Wed, 15 Apr 2009, 08:32 PM Installation of Permanent Grandstands on the East Side of the Drag Strip

Courtesy of Scott Smith

INDIANAPOLIS O'Reilly Raceway Park officials announced today that a section of permanent grandstands will be installed on the east side of the world famous drag strip. The construction of the grandstands began in March and late April has been targeted as the completion date.

The new grandstands will be aluminum construction, will offer seat backs, and feature a section for handicap seating. The grandstands also will provide a six foot landing at the top of the bleachers. The new seating unit will replace temporary wooden bleachers that the facility had used in past years.

"We feel the addition of the permanent grandstands will be of tremendous value to our guests," said Ron Anderson, general manager of O'Reilly Raceway Park. "Not only will this be a great product to offer the fans of the Mac Tools U. S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, but it will also be used for many of our other events on the dragstrip."

The grandstands will allow guests that attend annual events such as the Super Chevy Show or Goodguys Hot Rod Nationals the opportunity to utilize the new seating instead of having to walk to the west side of the track.

"For events such as our Tuesday Night Street Legal series we will have the opportunity to offer seating in the new grandstands keeping our guests on the east side of the track near the pits," continued Anderson. These grandstands are being installed by Southern Bleacher Company.

In 1998, new grandstands, suites and a tower complex on the front straightaway were completed at the oval track, which included the repaving of the entire oval surface as part of a three-phase facility improvement project. In 2001, a new drag strip racing surface was completed, replacing the strip with a 660-foot concrete pad and laying new asphalt on the remainder of the track and shutdown area. Prior to the 2003 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, eight new luxury suites were added along the top of the west side grandstands of the drag strip, giving fans a unique perspective of the action on the famed quarter-mile track. In 2006, new soft barrier walls were added to the oval. In early 2007, the facility, formerly known as Indianapolis Raceway Park, announced its first facility entitlement with O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Another construction project taking place at the facility is the construction of a new administrative office, located on the north side of the facility. The 7,500 square foot structure will feature 11 offices, ticket sales area, conference room, break room, work stations for seasonal interns, storage areas, and mail room. It will also feature an area for retail souvenir sales, display cases for O'Reilly Raceway Park memorabilia; visitor and guest parking.

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