The famous
Talladega racetrack hasn’t been repaved since 1979, meaning that it’s apparently on the same maintenance
schedule as most of Detroit’s roads. (The difference, of course, is that the average speed of Detroit traffic is
at least 10 MPH slower than the typical lap at Talledega).
A full-scale repaving project is in the works to correct
numerous problems with the aging track surface. A portable asphalt plant will be moved on-site this month. Test strips
will be laid by February and full-scale work will begin after late April’s race. It’s hoped that the new
surface will make racing even more competitive at the 2.66-mile tri-oval.
The project is projected to cost
several million dollars, or approximately the amount of pocket change that NASCAR’s France family has lost in
their couch over the years.