LOVE Mike's idea. Take out the dogleg, put the pits where it was, move the flagstand to the inside. Now you have something different. The stands would only be few hundred feet away from the track, they would have a BEAUTIFUL view of a new, differnt-direction pit lane (like a road course), or same-direction, as there would be room to choose either layout, and victory lane could be right in front of the stands, not far away in the infield
I like this too, and it would be so different. You’d also have a really close up view of the pit stops. Lots of action happens on pit lane and the cars are going slow enough so you could get great close up views of your favorite car. Also, speeds are slower, so you might not need that high of a catch fence, so your view would be better because of that too. That’s some of my son’s favorite playing when he’d pretend to be a race car driver and we’d do his pit stops. He’d love the close up view of pit lane.
I can't believe they didn't recognize 1987 Richmond as an example of a track whose configuration did not conform to the contour of the grandstands. I like the idea of true oval, even if redoing the grandstands is not part of the project. In the beginning, you built a track and then built the stands around it. In the track-building boom of the '90's, they started with the stands and condos with the goal of maximum viewing opportunity (hence the dogleg) and then fit the track into it.
When it comes to building grandstands that fit around an oval or non-traditional NASCAR track, look at A1 Ring or some of the F1 tracks that have a stadium section. Just the stadium section to see how they shape the stands around the track. They are pretty good at that feature.
@@garyrolen8764 I mean… honestly he’d do pretty well at it. However I don’t think he wants all that responsibility. Just keep growing JRM and make it a legendary cup team; what his father wanted with DEI.
I agree with Dale on either repave the PJ1 lanes and/or bank 1 & 2 to the original specs. If I had the money and took a risk, I would use the same banking at either ends of the track and have it 4 lanes wide (like most of the track is) but the bank corners somewhere between 16-18 degrees (1&2 is 20 and 3&4 is 24 I believe). Imo being able to lift off the throttle and use the brakes was and still is the best kind of race for ovals. If NASCAR isn't brave enough to add more horsepower and/or reduce downforce or grip, then make a track to then force the drivers to slow down instead of waiting for NASCAR to implement another rule change, cause we all know NASCAR doesn't want to go back to high horsepower days.
Nascar wrecked nascar. Just need to go back to the old rules and systems and call it something else. Get all the drivers to band together and put down the law. This is what we want or no zoom zoom.
You obviously didn't watch NASCAR in the 80's, 90's, or 00's...lol If today's NASCAR product isn't fun for you to watch, maybe NASCAR racing isn't your thing?...lmao
Ronnie Sealy AMEN!! I'm thrilled that North Wilkesboro is back. I was looking forward to seeing them race a few dirt races there before the repaving took place but unfortunately they couldn't get it done but it'll be fun to go back to North Wilkesboro. I'm just praying that the tires are a non-issue for a race. But I couldn't agree more about Nascar messing up what wasn't broken and Nascar is definitely out of touch with its fan base!!!
I'm diggin the pit road on the outside idea, would definitely add some character and an extra selling point! I think I would fly to Texas just to experience that!
yeah you cant do that tho lol someone blows a right front going head on into the end of pit road wall and dies. its unsafe, mainly the reason most local short tracks have changed to infield pits.
@@cameronhobbs2142 I had this as an idea when the rumors first came out, and that thought came to my head too. I think NASCAR could possibly put a chicane coming into pit road that could remedy that. No inside pit wall for the first part of pit road, but the outside wall could curve in far enough where any crashing cars would be deflected away from the start of pit road
@@cameronhobbs2142 You can do it like Abu Dhabi (F1 track) does it. The pitlane is technically on the outside going into T1, but it then goes literally under a bridge and comes out from the other side.
@@cameronhobbs2142 Where are you seeing short tracks with inside pits? I've been racing since 1990 and every track I race at has the pits on the outside. 🤷
Two Straightaways! Marcus Smith and Speedway Motorsports is worth over $750,000,000 - don't pretend they can't afford to move the flagstand. 😂 Also, keeping the seats further away from the speeding cars isn't the *worst* idea...
I like the pit road on the outside thing.... They can make Texas an oval without moving the grandstands at all, put the pits on the outside of the track, and have pit road closer to the stands, fans. That would be taking care of a few things, 1, distance from cars to fans, it'd be safer, and I've always wanted to see the cars on pit road and watch what the crews do. That would be so unique and cool. And 2, it reconfigures the track without touching the grandstands.
I was messing around in photoshop with a skyview of the track, and what about just expanding the exit of turn 2 and the entrance to turn 3 to make them more gradual and making the track a roughly 1.7 mile trioval. Reconfigure turn 1, and install a new turn 2, backstretch, and turn 3. Get IRacing to do a study on what the banking should be for good racing. Then Texas would be unique and one of the fastest tracks on the schedule. There would also be more room for a brand new state of the art infield road course, which would be great for other racing series.
After all these episodes I can finally say that Mike is thinking just like me on something! A true oval could let TMS have a concert venue in the vacant space. We have too many plate races as of 2022.
I was thinking the same thing you were dale about just get rid of the pj1 part of the track and go back to the old configuration it worked I loved it idk why they ever changed it
I think Fontana needs a repave to that of the Old Texas World Speedway & Texas Motor Speedway needs to get the short track that was proposed to replace Fontana. IMO that would improve the racing & crowds at both venues. Also going to the track once a year instead of 2 dates would improve the crowd.
