Georgia Hall of Fame

Continued from page 5 MSA CONGRATULATES THE 2017 INDUCTEES OF THE GRHOF !!!

REX WHITE (NASCAR HALL OF FAME RECIPENT) HONORED DRIVER OF THE YEAR: CASEY RODERICK AND EMCEE DOUG (HOT DOG) TURNBALL GETTING TIPS HOW THE LATE BOBBY JOHNS HIS SPONSORS AND CREW TO AVOID CONSTRUCTION BARREL’S ON 400

GREAT JOB GORDON PIRKLE AND RUN LATE TURNBULL PONDERING... WHO WAS FIREBALL? CHECK OUT WILD BILL’S #9 AT GEORGIA RACING HALL OF FAME IN DAWSONVILLE GA AMS TRACK MAINTENANCE RENEWS REPAVE DEBATE As has been done for each of the past 20 margin of victory over Bobby Labonte in wait-and-see approach going forward. fall seasons, operations crews were hard at 2000 and Kevin Harvick’s emotional and NASCAR racing returns to Atlanta Motor work this week, implementing an annual record-setting 0.006-second margin of vic- Speedway Feb. 23-25, 2017, featuring the heavy maintenance program on the aging tory over Jeff Gordon in Earnhardt’s Richard Rinnai 250 and Active Pest Control 200 1.54-mile racing surface at Atlanta Motor Childress Racing car the following year, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Speedway. wouldn’t still be in “raceable” condition Series doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 24, Well beyond its predicted lifespan, the without the meticulous maintenance pro- as well as the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 asphalt, originally lain at the same time the gram employed by AMS over the years. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race track was reconfigured into a quad-oval “This will be our 21st season racing on on Sunday, Feb. 25. For more information or layout in the spring of 1997, is showing its this surface,” said Clark. “That's pretty much to purchase tickets today, contact the Atlanta age. Widening cracks, bumpy seams and unheard of as far as racing surfaces go. And I Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946- asphalt aggregate – the “glue” that holds it give the biggest part of the credit to the seal- 4211 or (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www. all together – depleted to the point of near ing program we've done year after year.” atlantamotorspeedway.com. total nonexistence, may all sound like typical Originally set to finally surrender to characteristics of a forgotten racetrack of Father Time and be resurfaced after the the past. conclusion of the speedway’s annual NA- But in reality? It’s perhaps one of the most SCAR weekend this past March, the two- well-kept 1.5 miles of asphalt in the country decade-old asphalt received a temporary and easily one of NASCAR drivers’ most reprieve after several drivers spoke up in a cherished venues. It’s old, abrasive and slick, chorus of opposition. and it presents a difficult challenge for racers “I think that's one of the reasons the to find speed and keep their wheels spinning drivers have really petitioned to not in the right direction. With its numerous rac- repave,” Clark said. “They know we've got ing grooves and characteristic bumps, race this great program in place to seal the track cars typically tread over every square inch – up. We know we're going to have to pave from the wall to the apron – over the course very soon, but we're going to get at least of a race as they try to defeat not only their one more year out of it – our 21st season competitors but the track itself. – next February with the Folds of Honor Of course the historic racing surface, QuikTrip 500.” which has seen iconic moments in NASCAR As for how much longer the track sur- history like Dale Earnhardt’s 0.010-second face will last, Clark was willing to take a 12 • NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 • www.MotorsportAmerica.com