Iowa Speedway Begins Asphalt Paving of 7/8 Mile Oval Track

NEWTON, IA (June 07, 2006) - Construction crews - working under a blazing Iowa sun with temperatures approaching 100 degrees on the track infield - have begun laying the paving process for the racing surface of Iowa Speedway. Track officials and racing fans consider the paving of the 7/8 mile oval track, designed by racing great Rusty Wallace, to be a significant milestone in the development of the track.

Iowa Speedway General Manager Todd Melfi said asphalt materials were thoroughly tested prior to application and, weather-permitting, the paving should take about two weeks to complete. "The asphalt paving of Iowa Speedway is psychologically and symbolically important. Lots of folks have worked hard to make this track a reality and the new surface really brings things into focus. We're excited. After all, this is a race track - and the surface now being laid is the same surface that will carry race cars and drivers at speeds, on occasion, near 200 miles per hour. That's fast, and that's exciting, and it's right here in Iowa".

Work on the 5-inch thick asphalt paving project, as well as all major construction components of the track, is being supervised by Iowa Speedway's Chief Operating Officer, Andy Vertrees, along with Robert Harrington, a paving consultant out of Indianapolis that has supervised the track paving of many major speedways across the county, most notably and recently the Talladega Superspeedway, which is currently being re-surfaced. Crews began laying the asphalt near the outer edge of the track apron, and will eventually move to the center of the track covering the rock bedding beneath the entire 7/8 mile oval track.

Once surface work on the "Rusty Wallace Signature Series Track" is completed, further testing of the surface will be conducted before the Inaugural Season begins and competitive racing starts at Iowa Speedway September 15, 2006.

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