Repave Fontana and leave it the way it is. You've got Dale here saying wait and let the asphalt wear, why is NOBODY else saying that. Like a track repave has never been done before...
I like the outer pits idea for sure. The front stretch could have grandstands on both sides of the front stretch, with Victory Lane front and center for a unique post race celebration and great one for the fans. It could be Homestead-esque, with a slightly curved front stretch and high banked corners. Would it be a gimmick, or could it be the first NASCAR track to cross into an F1 front stretch design? The opportunity to make something great out of something terrible is truly possible.
I thought it was a great idea... But I got to thinking. Wouldnt adding pits to the outside of the track be a safety issue? Think about where the cars blend off of pit road now and how they apex coming out of corners. If we put the pits on the outside, I dont see a way that the cars wouldnt blend right into the corner or blend into oncoming and apexing (out of the corner) cars unless there is a long access road. Not sure how to get around that issue
@@jacobagee1343 yeah, they'd be airborne if a tire blew out at the right spot. Literally flying over the pit wall and wiping out a few crew chiefs in the process.
@@jacobagee1343 I was thinking they could create an entry/exit in the upper grove of the corner, with corner entries reworked to work away from the racing groove. I could see it being closer to racing like a big short track. Enough banking in the corners to make a transition onto a flat straightaway tricky, but not unracable like Texas has become in many instances. I’m not going to pretend to know how to engineer it, or how much it might cost. However, I do feel it is good to reimagine something that could have us look back on this reconfiguration as a BLESSING rather than a cruel, cruel curse.
Shorten the track by turning the doglegs into turns, shorten the circumference of those turns with high banking like Bristol. So, the turns are tighter coming out of turn 2 and going into turn 3 while turns 1 and 4 are wider out.
Since day one of the reconfiguration rumors that has been my hope, the original Atlanta was amazing, and wouldn't be *too* hard to make from the existing speedway
Here are my thoughts. Pending the racing results of Homestead in a couple weeks. The 2 best tracks for racing so far this year in my opinion have been Auto Club and Charlotte. So I suggest the following. Shape the race surface to homestead and make the current pit road the track. As Mike said Move pit road to where the current dog leg is right up against the current grandstands. Build new racing suites and luxury boxes behind each pit stall. Move victory lane to where the flag stand currently is. Make the track wide like auto club with the banking of Charlotte. This layout is unique and would probably race great. Pit entry is the only thing that would need to be looked at very intently.
I think Mike has a idea!!! Put put road on the outside of the track, between the front stretch and the grandstands! Gets the crowd more upclose to the action! Move the flag stand either between the pits and front stretch or down at the end like Talladega!!
I think fixing a track or two is a drop in the bucket to fixing the problems. I think they should go back to exactly the same rules, points system, and tracks that were in use in the late 90’s, when the sport was the hottest ticket in town. All these fixes are just an attempt to fix the previous fixes. Nobody complained much back in the day when things were simpler. Every attempt to increase ticket sales and TV ratings has backfired.
Former TMS season ticket holder and it’s sad what the track experience has become. When they focused on camping the grandstands would sell out not matter the product on the track. I personally wish Texas would become a short track.
Make Texas a inverted, larger, Darlington with the high banks, like 18 degrees on the tight end, (turns 1 & 2) and lower banks, like 12 degrees on the sweeper, (turns 3 & 4).
How cool would it be to have an oval with pit lane on the outside, closest to the stands? A bridge over the track or tunnel to get to the infield. Years ago, Richmond would get sealer every few years, as the sealer would wear off the drivers would move around looking for grip. When they had new sealer, the racing would be single file but the following two or tree years there was some great racing. I remember Rusty and Dale Sr. running side by side for 30 or 40 laps. You couldn't read the numbers on the side of the cars because of the tire marks.
I would change the turns back but add progressive banking. Could even try different degrees between turns 1 & 2 and turns 3 & 4. Basically what I’m thinking is Homestead-Miami with a tri-oval.
If you have to keep the same footprint, move the white line of the apron up closer to the wall. Similar to Darlington; a mile worth of apron, and a narrow groove up on a high banking. Make them rip the wall on both ends.
Put the pits against the wall and have the fans closer to the pit stops, the drivers will have to pull off to the right for pit stops and the track will be moved closer to the original pit road.
TMS has been snake bit from the get go, call it the Wilkesboro curse of 1997... Love the true oval idea, with pit lane in the dog-leg, take out the lower grandstands there, put the haulers under there, so the 2nd tier can look down on the pit boxes. Then as others said, the green space between dog-leg pits and new front stretch would be a stadium / concert area.
It has never lived down the wrecks, in turn, one during the first two races there. Everything they have done since those races was to ensure that didn't happen again.
Dale makes a great point with the stands. The front stretch, imo, is what causes the track to be so narrow. They could bank the front stretch. The banking would interfere with the lower seats. So, decrease the number of lower seats or.... Make a truly unique track by dipping the front stretch below turns 4 and 1. Leave the front stretch wall where it is. Lower the inside line to add the banking.
Mike made an incredible point, put the pits in the dogleg, fans have upfront access to view the pit stops, a unique perspective currently unavailable at ANY nascar circuit. Replace a regular oval, the front stretch would go where the current pits are. Now you don’t have to move any grandstands
Do something with the backstretch, to make the turn into 3 tighter, so they have to slow down, and create an opportunity to pass. That whole infield section along the backstretch could be sacrificed for something creative there.
