Dale Earnhardt Jr. Urges Daytona to Resurface Track

The Daytona International Speedway hadn't had its track resurfaced in more than three decades. That's a fact. And most NASCAR drivers feel that the it could really used a facelift in the near future, despite the high costs involved in such a project. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the first to admit it, as he urged the Speedway's officials to do something about it, despite the economic regression that has taken over the sport.

“The track is old. It's a terrible time to ask anyone to pave a race track, but if anyone needs it, it's probably Daytona,” argued Earnhardt Jr., according to NASCAR official site.

“You just don't put on a good show. I like the bumps. If you're going to ask guys in here, they're going to say, 'Aw, man, come on, the bumps are cool.' They are cool, but they'll be back. When you pave a track, the dirt underneath always settles. It'll create new bumps.

“Highways get paved more often than that, and they're only going 55, 65 [mph] down them. I'm sure if I own a race track, I'm going to pave that damn thing and get blasted because it cost a lot of money to pave it. I can understand why it doesn't happen more often, paving a race track, but they did pave Talladega and that got great reviews, everybody was real happy about it, it's real smooth, puts on good races. Maybe we'll get this thing paved before I retire,” continued the Kannapolis-born driver.

On the other hand, the DIS president Robin Braig insisted that the resurfacing process was not delayed due to the lack of funds, but because there is no actual need for a new surface. According to the aforementioned source, the DIS officials are planning a $20 million resurfacing project for 2012, due to begin later this year. However, Braig revealed that, following talks with officials from NASCAR and Goodyear, the track is very good (in terms of tire wear) as it is right now.

“There's no issue with money, there's no issue with technology. NASCAR and Goodyear are saying tire wear is fine. It's a $20 million project, but it's not money we're talking about. If we don't need to do it, we're not going to do it,” said Braig.