Knoxville Raceway 2004 news
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (November 25, 2003) - Knoxville Raceway is looking to the past in order to race into the future for the 2004 season of weekly winged sprint car competition. The Marion County Fair Association has added tons of new dirt ...
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (November 25, 2003) - Knoxville Raceway is looking to the past in order to race into the future for the 2004 season of weekly winged sprint car competition. The Marion County Fair Association has added tons of new dirt to the historic half-mile race track with the intention of creating a surface capable of maintaining more moisture for longer periods of time.
"This is the most extensive track work we've done in over forty years," said Marion County Fairboard member Dwayne Robuck. "The track will return to the way it was in 1960. By adding the major portion of the new dirt to the corners, the turns will actually be increased to seventy feet wide. The new configuration will also eliminate the steep berms in the turns and decrease the banking slightly."
Over 8,500 tons of Zook clay loam has been transported from east of the city of Knoxville. Zook soils are silt loams that result from poorly drained lower areas of broad flood plains and are similar to what most observers call "black gumbo." The qualities of stickiness and plasticity are common characteristics of Zook soils.
"We hope that this will allow moisture to hold better in a track that was worn out," Robuck stated. "Dirt was last added in a major effort in 1998, and again in 2002 when we did the infield concrete work. The work this year has been very costly, and is one of those things that will not immediately show to the fans in the stands. We expect to see a more competitive track in our 51st season of weekly racing."
It is anticipated that the Marion County Fair Association will make several other improvements to the century-old fairgrounds facility during the current off-season. Weekly 360- and 410-cubic-inch winged sprint car racing will commence at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, April 24, 2004. Those seeking further information should visit the track's web-site at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.
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