Or NASCAR could do what harvick suggests and give them a lot more horsepower, then I'd reconfigure 1 and 2 to where it was before. There's no passing because turns 1 and 2 are so slow that they cant build the speed down the backstretch to have to lift in 3 and 4 so they're wide open in 3 and 4. More horsepower plus the former banking (which matches 1 and 2), would allow people to build more speed. I want racing like we used to have at old atlanta back in the day where cars could run at the bottom and by the wall and it made for amazing finishes. Like the Harvick/Gordon or Earnhardt/Labonte finishes. Now rarely do people use the high lines at these tracks. Reconfigure, give them more horsepower, shorten the bloody spoiler another 1 to 1.5 inches, and force people to use the brakes in the turns and let them magic happen
How about this... I personally head the ENTIRE financial side of NASCAR and the NHRA. NASCAR, as a sanctioning body, selects one individual to represent them, preferably Mike Helton. All track owners form a Track Ownership Group which has ONE leader/spokesman who is chosen from within the group. Team owners will then form a Team Ownership Group and drivers will do the same. This leaves four (4) individuals who are chosen by their peers and represent their specific aspect of the sport. 1. Track Maintenance and Configuration- For tracks struggling to provide a quality product (race), these 4 individuals would recommend the ones most in need of immediate repair or change. Using Texas Motor Speedway as an example, where a COMPLETE track change is required, construction would begin immediately following its most recent race. If, during the planning phase, it's determined the track change would NOT be complete prior to its next race, it would be removed from the schedule MONTHS in advance. In return, track ownership would receive FULL compensation as if the race had actually taken place. The ONLY exception would be cancelling the race itself, which given its poor performance, would be a small sacrifice for the community to make. To Be Continued.....
Iv had seats on the start/finish line at Atlanta since the last repave in 97 and haven't seen a line to get into the track like we had for the new configuration in March since th early 2000s when the 2nd groove came in on the 97 pavement. Just wonder if they keep the super speedway package when this new pave starts to wear. It'll be a backwards trend because the high line is the preferred line now opposed to the low line in 97.
4:59 perfection a unique idea... 1-"move the pit road to the dog leg" closer to the fans and letting them see the pit action close up for the first time ever!!!! 2- make it a oval like the atlanta of old was with 1/4 mile straights & 1/2 mile turns (like it was way back when.. ) woe la- character.. 3- put a stage and victory lane celebrations right in front of the grandstands.. ps you know why you call them the grand stands.. because it use to be so exciting you would never sit down .like martinsville after a caution..--lol.. Mike Davis call me we can get this done in Iracing first and see if we like it... because we have no buisness racing in chicago or on street courses... so lets get this in iracing so we can have an alternative when that date opens back up... hell lets just go back to joilet ill.? or Milwalkee.??
Reconfigure the track. In the area of the dog leg create a massive beer garden with tvs all around so people in that area can see/watch race with massive speaker system pumping race sounds. Since Texas is so hot - mist water and create a sports bar type atmosphere that people want to hang out. Create a covered area next to grandstand for food buffet and place for people to sit. Sell it as an exclusive area for younger adult fans...who can get up close to the racing. Maybe create a tunnel to special area on infield next to pit lane for them to watch pit stops. Take what is perceived as an issue and create an incredible and unique area that you can ONLY experience at Texas.
What about shrinking the dog leg? Move the outside fence halfway in. Fans will still be close to the racing and the track will shrink. They could test before deciding how to change the banking to compensate for the shallower front stretch. They could also experiment with moving the start/finish line. Back it up to turn 4 or move it forward close to turn 1. Gimmicky, but no more so than some of the other things they've done. Personally I'd like to see them give one of the dates back to North Wilkesboro after it's refurbished. All Star race is just the beginning.
I think Mike has a great point about Texas and moving pit road to the opening the Dog leg would leave. Still can clearly see the race and they would be closer to the action in the pits.
1 mile short track Daytona/Talladega banking but sharpen the corner radius so the back stretch is closer to the stands. The front straight/dog leg and pit remain the same but keep the same width as is. I'm talking for Texas
I do agree with you Dale they should reconfigure the track the way it used to be. They should also repave the track change the tire compound so tires don’t blow out. teams need to be more responsible for set up of the race car.
Pit road on dog leg, lower the leval of pit road below track surface and move flag stand and start finish line to back stretch. build new grandstands on back stretch. you got hot seats on front and back of the track. Or turn it all to dirt and race on saturday nights.
As a fan. I buy tickets to a race where all of the drivers are vocal about how difficult a track races. The tougher the car is to drive and be competitive the better.
If the stands somehow did not play a role, a Bristol or Dover would be nice down here in Texas. A high bank short track. I had another weird thought, even a 1.5 mile Pocono with the D oval rounded out and the Start/Finish in the same spot.
The other thing is, I can't help but wonder... Drivers had to put their right sides on that "treatment". Last week, it was PJ1. Between running low pressures to drop the ass end of the car, and chemical compounds, and the sheer number of tire issues and fires... 1) Do the brakes have enough ventilation in the new cars, and 2) chemical compounds "added for grip" sound like they are wreaking havoc on tires. Why has this not been asked yet?
Reconfig Texas to Nazareth 's layout. This brings back Nazareth in a way, and allows IndyCar Series to race there as well, which is part of the consideration.
