Daytona International Speedway allows you to watch car drivers race against each other.
I watch drivers display their skills on the circular pavement whenever I
come to Daytona
.
Is Daytona asphalt or concrete?
Daytona was not paved with concrete but asphalt.
Do you know that
Daytona International Speedway
is among the best in the country?
People come from different states
to witness races on this pavement.
Is Daytona asphalt or concrete?
Asphalt.
Daytona International Speedway is constructed with asphalt and added special materials to ensure that it does not suffer some weaknesses.
Although the pavements consulted with traditional asphalt pavements have suffered weakness over the years.
Many believe concrete is durable and better than asphalt for any racetrack.
In this article, I will discuss why Daytona used asphalt instead of concrete pavement.
Is Daytona Asphalt or Concrete?
The Use of Asphalt
Regarding a hard surface for race cars, concrete and asphalt are used.
Asphalt is made from bitumen and other filler materials and it can be recycled to produce new asphalt.
You can break down asphalt tracks or roadways into layers, making it easier to use for other things.
The topmost surface of asphalt is resistant to rutting and cracking, and durable.
Furthermore, asphalt is flexible and less expensive than when you use concrete.
However, asphalt is prone to delamination and water damage.
The use of Concrete
Sand, water, cement, and other materials like crushed stone or gravel are blended to form concrete.
We use cement as a binding material to stick and harden the concrete together.
Using concrete on roadways makes you enjoy a durable way less prone to cracking, stripping, rutting, and potholes.
Thus, concrete offers you a relatively low-maintained pavement.
Concrete surface lasts longer without maintenance or resurfacing.
This long duration is because the concrete does not soften when exposed to heat.
For instance, the hot summer has little effect on the concrete.
However, you need complete jackhammering if you want to repair concrete.
The asphalt Racetracks come in tight and steep circles, so using the racetrack might be a little challenging.
You may experience intense loads when you drive on it, including forces.
While conventional roads are consulted to face off heavy loads like cars and semi-trucks, and these roads may or may not compress the track straight down.
On the other hand, the racetracks come as side-loading.
Daytona Pavement
I have mentioned that asphalt comes from different materials that can withstand cracking or rutting.
Daytona pavement has a special polymer referred to as styrene-butadiene-styrene.
When styrene-butadiene-styrene is combined with asphalt, it makes the polymer enjoy more flexibility and increases its aging resistance.
Daytona racetracks can withstand rain that hits the pavement’s sides.
The result can cause delamination and water damage of the pavement.
However, special techniques were employed to ensure that the pavements are watertight.
The Cost to Build Daytona Speedway
William France Sr.
, the founder of NASCAR built Daytona International Speedway in 1956.
The pavement was constructed to host car races that once happened at the Dayton Beach Road Course.
It cost him at least $600,000 and that runs in millions today.
However, when a pothole affected the Daytona 500, it cost about $20 million to resurface the pavement.
Later, renovations happened that cost about $400 million.
Many people do not know who owns Daytona Speedway.
NASCAR is the current owner of Daytona after it purchases the racing platform.
However, NASCAR was expected to fulfill some obligations before it can own the racetrack.
NASCAR is expected to book some amount of events annually, and the company enjoys freedom to kick start some races.
If you have not visited Daytona, you may not realize how steep the racetrack was constructed.
Daytona comes with many steep turns and banks at 31 degrees, but the bank on the tri-oval is 18 degrees.
Meanwhile, the bank goes to zero on a long stretches of the track, with enough slope that supports drainage.
Pit Stalls in Daytona
At Daytona Speedway, you can find put crew working on cars when they pit stop during races.
A pit stall is referred to as the mechanical bay that allows race car drivers to stop for their cars to be serviced when they race.
Several things might occur during a pit stop like mechanical corrections, tire changes, refueling, including other necessary repairs.
You can witness this event because it is thrilling to watch how pit crews work within seconds to complete some repairs.
You can find at least 82 pit stalls at Daytona International Speedway, and not all Pit stalls are used.
You can find about 40 cars in a race, and the pit stalls are arranged according to racing teams’ needs.
Difference Between a Raceway and a Speedway
A Speedway and a Raceway have little differences, but the terms can be used interchangeably.
Many racing tracks pick their term with caution to avoid confusing the public.
Many race tracks often use abbreviations like PMS (
Phoenix
Motor Speedway) that could cause distractions or jokes during events or marketing races.
On the other hand, a raceway concentrates on racing, which makes it easier to understand what the raceway is doing as a business.
Speedway depends on creating high speeds for cars.
I regard Daytona International Speedway as a unique racetrack with its banks, turns, and classic lines.
NASCAR designed these features, which has made Daytona a popular destination for car racing.
Today, Daytona has become home to many amazing auto-racing in the United States.
If you want to experience some adrenaline-pumping races, you can visit Daytona for that thrill.
Over the years, the track has been renovated many times and more special materials have been added to keep the track durable.
Daytona has special polymers mixed with asphalt to add water-resistant feature on the pavement.
FAQs
Why is Daytona Speedway famous?
Daytona Speedway is famous for its Daytona 500, which was first held in 1959.
The Daytona 500 has become a prestigious race in the NASCAR annual auto-racing games.
How fast do they go at Daytona Speedway?
You can go as fast as 210.
3 miles per hour, which has become the highest speed achieved in 1987 by Bill Elliot.
Does NASCAR own Daytona Speedway?
Yes, NASCAR owns Daytona International Speedway, but International Speedway Corp had initially owned Daytona.