The Daily News-Journal du lieu suivant : Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 24

103 A Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, Tennu Sunday, Aprils, 2001 Sunday Sports Special ii mi w4 The main grandstands along the front stretch of the Nashville Superspeedway. fast Track Dimensions: 1.33-mile fD" shaped oval Track Length: Front Straight 2,494 feet Back Straight 203 feet Turns 14 2-1220 feet Turns 3 4 feet Pit Road 1,440 feet Track Width: Front Straight 55 feet Back Straight 55 feet Turns 60 feet Surface: Concrete Banking: Front Straight 9 degrees Back Straight 6 degrees Turns 14 degrees (Back straight is raised 8 feet above to create 100 percent site-line visibility) Garage: 64 driver spaces Seating: 50,000 (Phase One) 150,000 (Expandable Capability) Parking: 400 acres (paved and turf parking) Overnight camping: Yes Luxury Suites: 24 (seating 30 or 60 people) Location: 3,000 acres in Wilson County Future Projects: Quarter-mile drag strip dirt track 58-mile short track Legends course facts The superspeedway track is concrete one of only three concrete tracks on the NASCAR circuit. Bristol Motor Speedway and Dover Downs (Monster Mile) are the only other two. The concrete pavement was placed full-width for the entire length of the track by a concrete paving machine that was specially constructed for this project. The track was paved in seven days in October 2000, and consisted of 7,500 cubic yards of concrete.

The concrete paving machine also placed two layers of rock base prior to the con- crete pavement, Approximately 8,000 tons of 57 drainage stone was placed in four days and 14,000 tons of dense graded pug. mix will be placed in six days. More than 4.8 million cubic yards of rock or 20 billion pounds of rock were removed and recycled on the construction site. More than four miles of storm and sanitary sewer lines are located in the infield. More than 525,000 cubic yards of concrete were installed on the project.

More than 16,000 vehicles can park on the grounds of the superspeedway. The grandstands feature 100 percent site-line visibility. The support structures in the infield include the state-of-the-art media center, care center, garage, restroom and concession. The state-of-the-art lighting system includes 898 light fixtures, 184 Mirtran fixtures from Musco Lighting and 89 light fixtures on pit road. The massive water tower will hold more than 600,000 gallons and will service the facility throughout the year.

team Track Owner: Dover Downs Entertainment Inc. Developer: Lawfer-Wood, LLC ArchitectEngineer: HNTB Architects Engineers Planners, Kansas City Genera! Contractor: Turner Universal Paving Subcontractor: APAC-Ballenger Paving Machine: Guntert-Zimmerman Grading Contractor: Southwind Construction Nashville Superspeedway's time to shine i-' (Continued from page 9B) Entertainment. "We had a very tight and aggressive schedule from the beginning, but everything is done and complete and we're ready to race says Brooke, who has been project manager for Nashville Superspeedway for three years after being assigned to the project long before the first pebble was overturned. "So, you couldn't ask for anything better," he adds. "The weather was favorable for a majority of the project, which was very helpful If there is anything indigenous to the terrain upon which Nashville Superspeedway is built, it's rocks and rocks and rocks and rocks and more rocks.

Did we mention the rocks? In all, more than 4.8 million cubic yards of rock or, in layman's terms, some 20 billion pounds were removed and recycled on the construction site. That's a lot of rocks. "We knew there was rock here and it was a challenge for a lot of the contractors to deal with it," The Care Center is where drivers will be taken after a crash. built again." And what makes Brooke the proudest about Nashville Superspeedway? "The sight lines really make this track fan-friendly," he says, noting the backstretch is elevated some eight feet higher than the frontstretch, so as to allow maximum viewing of the entire track. "The sight lines in the grandstands are the best in NASCAR Brooke adds.

"In the front row of the grandstands, you can see all the action on the backstretch. That is a true achievement for NASCAR tracks." After this week's festivities, all that's needed for final completion is the affirmation of a punch list for all aspects of the project. And then for Brooke, it's off to build something else, although he'll savor a special emotion garnered from three years of a professional life being dedicated to building Nashville Superspeedway. "This will be kind of like having a child and watching it grow up," he says. "When the green flag drops, that will be a happy moment in my life.

It will be very 'That can only enhance our future prospects for landing a Winston Cup event." But that might be then, but his is certainly now. And as for now, well, it's time to race. YOU'RE TO A CHILDREN'S exciting. Brooke says. "It costs you a little bit more to move rock and to COMMUNITY "To build something like this in under three years and get it in excavate and place rock.

ft place ana operational is truly an achievement." And what's but since we were able to crush and EASTER EGG oo Easter next? "Who knows?" Brooke coun reuse it on site, it brought that cost down. "So you pay a ters. "I'll move on and build something else, I guess." Place: The Salvation Army 1137 W. Main Street (faces New Salem next to Tenn. Tech.

