Speedway is revved up after undergoing facelift

For those who have raced at Citrus County Speedway, it always has been a fun yet daunting track.

Often, competitive mettle is measured not by speed but by how well a driver can master the tight turns and narrow straightaways of the quarter-mile oval.

This weekend begins a new chapter for the 47-year-old speedway. Racers will compete in the second of two Winter Spectacular events Saturday on an improved surface.

"It's quite a facelift," track spokesman Larry MacMillan said of a construction project that will create more racing room for drivers.

Perhaps the most notable change is the backstretch, which has been widened from 41 to 63 feet, creating an extra lane and a half. In addition to providing more space for passing, the new D-shape configuration will help increase speeds, MacMillan said.

"My guess is with Late Models, you're looking at maybe 10 to 15 miles per hour faster top speeds on the backstretch," he said. For years, drivers -- especially those in faster classes -- have complained about the lack of run-off room in Turn 2 entering the backstretch. Many said the tight confines created a traffic bottleneck that often resulted in wrecks.

"That extra width will make it a lot harder for someone to block you going into (Turns) 3 and 4," said former Late Model champion Danny Johnson, who's planning to take his first practice laps today. "At least now you've got some room to work."

Much of the project has been overseen by promoters and former drivers Billy Hooker and Jimmy Wear. On top of making the speedway more competitive, they addressed some longstanding safety concerns. The construction of an exit ramp off Turn 2 will allow drivers headed to the pits to do so without having to cross in front of oncoming traffic. The access lane from the pits to the track has been restructured to make it safer for drivers, and fan safety was improved with the addition of higher, stronger catch fences to a new bleacher section on the pit side.

While parts of the project -- such as spectator sky boxes and paved pit sections -- aren't scheduled to be finished until after the Feb. 9 start of the season, MacMillan said fans will quickly warm to the faster surface.

"It's going to make for better racing all around," MacMillan said.

Citrus Co. Speedway

WHAT: Short-track stock car racing in the Late Model, Sportsman, Street Stock, Hobby Stock, Mini Stock and Thunder Stock classes. Late Models will run a special 100-lap feature, with $5,000 going to the winner. WHEN: Tuning and testing sessions are scheduled for today and Friday, 5-10 p.m. Late Model time trials begin 4 p.m. Saturday.

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