Simple solution if you can't tear down the existing grandstands. Tear up the track that is currently there, build a road course that would fit the current grandstand configuration. NOT like Charlotte.. a road course that doesnt use turns 3 and 4 as they are now.
Straighten the front straight out closer to the pit road, tighten the corners by moving the back stretch in. Might make it a 1 mile track. Make the banking progressive. Or even make it egg shaped.
I agree. I’ve been to the old Atlanta configuration twice and the new one twice. The old one was better. My first race was the 83 Cale Yarborough win at Atlanta.
Blow it all up and start over. Mike is right its like not letting the dr cut off a bad arm thats going to kill you calls your favorite tattoo is on it.
Usually when I heard of repaves I just kind of rolled my eyes, but the Atlanta one really stung for me, even though the racing was intense, it wasn't like that old surface.
I agree with Mike. Tracks have been tearing down stands for years now, and they aren't being filled so what's the point? Get rid of them and reconfigure the track... Fans and drivers are both excited about the change, SMI better not disappoint are they will be hearing about it for ages. That's how bad the track is.
I think the idea of having pit road next to the grand stands is an excellent idea. Make it an oval and have the pit road in the old dog leg closer to the fans. Put the flag stand past the pits. It would be a one of a kind track without changing the grandstands just the track.
I came to say the same thing! I actually LOVE the idea of pitroad being on the outside! Be neat as a fan to be offered the chance to be that much closer to pit road. That could be really cool!
@@jbonn5365 Until someone loses a tire at the right spot on the track and annihilates people on or over the pit wall. Will not work at a high speed track.
Hey the outside front stretch pit lane idea just might b crazy enough to work...as a fan n the front stretch grandstands it b great to b that close to stops, great camera & video opps...and being a little further from the front stretch wouldn't matter much!!!!
Louisville Motor Speedway from 1988 with the Figure 8. Put the pits on the front stretch. You could have monster truck events. If the normal oval race starts to suck, run the figure 8. Your all-star race could be the figure 8. We could also turn Texas Motor Speedway into a Mile and a half dirt track with a figure 8. We need to think out of the box, damnit❕😂
Texas has three feasible options, a short track using the current turns 1-2, a traditional oval, or an oddball item like a smaller Pocono if they insist on keeping the towers and minimal grandstand changes. I'd prefer the first honestly.
Remake the CART Rio oval mostly. Gigantic back straight with road-course esque bends for turns 2 and 3, super wide and flat 1 and 4 with a shorter front stretch that conforms to the dog leg. Boom.
My crazy Idea double down on the wider, lower banking in turn 1-2 make the track even wide and less banking do the same to turns 3-4, market it as the widest track in NASCAR. im thinking like push the inside walls in, push the pits in more make this alittle wider then Autoclub and Michigan and market it that way, because everything is bigger in Texas.
Make the corners bigger and straighten out the dogleg so the stands are straight and parallel to the track. Then it is a longer lap at higher speeds. It would look like Indy with high banked corners. I would watch the hell out of that race twice a year. It wouldn't be a mile and a half anymore but it would be unique and a hell of a lot better than now.
I really like hearing Mike get so passionate about this topic, I really like seeing a standard track back in the schedule
LOVE Mike's idea. Take out the dogleg, put the pits where it was, move the flagstand to the inside. Now you have something different. The stands would only be few hundred feet away from the track, they would have a BEAUTIFUL view of a new, differnt-direction pit lane (like a road course), or same-direction, as there would be room to choose either layout, and victory lane could be right in front of the stands, not far away in the infield
I like this too, and it would be so different. You’d also have a really close up view of the pit stops. Lots of action happens on pit lane and the cars are going slow enough so you could get great close up views of your favorite car. Also, speeds are slower, so you might not need that high of a catch fence, so your view would be better because of that too. That’s some of my son’s favorite playing when he’d pretend to be a race car driver and we’d do his pit stops. He’d love the close up view of pit lane.
What is the dogleg? Is this the long lane to pitrow?
I can't believe they didn't recognize 1987 Richmond as an example of a track whose configuration did not conform to the contour of the grandstands.
I like the idea of true oval, even if redoing the grandstands is not part of the project.
In the beginning, you built a track and then built the stands around it.
In the track-building boom of the '90's, they started with the stands and condos with the goal of maximum viewing opportunity (hence the dogleg) and then fit the track into it.
Great point.
I have to totally agree with Mike!
When it comes to building grandstands that fit around an oval or non-traditional NASCAR track, look at A1 Ring or some of the F1 tracks that have a stadium section. Just the stadium section to see how they shape the stands around the track. They are pretty good at that feature.
Dale Jr for president of nascar!
@@garyrolen8764 I mean… honestly he’d do pretty well at it. However I don’t think he wants all that responsibility. Just keep growing JRM and make it a legendary cup team; what his father wanted with DEI.
I agree with Dale on either repave the PJ1 lanes and/or bank 1 & 2 to the original specs. If I had the money and took a risk, I would use the same banking at either ends of the track and have it 4 lanes wide (like most of the track is) but the bank corners somewhere between 16-18 degrees (1&2 is 20 and 3&4 is 24 I believe). Imo being able to lift off the throttle and use the brakes was and still is the best kind of race for ovals. If NASCAR isn't brave enough to add more horsepower and/or reduce downforce or grip, then make a track to then force the drivers to slow down instead of waiting for NASCAR to implement another rule change, cause we all know NASCAR doesn't want to go back to high horsepower days.
