September 12, 2002

Through the decades we have seen huge technology advances in the sport of auto racing but then again maybe not.

The Indianapolis 500 took place on clay bricks in the early days, the first NASCAR race in February of 1948 was completed on a combination of asphalt and sand. Today’s cars still traverse the ovals on asphalt with a few events taking place on concrete.

Advances to the cars themselves have been astonishing to say the least. Aero technology and engine performance has taken this sport to the next level in regard to speed and reliability. The racing tires of today have also kept pace with technology seeing the introduction of harder compounds from Goodyear in an effort to keep the tires from coming apart due to high levels of down force being applied. New radial tire designs were introduced and have changed drastically how the cars react.

In this modern space age world in which we live 96% of all paved roads in the United States, nearly two million miles are surfaced with asphalt. Most paving asphalt currently used is obtained by the processing of crude oils. After everything of value is removed, the leftovers are made into asphalt cement for pavement.

We were able to track down another process that takes place and that is called Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC). This process considers used rubber tires that are granulated and added to formulations of asphalt in an effort make a road compound. Many larger cities are using this process due to the cost savings effort that it allows for.

Of late we have witnessed two recent events in which asphalt and or the treatment thereof was to blame for racing conditions. Richmond track officials insist on sealing there track which is causing problems. New Hampshire saw problems with the asphalt coming apart during the last event there. Bob Bahre owner of NHIS stated that the asphalt in turns 3 and 4 “just didn’t have time to cure” Bob may have been somewhat pressured by Pike Industries whom claimed the turns needed to be repaved. Bahre agreed to the work but upon later reflection wished he had not completed the paving task during that specific time frame.

At some point we keep thinking that there will be a major break through in technology that does away with asphalt (as we know it)on speedways. “we need a new drug, one that wont make me slip, one that wont make me wreck my car, make me feel three feet thick” well you get the point.

What the future holds for racing surfaces is beyond this writer’s imagination. But, it is ridiculous to think that we will see the current asphalt configurations as a viable player in the future of NASCAR. The only thing the staff (happy hour crowd at bar) could come up with was the introduction of rubberized asphalt concrete with a blending of racing tire formulas and compounds that are conducive to stock car racing. You don’t have to worry too much about having to place rubber on the track when the rubber is already in the track.

We can only hope that somewhere there is a mad (asphalt) scientist working in a lab far underground that is close to finding the cure for the erupting asphalt conditions noted as present in the sport today. Maybe Mike Helton should call that Ron Popeil dude and get him working on an answer. Certainly the man that brought us the Veg-O-Matic and that Chicken Rotisserie dealy bopper can think up an answer to the asphalt blues.

You can contact Joe at: Insider Racing News