KS Speedway

This weekend NASCAR opted to allow a shorter gear, as the worn surface of the track tended to get slick so everyone went with the gears, boosting rpm's. The weather didn't cooperate, and with it cool, cloudy and breezy all day the cars were staying hooked up much better than they had in practice and qualifying. Not only were they staying hooked, they had a 30mph tail wind down the front straight. If the sun had come out earlier the pace would have dropped off significantly, but it didn't happen until the last 30 laps. The cars were cranking nearly 10,000rpm most of the day, which caused several engine failures. Once the sun popped out the race changed, the track started getting looser and it was more like qualifying.
I had not realized how quick they were going to move, but they started ripping up the asphalt before the people were out of the stands. KS is getting the progressive banking and new surface, trying to improve the side by side capabilities of the track, and they're hoping for a night ract next year. Also adding a new road course to the back straight infield area. Big $$$$ being spent.

Any word locally about what the Guard was doing at the track with a tank to "help" with tearing up the old surface????? Good to hear about the road course going in, hopefully someday road racing will actually catch on in this part of the country!!!!!

Saw a reasonable amount of the race this week..:cool:Was live at 4.30 AM till 8.00AM,Monday.Good finish,,looked a bit slippery out there,,:whacked: Will try to catch some of the highlights tonight..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Any word locally about what the Guard was doing at the track with a tank to "help" with tearing up the old surface????? Good to hear about the road course going in, hopefully someday road racing will actually catch on in this part of the country!!!!!

---

Dave,
As I understand the track had asked the Guard about equipment to rip up the track surface, and they offered a Armored Combat Earthmover for the job, with NASCAR picking up the tab for some rent & operator time, I imagine. They often have some type of equipment out on race day, are out there every time the track's open, and this week chose the tank as it presented a one-time opportunity to cruise the circuit and draw attention to the Guard.

Here's a picture of the new track layout showing the new road course paving in orange. They're planning a Grand Am race for 2013, sometime between the two NASCAR dates, date TBA. It also shows the new progressive banking, and the layers that are being layed, all before the October race date. It's interesting that many of the experienced drivers were not happy with a new surface coming, saying the old surface was just getting "broken in" losing much of the tooth and demanding that they drive hard as opposed to cruising down a super smooth surface.

Are they including a drag race track in there somwhere?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cffisher

Are they including a drag race track in there somwhere?

---

Nope. Heartland Park in Topeka is an hour west, and they're established with NHRA. They also have a road course, but it doesn't seem to have done much.