NASCAR has fixed so much that wasn’t broke (tracks, stupid rules) that it’s no longer fun to watch any more. NASCAR is out of touch with the fan base.
Nascar wrecked nascar. Just need to go back to the old rules and systems and call it something else. Get all the drivers to band together and put down the law. This is what we want or no zoom zoom.
@@robertdinicola9225 false
You obviously didn't watch NASCAR in the 80's, 90's, or 00's...lol
If today's NASCAR product isn't fun for you to watch, maybe NASCAR racing isn't your thing?...lmao
@@bryonkidder6199 those years are when i watched it most. Late 70s is when i started.
Ronnie Sealy AMEN!! I'm thrilled that North Wilkesboro is back. I was looking forward to seeing them race a few dirt races there before the repaving took place but unfortunately they couldn't get it done but it'll be fun to go back to North Wilkesboro. I'm just praying that the tires are a non-issue for a race. But I couldn't agree more about Nascar messing up what wasn't broken and Nascar is definitely out of touch with its fan base!!!
I'm diggin the pit road on the outside idea, would definitely add some character and an extra selling point! I think I would fly to Texas just to experience that!
yeah you cant do that tho lol someone blows a right front going head on into the end of pit road wall and dies. its unsafe, mainly the reason most local short tracks have changed to infield pits.
@@cameronhobbs2142 I had this as an idea when the rumors first came out, and that thought came to my head too. I think NASCAR could possibly put a chicane coming into pit road that could remedy that. No inside pit wall for the first part of pit road, but the outside wall could curve in far enough where any crashing cars would be deflected away from the start of pit road
@@cameronhobbs2142 You can do it like Abu Dhabi (F1 track) does it. The pitlane is technically on the outside going into T1, but it then goes literally under a bridge and comes out from the other side.
It would be interesting.
@@cameronhobbs2142 Where are you seeing short tracks with inside pits? I've been racing since 1990 and every track I race at has the pits on the outside. 🤷
Two Straightaways!
Marcus Smith and Speedway Motorsports is worth over $750,000,000 - don't pretend they can't afford to move the flagstand. 😂
Also, keeping the seats further away from the speeding cars isn't the *worst* idea...
I like the pit road on the outside thing.... They can make Texas an oval without moving the grandstands at all, put the pits on the outside of the track, and have pit road closer to the stands, fans. That would be taking care of a few things, 1, distance from cars to fans, it'd be safer, and I've always wanted to see the cars on pit road and watch what the crews do. That would be so unique and cool. And 2, it reconfigures the track without touching the grandstands.
This Atlanta native loved my old pre1997 Atlanta oval. At least we get a night race next year. Btw love you guys .
Make the front straight match the back straight (basically an oval) and move pit lane to the outside of the front straight, closer to the stands
I was messing around in photoshop with a skyview of the track, and what about just expanding the exit of turn 2 and the entrance to turn 3 to make them more gradual and making the track a roughly 1.7 mile trioval. Reconfigure turn 1, and install a new turn 2, backstretch, and turn 3. Get IRacing to do a study on what the banking should be for good racing. Then Texas would be unique and one of the fastest tracks on the schedule. There would also be more room for a brand new state of the art infield road course, which would be great for other racing series.
Yea great got any money?
@@cosmicHalArizona some, but I'd need an investment group to pull that off.
@@ACasualRacer I got $5 on it
Pit road on the outside of the track sounds interesting to me.
I love when Mike and Dale debate
Me too! Mike is patient when Dale gets tuned up!
After all these episodes I can finally say that Mike is thinking just like me on something! A true oval could let TMS have a concert venue in the vacant space. We have too many plate races as of 2022.
Really enjoy the insight into the racing world from all perspectives, great show !
I vote 2 mile figure 8
Lmao I thought the same thing
I live in Augusta Georgia I've been to what is left of that track love hearing Dale Jr talk about it
I was thinking the same thing you were dale about just get rid of the pj1 part of the track and go back to the old configuration it worked I loved it idk why they ever changed it
“pit road on the OUTSIDE”…………..hummm…………..Brilliant……I love it!!!
I think Fontana needs a repave to that of the Old Texas World Speedway & Texas Motor Speedway needs to get the short track that was proposed to replace Fontana. IMO that would improve the racing & crowds at both venues. Also going to the track once a year instead of 2 dates would improve the crowd.
Repave Fontana and leave it the way it is. You've got Dale here saying wait and let the asphalt wear, why is NOBODY else saying that. Like a track repave has never been done before...
T Shirt: "Listen to Jr"
Dale Jr for president of nascar!
I don’t want more plate racing. I don’t want new Atlanta. Make it homestead configuration and put pits in the dog leg close to the fans
Make it a short track and turn the back stretch into a dragstrip
I like the outer pits idea for sure. The front stretch could have grandstands on both sides of the front stretch, with Victory Lane front and center for a unique post race celebration and great one for the fans.
It could be Homestead-esque, with a slightly curved front stretch and high banked corners.
Would it be a gimmick, or could it be the first NASCAR track to cross into an F1 front stretch design?
The opportunity to make something great out of something terrible is truly possible.
I thought it was a great idea... But I got to thinking. Wouldnt adding pits to the outside of the track be a safety issue? Think about where the cars blend off of pit road now and how they apex coming out of corners. If we put the pits on the outside, I dont see a way that the cars wouldnt blend right into the corner or blend into oncoming and apexing (out of the corner) cars unless there is a long access road. Not sure how to get around that issue
@@jacobagee1343 yeah, they'd be airborne if a tire blew out at the right spot. Literally flying over the pit wall and wiping out a few crew chiefs in the process.