Ctr.) THE IMPACT little bit more on one side but you save a lot more on the other. It kind of washed out." Speaking of being washed away, there were more than four miles of storm and sanitary sewer lines laid on the infield alone. Murfreesboro, TN (phone 895-7071 1 While Nashville Superspeedway was not built on Rutherford County soil, the impact of its events should be felt for many a years to come. Ik hi County) will be disappointed. "We anticipated filling up with race teams, corporate sponsors and race fans.

And while we will probably sell out this weekend, it won't be because of the race." Nonetheless, Benefield feels any time the Midstate can put on such an event with the magnitude of what is about to happen at Nashville Superspeedway, it can only be a positive. As for the numbers, Nashville Superspeedway projects the following impact on Middle Tennessee: $7 million in new business taxes, $73 million in employee compensation, $83 million in personal income, $222 million in regional output, $17 million in direct business taxes. But it's more than just the numbers, Benefjeld contends. "It's another opportunity for the communities of Middle Tennessee to come together to showcase what we have to offer," he says. "And once you do, then you try to make it a positive experience so the people will come back." THE FUTURE Whilethe 1.33-nrile,"D"-shaped track of concrete that will be used this week is the centerpiece for Nashville Superspeedway, it's just a piece of the eventual puzzle that will eventually be an all-encompassing race facility.

Also in the works are a 58-mile short track modeled after venerable Nashville Speedway USA, a quarter-mile drag strip, a dirt track, a legends course and a 1.8-mile road course. And that's not to mention an eventual seating capacity should Nashville Superspeedway land a Winston Cup event of 150,000 seats. 'That's all about time and money," Brooke says. "But we have built the infrastructure to handle it" As for a Winston Cup event, it has been since 1984 that Nashville featured the highest level of stock car racing. And with new tracks seeking races in various geographic regions that don't feature an overabundance of Winston Cup Nashville Superspeedway could be hard-pressed to land an event But not so fast, Hawks contends.

"The people at Dover Downs, and especially (Dover Downs President) Denis McGlynn, have an outstanding relationship with NASCAR," Hawks says while noting that two Winston Cup races are already being run at the "Monster Mile" at Dover, Del. I A 'h- I That's the word from Steve Benefield, president of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. "I expect a very nice impact with Egg Hunt Prizes 5 PLAY STATIONS (COMPLETE WITH 2 GAMES 1 EXTRA CONTROL) If you find 1 of the 5 "special" eggs! Every child keeps their Candy Es 6 receives a Chocolate Bunny! To say the project was huge is like saying Jennifer Lopez is cute justice just isn't served. "I'm the most proud of getting it all down by race day," Brooke says. "You don't get to build these people starting to arrive Thursday and staying through Sunday," he says.

"It will impact our 3,000 hotel and motel rooms, our restaurants, our Date: Sunday, April 15, 2001 (EASTER!) Time: 9:45 AM- Special Guests: Good News For The Little People Ministry- Tim Susan Vermaas CHRISTIAN ILLUSIONIST VENTRILOQUIST! 11:00 AM-Special Guests: Richard Loretta Reffeitt SINGING AND PREACHING MINISTRY! Who's Invited To Participate In The Easter Egg Hunt? ALL CHILDREN AGE 11 AND UNDER WHO ATTEND EITHER OF THE ABOVE MEETINGS AT THE SALVATION ARMY WILL BE GIVEN A TICKET FOR THE 12:15 PM COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT! (You MUST attend one of these meetings to get a ticket kind of projects everyday. These are special. They are unique." In fact, Nashville Superspeedway is one of five similar racing facilities that have been built concurrently, including gas stations. "We will certainly feel an impact. How much? That will be determined once this weekend has come and gone." As for one hotel, the Garden Plaza, the impact of this week's racing events has been negligible thus far.

"We're disappointed so far," says Pam Lee, director of sales for Garden Plaza. "And I think the hospitality industry as a whole (in Rutherford tracks in Las Vegas, Kansas City, Chicago and in Kentucky between Louisville and Cincinnati. It's a racetrack building boon that hasn't been seen since the 1960s, according to Brooke, who also offers that, "It will probably be another 20 to 30 years before you see this many The scoring pylon. for the Easter Egg Huntl).