Here’s some more good off-season news for drag racing fans, especially those that call Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania home. The fabled east coast drag plant is tearing their drag strip up from 770ft to the finish line and replacing the asphalt with concrete, creating a complete concrete strip from end to end. Being that conditions are traditionally very favorable at the fall event, this change could lead to some really titanic performances at the track which has been in operation for more than 50 years. While it was once an oddity to have a track that was concrete from end to end, it is becoming more and more the norm.
It is always cool when a track takes a step to improve itself when it doesn’t necessarily “have” to. Unlike the situation at zMax where the track needed to be fixed for basic reasons, this is just another step in the evolution of a great strip. It was a pleasure to be there announcing the NHRA event in 2014 and now we’re really raring to go to that event in 2015!
HERE’S THE FULL RELEASE FROM MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY –
MGR to repave track for better, more consistent surface; Concrete pouring to begin as soon as weather permits
Maple Grove Raceway’s quarter-mile, NHRA-sanctioned drag strip will undergo a significant facelift in order to create a better, more consistent racing surface for its racers.
The track will be torn up beginning at the 770-foot point of the track and will continue past the finish line. The track currently is concrete from the starting line to the 770-foot point. The old paving will be replaced to create an all-concrete drag strip from start to finish.
“We are making a significant investment in the track to create a better, more consistent surface for our racers,” said MGR Vice President & General Manager Lex Dudas. “Maple Grove Raceway is famous as the NHRA’s quickest and fastest track where national records are set. We are confident our racers will be excited about the improved surface and the fans will be thrilled with the speed and performance.”
“Maple Grove was the turning point for our team,” said Hagan, driver of the Don Schumacher Racing explained. “It is where we took over the points lead and never looked back. I love racing at Maple Grove especially when the conditions are always so good, usually good enough to set a world record. The track is phenomenal, prep is phenomenal and the fans are phenomenal. I am looking forward to getting back there to try to set another world record.”
Work on the track will commence as soon as the weather permits. The concrete work will be done by Descco Design & Construction in Fleetwood, Pa.
Due to the track reconstruction, drag racing at MGR will start on May 2. The spring flea market and swap meet will take place on the raceway grounds on April 11.
Curious as to how this will affect the water table issues from in the past. I was there for the “weeping” moisture delays, wonder if the concrete would still need drainage underneath for heavy rains.
I’m very surprised that the present concrete section is holding up with the freeze/thaw cycles we experience in PA. Hope it all works out down further down track where there has been water problems for years.