Atlanta Motor Speedway to undergo major repaving project with higher banking

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Atlanta Motor Speedway will soon undergo a major facelift as it looks to create a one-of-a-kind NASCAR racing experience.

Officials announced Tuesday that the track will be resurfaced with updated banks after it hosts the Xfinity and NASCAR Cup series this weekend.

“As Atlanta’s racing surface has aged, we’ve challenged ourselves to reimagine what NASCAR racing at an intermediate track can be,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “With high banks in the turns, narrower width and new pavement technology, Atlanta will be unlike any other mile-and-a-half track on the circuit. It’s all new for ’22 and this will be specifically designed for close, competitive racing.”

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The redesign will increase the banking from 24 degrees to 28 degrees, higher than any other intermediate track on the current NASCAR rotation. Straightaway banking will remain five degrees.

Along with the higher banks, the racing surface will become narrower and decrease in width from 55 feet to 40 feet. New widths will be 52 feet on the front stretch, 42 feet on the back stretch and 40 feet in the turns.

The speedway will remain a 1.5 mile track.

AMS officials hopes the increase in four degrees and significantly narrowing the turns will create more pack racing similar to Daytona and Talladega, according to WSB Radio’s Doug Turnbull.

AMS will be only two or three degrees less banking than Daytona and Talladega.

“Our partners at Speedway Motorsports have reprofiled Atlanta Motor Speedway to optimize the racing with the Next Gen car, and early simulations suggest the racing will be closer and even more competitive,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer.

Atlanta Motor Speedway will host the Xfinity Series’ Credit Karma Money 250 on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The NASCAR Cup Series race Quaker State 400 starts Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Construction and resurfacing will begin sometime next week. It is the first time the speedway has been repaved since 1997.

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Some fans will get to enjoy NASCAR live this weekend- thanks to condos overlooking AMS Channel 2?s Alison Mastrangelo caught up with one condo owner who will get to watch the race from the comfort of his home.

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