@@jacobagee1343 I was thinking they could create an entry/exit in the upper grove of the corner, with corner entries reworked to work away from the racing groove.
I could see it being closer to racing like a big short track. Enough banking in the corners to make a transition onto a flat straightaway tricky, but not unracable like Texas has become in many instances.
I’m not going to pretend to know how to engineer it, or how much it might cost. However, I do feel it is good to reimagine something that could have us look back on this reconfiguration as a BLESSING rather than a cruel, cruel curse.
Shorten the track by turning the doglegs into turns, shorten the circumference of those turns with high banking like Bristol. So, the turns are tighter coming out of turn 2 and going into turn 3 while turns 1 and 4 are wider out.
make Texas like the original Atlanta configuration
make it like Texas world
Since day one of the reconfiguration rumors that has been my hope, the original Atlanta was amazing, and wouldn't be *too* hard to make from the existing speedway
Here are my thoughts. Pending the racing results of Homestead in a couple weeks. The 2 best tracks for racing so far this year in my opinion have been Auto Club and Charlotte.
So I suggest the following.
Shape the race surface to homestead and make the current pit road the track. As Mike said Move pit road to where the current dog leg is right up against the current grandstands. Build new racing suites and luxury boxes behind each pit stall. Move victory lane to where the flag stand currently is.
Make the track wide like auto club with the banking of Charlotte. This layout is unique and would probably race great.
Pit entry is the only thing that would need to be looked at very intently.
I think Mike has a idea!!! Put put road on the outside of the track, between the front stretch and the grandstands! Gets the crowd more upclose to the action! Move the flag stand either between the pits and front stretch or down at the end like Talladega!!
Mike you are absolutely right put the pits on the outside on the front stretch
I think fixing a track or two is a drop in the bucket to fixing the problems. I think they should go back to exactly the same rules, points system, and tracks that were in use in the late 90’s, when the sport was the hottest ticket in town. All these fixes are just an attempt to fix the previous fixes. Nobody complained much back in the day when things were simpler. Every attempt to increase ticket sales and TV ratings has backfired.
IndyCar races there... can't just change it specifically for NASCARs needs.
Instead of racing on the streets of Chicago. Hell you want to put dirt on Bristol why not let Daytona have half the race on the beach.
Larson said demolish it 😆 I agree. That was one of worst cup races I have seen in recent memory
go back and watch the original race in 97.
@@sicfrynut I agree when the track was originally built it was good racing. They ruined it with the reconfiguration and years of traction compound
Former TMS season ticket holder and it’s sad what the track experience has become. When they focused on camping the grandstands would sell out not matter the product on the track. I personally wish Texas would become a short track.
Make Texas a inverted, larger, Darlington with the high banks, like 18 degrees on the tight end, (turns 1 & 2) and lower banks, like 12 degrees on the sweeper, (turns 3 & 4).
They should just send out a survey to every person that ever bought a ticket in their system and ask them what they would like to see to come back
How cool would it be to have an oval with pit lane on the outside, closest to the stands? A bridge over the track or tunnel to get to the infield. Years ago, Richmond would get sealer every few years, as the sealer would wear off the drivers would move around looking for grip. When they had new sealer, the racing would be single file but the following two or tree years there was some great racing. I remember Rusty and Dale Sr. running side by side for 30 or 40 laps. You couldn't read the numbers on the side of the cars because of the tire marks.
Mike is spot on! Why should the grandstands impede the process? NASCAR has engineers that should be able to figure this out.
I would change the turns back but add progressive banking. Could even try different degrees between turns 1 & 2 and turns 3 & 4. Basically what I’m thinking is Homestead-Miami with a tri-oval.
Make the track look like the old Trenton Speedway in New Jersey. That was a great track for both NASCAR and INDY cars.
I agree with Mike here, just make it an oval. And frankly, pit road on the outside sounds amazing! 😁
Heck yeah, Mike! Pit road on the outside! Sounds great to me
High banks take 1/2 mile off slim down corners a darlington like configuration
If you have to keep the same footprint, move the white line of the apron up closer to the wall. Similar to Darlington; a mile worth of apron, and a narrow groove up on a high banking. Make them rip the wall on both ends.
Put the pits against the wall and have the fans closer to the pit stops, the drivers will have to pull off to the right for pit stops and the track will be moved closer to the original pit road.
TMS has been snake bit from the get go, call it the Wilkesboro curse of 1997... Love the true oval idea, with pit lane in the dog-leg, take out the lower grandstands there, put the haulers under there, so the 2nd tier can look down on the pit boxes. Then as others said, the green space between dog-leg pits and new front stretch would be a stadium / concert area.
It has never lived down the wrecks, in turn, one during the first two races there. Everything they have done since those races was to ensure that didn't happen again.
Dale makes a great point with the stands. The front stretch, imo, is what causes the track to be so narrow. They could bank the front stretch. The banking would interfere with the lower seats. So, decrease the number of lower seats or.... Make a truly unique track by dipping the front stretch below turns 4 and 1. Leave the front stretch wall where it is. Lower the inside line to add the banking.
Yes!
I haven't heard about a driver "getting up in the marbles" for years... maybe the new car just needs a better tire that allows for wear and fall off.
