAR as it is now has expanded so much that they have eliminated some of the tracks of before like Rockingham and North Wilkesboro. I like the newer tracks like Kansas and the great tracks like Lowes Motor Speedway and Daytona, but I respect Darlington because it is NASCAR's little amount of heritage it has left. I know tracks today are modern and well-kept, but asking NASCAR (ISC) to redo Darlington is like the Chicago Cubs to redo Wrigley Field. Wrigley and Darlington are apart of history and that is what makes them unique.

Answer 4

Three sellouts in a row! They should have enough money to do something. Maybe Texas needs a third date.

Maybe Kyle Petty was on the right wavelength when he said years ago, "I hate Darlington! If they closed it down, filled it with water and stocked it with bass, I would not fish here! I hate Darlington!"

Answer 5

Another example of people asking questions without knowing the facts. They ARE going to repave the track.

Answer 6

They have got the money and will start work on monday to do just that. They are going to improve parking, put in a tunnel big enough for the haulers to go thru and a whole list of other improvements. Part of the story was posted on NASCAR.com on 05/10 but the Dale Jr. seemed to have gotten most of media attention then.

Answer 7

They are planning to repave the track for the 2008 season.

Answer 8

They are repaving it. It will probably be torn up next week. But, they are spending a TON of money to keep the rough surface. I hope the don't ruin it, since it is my favorite track.

Answer 9

The shape of the track and the surface make the track a challenge.
Too many arecookiecutter tracks and the challenge is gone.

Answer 10

they are gonna repave for the 2008 season, they have talked about it all week