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Daytona International Speedway begins installing new safety features

Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch

AP

Daytona International Speedway began work Monday to install new safety features at the 2.5-mile track in answer to the February Xfinity Series wreck that injured Kyle Busch.

The installations come in the middle of the speedway’s $400 million “Daytona Rising” renovation project.

The additions include:


  • Additional 20,000 square feet of asphalt in Turn 1.
  • Realignment of a portion of the inside retaining wall from infield road course exit to Turn 1.
  • Installation of SAFER barrier (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) on realigned retaining wall and existing retaining wall in Turn 1.
  • Installation of SAFER barrier on retaining wall at pit road exit.
  • Installation of SAFER barrier between the exit of Turn 4 to pit road entry.

The addition of asphalt in Turn 1 will be to replace a section of grass that was likely an additional factor in the severity of Busch’s impact with the inside wall, which didn’t have SAFER barrier. Busch suffered a broken right leg and left foot in the accident. He returned to racing last weekend.

Additional SAFER barrier will be installed following the Coke Zero 400 on July 5, which airs on NBC.

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