Make that space the "Victory lane", so that the fans can be in the "background" shots after the race.
Mike made an incredible point, put the pits in the dogleg, fans have upfront access to view the pit stops, a unique perspective currently unavailable at ANY nascar circuit. Replace a regular oval, the front stretch would go where the current pits are. Now you don’t have to move any grandstands
Mike likes Nazareth, have you ever seen Nazareth?...lol
Do something with the backstretch, to make the turn into 3 tighter, so they have to slow down, and create an opportunity to pass. That whole infield section along the backstretch could be sacrificed for something creative there.
Or NASCAR could do what harvick suggests and give them a lot more horsepower, then I'd reconfigure 1 and 2 to where it was before. There's no passing because turns 1 and 2 are so slow that they cant build the speed down the backstretch to have to lift in 3 and 4 so they're wide open in 3 and 4. More horsepower plus the former banking (which matches 1 and 2), would allow people to build more speed. I want racing like we used to have at old atlanta back in the day where cars could run at the bottom and by the wall and it made for amazing finishes. Like the Harvick/Gordon or Earnhardt/Labonte finishes. Now rarely do people use the high lines at these tracks.
Reconfigure, give them more horsepower, shorten the bloody spoiler another 1 to 1.5 inches, and force people to use the brakes in the turns and let them magic happen
How about this... I personally head the ENTIRE financial side of NASCAR and the NHRA. NASCAR, as a sanctioning body, selects one individual to represent them, preferably Mike Helton. All track owners form a Track Ownership Group which has ONE leader/spokesman who is chosen from within the group. Team owners will then form a Team Ownership Group and drivers will do the same. This leaves four (4) individuals who are chosen by their peers and represent their specific aspect of the sport.
1. Track Maintenance and Configuration- For tracks struggling to provide a quality product (race), these 4 individuals would recommend the ones most in need of immediate repair or change. Using Texas Motor Speedway as an example, where a COMPLETE track change is required, construction would begin immediately following its most recent race. If, during the planning phase, it's determined the track change would NOT be complete prior to its next race, it would be removed from the schedule MONTHS in advance. In return, track ownership would receive FULL compensation as if the race had actually taken place. The ONLY exception would be cancelling the race itself, which given its poor performance, would be a small sacrifice for the community to make. To Be Continued.....
Atlanta was a surprise this year. I think next race there the crowd will be much better.
Iv had seats on the start/finish line at Atlanta since the last repave in 97 and haven't seen a line to get into the track like we had for the new configuration in March since th early 2000s when the 2nd groove came in on the 97 pavement. Just wonder if they keep the super speedway package when this new pave starts to wear. It'll be a backwards trend because the high line is the preferred line now opposed to the low line in 97.
4:59 perfection a unique idea...
1-"move the pit road to the dog leg" closer to the fans and letting them see the pit action close up for the first time ever!!!!
2- make it a oval like the atlanta of old was with 1/4 mile straights & 1/2 mile turns (like it was way back when.. ) woe la- character..
3- put a stage and victory lane celebrations right in front of the grandstands..
ps you know why you call them the grand stands.. because it use to be so exciting you would never sit down .like martinsville after a caution..--lol..
Mike Davis call me we can get this done in Iracing first and see if we like it... because we have no buisness racing in chicago or on street courses... so lets get this in iracing so we can have an alternative when that date opens back up... hell lets just go back to joilet ill.? or Milwalkee.??
They should run a fan opinion poll at Texas to see what fans really want
Reconfigure the track. In the area of the dog leg create a massive beer garden with tvs all around so people in that area can see/watch race with massive speaker system pumping race sounds. Since Texas is so hot - mist water and create a sports bar type atmosphere that people want to hang out. Create a covered area next to grandstand for food buffet and place for people to sit. Sell it as an exclusive area for younger adult fans...who can get up close to the racing. Maybe create a tunnel to special area on infield next to pit lane for them to watch pit stops. Take what is perceived as an issue and create an incredible and unique area that you can ONLY experience at Texas.
What about shrinking the dog leg? Move the outside fence halfway in. Fans will still be close to the racing and the track will shrink. They could test before deciding how to change the banking to compensate for the shallower front stretch. They could also experiment with moving the start/finish line. Back it up to turn 4 or move it forward close to turn 1. Gimmicky, but no more so than some of the other things they've done. Personally I'd like to see them give one of the dates back to North Wilkesboro after it's refurbished. All Star race is just the beginning.
Anything that comes outta Jr.s mouth is experience of truth!…Put Cody Ware on the show!!
I think Mike has a great point about Texas and moving pit road to the opening the Dog leg would leave. Still can clearly see the race and they would be closer to the action in the pits.
Reconfigure both ends of Texas. Increase banking in 1 and 2, take banking out of 3 and 4. Make 1 and 2 high speed and 3 and 4 slow.
1 mile short track Daytona/Talladega banking but sharpen the corner radius so the back stretch is closer to the stands. The front straight/dog leg and pit remain the same but keep the same width as is. I'm talking for Texas
God I love fired up Dale Jr.
I do agree with you Dale they should reconfigure the track the way it used to be. They should also repave the track change the tire compound so tires don’t blow out. teams need to be more responsible for set up of the race car.
Yall are great!
Pit road on dog leg, lower the leval of pit road below track surface and move flag stand and start finish line to back stretch. build new grandstands on back stretch. you got hot seats on front and back of the track. Or turn it all to dirt and race on saturday nights.
