Daytona International Speedway has installed 2,400 linear feet of new SAFER barrier and six new crossover gates in time for this weekend’s NASCAR racing.
Steel and foam energy reduction barrier was mounted on the outside retaining wall from the exit of Turn 4 to the tri-oval and from the tri-oval to the entrance of Turn 1.
SAFER barrier now lines the Speedway’s outside retaining wall from the entrance of Turn 3 at the backstretch to the exit of Turn 2, plus the majority of interior retaining walls.
“After each event, we sit down and talk to NASCAR about things we need to improve on and SAFER barrier is always on that list,” Speedway president Joie Chitwood III said. “We added 1,900 linear feet in 2010 as part of the track repave.
“What we decided to do after consulting with NASCAR was install this (additional) SAFER barrier. This is Daytona and we want to make advances where we can.”
Kevin Harvick, who crashed in the Daytona 500, took a shot at the Speedway’s lack of SAFER barrier less than a week after the Daytona 500 when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raced at Phoenix in March.
“It was a hard shot,” Harvick said of his Daytona crash. “It’s a little bit frustrating because it really shouldn’t even be a debate.”
Meanwhile, the Speedway’s frontstretch crossover gates have all been converted to the new ramp-style design, which replaces the movable staircases.
The track employed the new ramp design for two crossover gates during Speedweeks. The ramp allows for faster foot traffic to and from the main grandstands.
“They exceeded expectations,” Chitwood said. “It will really help our fan movement from the grandstands to the football field (tri-oval grass). It will enhance the property.”
