The last time Atlanta Motor Speedway was repaved, Bill Clinton was President, Titanic set box-office records, the Chicago Bulls won their last of six championships in the 1990s and Jeff Gordon won the second of four Sprint Cup championships.
A lot has happened in the 18 years since AMS was last repaved between its two annual races in 1997. And it’s likely a lot more things are going to happen before the next time AMS is repaved again.
Track officials announced Tuesday that there are no plans to resurface the 1.5-mile asphalt track layout, one of the oldest racing surfaces on the Sprint Cup circuit.
“The well-used racing surface at our track produces some of the most exciting racing in NASCAR,” Atlanta Motor Speedway president Ed Clark said in a release. “Competitors participating in our recent NASCAR test sessions gave the surface high marks and encouraged us to maintain the racing surface as it currently stands.”
AMS is one of the fastest tracks on the Sprint Cup Series. Located 20 miles south of downtown Atlanta in Hampton, Georgia, AMS hosted its first race in 1960 (won by Fireball Roberts), and has held a total of 108 Sprint Cup races since.
There have been 33 Sprint Cup races contested on the current racing surface, which is a favorite among many NASCAR drivers for its aged abrasiveness.
AMS’ next event is Feb. 26-28, including an Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series doubleheader on Feb. 27 and the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sprint Cup Series race on Feb. 28.
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