Is changing the shape of a track going to fill the grandstands? I really miss the old Atlanta. It was super fast.
As a fan. I buy tickets to a race where all of the drivers are vocal about how difficult a track races. The tougher the car is to drive and be competitive the better.
Hey Mike what a concept, put pit road in front of the fans
If the stands somehow did not play a role, a Bristol or Dover would be nice down here in Texas. A high bank short track. I had another weird thought, even a 1.5 mile Pocono with the D oval rounded out and the Start/Finish in the same spot.
I like the idea of pit road on the outside. The fans would love it
The other thing is, I can't help but wonder... Drivers had to put their right sides on that "treatment". Last week, it was PJ1. Between running low pressures to drop the ass end of the car, and chemical compounds, and the sheer number of tire issues and fires... 1) Do the brakes have enough ventilation in the new cars, and 2) chemical compounds "added for grip" sound like they are wreaking havoc on tires. Why has this not been asked yet?
Reconfig Texas to Nazareth 's layout. This brings back Nazareth in a way, and allows IndyCar Series to race there as well, which is part of the consideration.
Simple solution if you can't tear down the existing grandstands.
Tear up the track that is currently there, build a road course that would fit the current grandstand configuration. NOT like Charlotte.. a road course that doesnt use turns 3 and 4 as they are now.
We went to the spring race at Texas and left before it was over, it was terrible. Something needs to change.
Repave and reconfigure both corners. Progressive bank, 22° in the bottom lane up to 26° in the top lanes.
Don't forget Charlotte is the same configuration as atl and Texas
Not since the reconfiguration of Texas with the banking in the turns
Straighten the front straight out closer to the pit road, tighten the corners by moving the back stretch in. Might make it a 1 mile track. Make the banking progressive. Or even make it egg shaped.
I agree. I’ve been to the old Atlanta configuration twice and the new one twice. The old one was better. My first race was the 83 Cale Yarborough win at Atlanta.
Blow it all up and start over. Mike is right its like not letting the dr cut off a bad arm thats going to kill you calls your favorite tattoo is on it.
Usually when I heard of repaves I just kind of rolled my eyes, but the Atlanta one really stung for me, even though the racing was intense, it wasn't like that old surface.
I think each track needs to be unique
I agree with Mike. Tracks have been tearing down stands for years now, and they aren't being filled so what's the point? Get rid of them and reconfigure the track... Fans and drivers are both excited about the change, SMI better not disappoint are they will be hearing about it for ages. That's how bad the track is.
I think the idea of having pit road next to the grand stands is an excellent idea. Make it an oval and have the pit road in the old dog leg closer to the fans. Put the flag stand past the pits. It would be a one of a kind track without changing the grandstands just the track.
I came to say the same thing! I actually LOVE the idea of pitroad being on the outside! Be neat as a fan to be offered the chance to be that much closer to pit road. That could be really cool!
@@jbonn5365 Until someone loses a tire at the right spot on the track and annihilates people on or over the pit wall. Will not work at a high speed track.
Hey the outside front stretch pit lane idea just might b crazy enough to work...as a fan n the front stretch grandstands it b great to b that close to stops, great camera & video opps...and being a little further from the front stretch wouldn't matter much!!!!
Dale Jr should really be in the NASCAR corporate office helping with decision making.
move the flagstand towards turn 1 a la talladega. put a chicane where the front stretch is. i dont know
How about a 7/8 mile, various curved banks each 1-4 after start finish, and make it a short track pocono.
I love the Stadium feel of Bristol. Texas could add the X50 if the build a great track.
I’d like to see them make it like homestead
The old still homestead. I agree.
Make one side 100% flat and the other side extremly banked. Drivers would hate it, but it would be a blast to se!
Putting pit road on the outside! THAT would be something to try. Fans might like sitting closer to the pits, and seeing all that action up close.
Louisville Motor Speedway from 1988 with the Figure 8. Put the pits on the front stretch. You could have monster truck events. If the normal oval race starts to suck, run the figure 8. Your all-star race could be the figure 8. We could also turn Texas Motor Speedway into a Mile and a half dirt track with a figure 8. We need to think out of the box, damnit❕😂
Honest question, how is it a huge market if the seats are empty? TV market?
Tv
Texas has three feasible options, a short track using the current turns 1-2, a traditional oval, or an oddball item like a smaller Pocono if they insist on keeping the towers and minimal grandstand changes. I'd prefer the first honestly.
Remake the CART Rio oval mostly. Gigantic back straight with road-course esque bends for turns 2 and 3, super wide and flat 1 and 4 with a shorter front stretch that conforms to the dog leg. Boom.
Here’s a thought. Instead of just a reconfigure, make the cars enter turn 4 as turn one. NASCAR IS NOW RIGHT TURNS BABY
My crazy Idea
double down on the wider, lower banking in turn 1-2 make the track even wide and less banking do the same to turns 3-4, market it as the widest track in NASCAR. im thinking like push the inside walls in, push the pits in more make this alittle wider then Autoclub and Michigan and market it that way, because everything is bigger in Texas.
Make the corners bigger and straighten out the dogleg so the stands are straight and parallel to the track. Then it is a longer lap at higher speeds. It would look like Indy with high banked corners. I would watch the hell out of that race twice a year. It wouldn't be a mile and a half anymore but it would be unique and a hell of a lot better than now.
I’d rather watch texas than a dang roads course.