‘Moderate’ Damage at Daytona Speedway, Worse at Nearby New Smyrna Track
Hurricane Matthew made its presence known
Daytona International Speedway appears to have lucked out with Hurricane Matthew, experiencing what the track called “moderate damage, with impacts to lights, speakers, signage, fences, gates, awnings and palm trees.” As a result the track’s Ticket Office and Tours and the Richard Petty Driving Experience were closed over the weekend for cleanup.
There have been pictures posted on multiple web sites of a flooded Superstretch being passed off as new – those pictures are from the flood in 2009. “There was no flood damage to the facility from Hurricane Matthew,” the track management reports.
Less lucky was New Smyrna Speedway, a NASCAR track located a half-hour south of Daytona. As you can see in the photo above from the owner’s Facebook page, grandstands were lifted and flipped onto the race track, crushing the tall fencing and cables that are designed to keep race cars out of the stands. There was also damage to the main building in the infield.
No word on Volusia Speedway Park, the dirt track located west of Daytona, where many NASCAR racers compete at night during Speedweeks in sprints cars and modifieds. The track folded on October 4, but is expected to re-open just for the February Speedweeks shows, since the track owner is the same company that owns the World of Outlaws.
